Only three of the 32 rookies picked in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft have signed so far, and training camps have already started for some franchises. Hold outs for some, big pay days for others!
#1: Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions quarterback Signed and sitting pretty with a guaranteed $41.7 million. Then again, he is playing for the 0-16 Lions. Good luck kid, you’ll need it.
#2: Jason Smith, St. Louis Rams offensive tackle Two separate reason he will hold out: he will want something too close to Stafford’s numbers for team comfort, plus the presence of two other OTs in the top 10 means he will want more than the other two.
#3: Tyson Jackson, Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Reassured everyone on July 8 by telling a loval TV station he had “no idea what’s going on”. Way to go Tyson. BY now he should be looking at the two QB contracts and pouting.
#4: Aaron Curry, Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Should start this year, but may feel slighted if he’s offered less than Sanchez at #5 just because he’s not a QB.
#5: Mark Sanchez, New York Jets quarterback Has already signed with the usual quarterback bonus for a maximum $60 million over five years and will compete with Kellen Clemens.
#6: Andre Smith, Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle One of the prime candidates for a hold out, apparently, despite public pronouncements that he wants to “be there on time”. All the top 10 OTs could hold out together.
#7: Darrius Heyward-Bey, Oakland Raiders wide receiver His signing – or lack of – won’t affect his training regimen as he’s struggling with a constantly injured hamstring.
#8: Eugene Monroe, Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Will probably wait to see what one or both of the above Smiths gets paid to play in the same position before he signs.
#9: B. J. Raji, Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Will start in an area the Packers sucked at last year.
#10: Michael Crabtree, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Apparently he and.or his agent thinks he should have been drafted in the top five, and he wants to get paid as if he did. Fat chance kid. Likely to be a hold out with that attitude.
#11: Aaron Maybin, Buffalo Bills defensive end His lack of signature is causing heartburn with the Bills opening training camp early, with rumours he could be a hold out.
#12: Knowshon Moreno, Denver Broncos running back His negotiations started two weeks ago but they still haven’t resolved.
#13: Brian Orakpo, Washington Redskins defensive end The Skins are determined to turn him into a starting pass rusher.
#14: Malcolm Jenkins, New Orleans Saints cornerback Told media he hopes to be signed by Monday the 27th.
#15: Brian Cushing, Houston Texans outside linebacker Will have a starting job in a poor Bills defence.
#16: Larry English, San Diego Chargers outside linebacker Was reportedly supposed to be signed by Sunday the 26th.
#17: Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback The Bucs’ release of Brian Griese and the lack of solidity in Luke McCown and Byron Leftwich elsewhere on the roster means good things for Freeman.
#18: Robert Ayers, Denver Broncos defensive end Told local press he expects to be signed by the time training camp starts on July 30.
#19: Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver His agent told local media early last week “negotiations should intensify in the middle to latter part of this week”. Not great signs.
#20: Brandon Pettigrew, Detroit Lions tight end Already catching balls from #1 Stafford and the Lion fans have someone else to cheer.
#21: Alex Mack, Cleveland Browns center Signed on a deal that is 12.2 per cent better than last year for the same spot, though the figure has not been released.
#22: Percy Harvin, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Surely the prospect of catching balls from Brett Favre is tasty enough!
#23: Michael Oher, Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Being aimed at right tackle with a possible starting spot this season.
#24: Peria Jerry, Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Plenty of spots open on the Atlanta D so he’s got incentive to sign early.
#25: Vontae Davis, Miami Dolphins cornerback Will have to compete at cornerback with the Fins’ second-rounder Sean Smith who has already signed.
#26: Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers outside linebacker The second of two Packers who will get early work in the defence.
#27: Donald Brown, Indianapolis Colts running back Big things possible for Brown this year with Joseph Addai coming off surgery and rapidly ageing.
#28: Eric Wood, Buffalo Bills center Apparently waiting on Mack’s contract numbers before finishing negotiations.
#29: Hakeem Nicks, New York Giants wide receiver Expected to take snaps early in the season and be useful in their offence.
#30: Kenny Britt, Tennessee Titans wide receiver Not expected to make an impact next season.
#31: Chris Wells, Arizona Cardinals running back Has lost most of the 22 pounds he aimed at in the offseason and is already pencilled in to start ahead of Tim Hightower some time in 2010.
#32: Evander Hood, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Unsigned and unsighted.
