Last year’s No. 8 overall pick, Jaguars offensive tackle Eugene Monroe, didn’t sign a rookie contract until roughly three weeks into training camp.
This year’s No. 8 overall pick, Raiders linebacker Rolando McClain, intends to avoid a repeat.
“I’m not looking to sit out,” McClain told the Decatur Daily. “In order to play for the team, I need to be in training camp. I’m going to OTAs and not worried about the contract.”
McClain did acknowledge that negotiations have yet to begin.
“We haven’t started contract talks,” said the 2009 Butkus Award winner. “I’m not sure where we are on that. I leave that to (agent) Pat Dye Jr. and the Raiders. I just play football.”
Based on Monroe’s deal, McClain is likely looking at a rookie contract worth some $36 million with at least $20 million guaranteed.
Of course, that’s assuming the Raiders don’t significantly overpay their top pick.