Getty ImagesThe draft launched four weeks ago tonight. In all, 253 men were picked.
And 174 of them have signed their first NFL contracts.
It’s an amazing and dramatic change in the process. While much of it comes from changes to the CBA that make first-round contracts much easier to negotiate, the lower-round contracts always were easy to negotiate. But the negotiations typically didn’t begin until after Memorial Day, at the earliest.
Typically, things didn’t even start to heat up until after the Fourth of July.
Not every team has decided to accelerate the process. The Cowboys, Saints, Raiders, Jaguars, and Rams have signed none of their picks, and only 10 of 32 first-rounders are under contract.
Still, it’s a real change from past years, with only 79 picks unsigned as training camp is two full months away.
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The Cowboys, Saints, Raiders, and Rams have signed none of their picks.
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2013 top 5 draft order
1. Rams
2. Raiders
3. Rams (from Skins)
4. Cowboys
5. Saints
And Rams will trade back with themselves for an extra 2017 3rd rounder.
WGAF…let’s just play some damn football!
Don’t give these kids their money too soon. Not enough rigor in their regime while they are finishing classes and OTAs. Teams might be losing a few players to misconduct.
I can understand maybe the Saints not being in too much of a hurry, but what is the Rams excuse? When you’ve been that bad for that long, and are starting yet another rebuild with yet another new head coach, don’t you want to get those rooks into camp and start the process of getting better?
Oh well, what do I care, they’re in my division. BTW, props to Seattle’s front office for having everyone under contract by the time of the first rookie camp. I hope that happens every year.
Cowboys won’t sign them until June 1st, when Terrence Newman’s contract is taken off the cap.
There is no hurry- not quite June. Big Reg is taking his time.
Panthers had all 7 signed last week
Just another domino in the trending ascension of My Precioussss Tissue Paper Tigers … Leigh Steinberg in particular must be eating his heart out @ the prospect of no more pyrrhic brinksmanship rookie holdout scenarios vs Mike Brown?
pfft, that’s nothing. In my Madden franchise, everybody’s signed 5 minutes after the draft.
trollhammer20 says:May 24, 2012 5:42 PM
I can understand maybe the Saints not being in too much of a hurry, but what is the Rams excuse? When you’ve been that bad for that long, and are starting yet another rebuild with yet another new head coach, don’t you want to get those rooks into camp and start the process of getting better?
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Not being under contract does not keep draft picks from participating in OTAs, just training camp….
no hurry…raiders need reece to sign tender, and get branch to sign long term deal instead of franchise tag….I mean under new cba how much cap space does it take to sign guys from the last pick of the 3rd rd on down……exactly…no biggie