Former Giants General Manager George Young famously said “Nothing ever gets done until Bastille Day.”
This year, the process of signing NFL Draft picks was nearly done by Father’s Day, leaving July 14 looming as a lonely relic of a previous era.
When Blake Bortles puts pen to paper this morning, he’ll leave just 10 unsigned draft picks, with more than a month before anyone reports to training camp.
There’s little drama anymore because of the slotted salaries of the new CBA, and while some teams (such as the Rams) wait institutionally, there’s little valid reason to not have the money in hand as soon as possible.
The unsigned 10 include four first rounders: Browns cornerback Justin Gilbert (8th overall), Titans tackle Taylor Lewan (11th), Dolphins tackle Ja’Wuan James (19th) and Patriots defensive tackle Dominique Easley (29th).
Five second-rounders remain: Cowboys defensive end Demarcus Lawrence (34th), Browns guard Joel Bitonio (35th), Jaguars wide receivers Marqise Lee (39th) and Allen Robinson (61st) and Steelers defensive end Stephon Tuitt (46th).
Dolphins tackle Billy Turner (67th) is the lone third-rounder, the lowest remaining unsigned pick.
With a little luck, they get wrapped up soon. And then we can all take a long vacation until Bastille Day.