Adam Schefter of ESPN Future continues to drop some periodic scoops from his Twitter-only (until August 17) existence.
Earlier today, Schefter tweeted that the Raiders and receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, the seventh overall pick in the draft, have agreed to terms.
The development is significant, given that the team across the Bay drafted receiver Michael Crabtree three spots later — and that agent Eugene Parker is trying to blow out the slotting system with a top-five contract for Crabtree.
Our guess is that the folks at CAA became confident that the Niners wouldn’t bend, which as a practical matter would prevent Parker from doing a contract that will look better than DHB’s.
There’s also a chance that terms have been added to Heyward-Bey’s deal that would alter his compensation if Crabtree ultimately leapfrogs the seventh slot. (We’re not sure whether such terms would even be permissible, but it would at least make sense to explore that possibility.)
The move could spark a flurry of first-round signings, since Heyward-Bey was the first of multiple CAA first-round clients (other than No. 1 overall pick Matthew Stafford) to do a deal.
Schefter also mentions that another CAA client — quarterback Josh Freeman — is close to terms with the Bucs.
Freeman is the only unsigned quarterback in round one, and the sooner he’s on the field, the greater the chance he’ll play as a rookie.
UPDATE: A league source tells us that Heyward-Bey’s deal, which has not yet been signed, covers only five years. For the first sixteen picks in the draft, the maximum duration is six. There has been a trend over the past couple of years toward five-year contracts below the top five.