As camps approach, the remaining first-rounders gradually are coming to terms.
The day opened with 14 unsigned first-round selections. So far, two more have been inked.
First, the Redskins agreed to a deal with quarterback Robert Griffin III, the second overall pick in the draft. Now, a league source tells PFT that the Pats have come to terms with linebacker Dont’a Hightower, the 25th overall selection in round one.
Hightower’s deal has no connection to Griffin’s. Picked at the bottom of the round, Hightower’s floor was set by Texans linebacker Whitney Mercilus at No. 26. But Hightower’s slot hadn’t been fully fixed, given that the three guys in front of Hightower (Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden at No. 22, Lions tackle Riley Reiff at No. 23, and Steelers guard David DeCastro at No. 24) have yet to sign.
The question is whether and to what extent Hightower received a partial guarantee of his fourth-year salary. Mercilus obtained a guarantee for the first three years only. Pats linebacker Chandler Jones at No. 21 has $752,000 in base salary guaranteed for the final year of the deal.