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The Green Bay Packers haven’t signed any of their draft picks, but could have all of them under contract before rookie orientation camp starts Friday.A source familiar with the negotiations said Packers vice president of football administration/player finance Russ Ball was deep into negotiations on Tuesday and expected to have all eight draft picks signed before the three-day rookie camp begins.
In fact, late Tuesday the team agreed to terms with fourth-round pick Jerron McMillian, a safety from Maine.
“The deal isn’t signed yet, but we have agreed in principle to the terms of the contract,” said Abu Toppin, McMillian’s agent. “Jerron should be under contract by the time the (rookie) minicamp begins.”
In the past, rookie draft picks typically didn’t sign until June or July, but the new collective bargaining agreement signed last August takes most of the negotiating out of play for rookies. Contracts must follow a rookie wage scale in which salaries and bonus money largely are slotted. All first-round picks receive four-year contracts with a team option for a fifth year, while all other draft picks receive four-year deals.
“These contracts are no-brainers now,” the source said. “There’s not much left to negotiate.”
Rookies don’t have to sign before their orientation camp — and in many cases don’t — in order to participate. Instead, they sign injury protection paperwork that allows them to take part without worrying if an injury would cost them financially. However, the source said the Packers weren’t even bothering with injury protection waivers. Instead, they expect to have all of their draft picks, including first-rounder Nick Perry, signed before the first practice Friday morning.
“That would be ideal to have the players signed as they report to rookie camp,” an NFL agent said Tuesday. “Then you avoid having to do the injury protection agreements. I think it’s ideal for everybody.”
Rookie signings started to trickle in last week, when as high as second-round picks were signed. On Monday, the Seattle Seahawks signed 15th overall pick Bruce Irvin, who was the first of the first-round picks to sign. On Tuesday, the San Diego Chargers signed 18th overall pick Melvin Ingram.
In fact, late Tuesday the team agreed to terms with fourth-round pick Jerron McMillian, a safety from Maine.
“The deal isn’t signed yet, but we have agreed in principle to the terms of the contract,” said Abu Toppin, McMillian’s agent. “Jerron should be under contract by the time the (rookie) minicamp begins.”
In the past, rookie draft picks typically didn’t sign until June or July, but the new collective bargaining agreement signed last August takes most of the negotiating out of play for rookies. Contracts must follow a rookie wage scale in which salaries and bonus money largely are slotted. All first-round picks receive four-year contracts with a team option for a fifth year, while all other draft picks receive four-year deals.
“These contracts are no-brainers now,” the source said. “There’s not much left to negotiate.”
Rookies don’t have to sign before their orientation camp — and in many cases don’t — in order to participate. Instead, they sign injury protection paperwork that allows them to take part without worrying if an injury would cost them financially. However, the source said the Packers weren’t even bothering with injury protection waivers. Instead, they expect to have all of their draft picks, including first-rounder Nick Perry, signed before the first practice Friday morning.
“That would be ideal to have the players signed as they report to rookie camp,” an NFL agent said Tuesday. “Then you avoid having to do the injury protection agreements. I think it’s ideal for everybody.”
Rookie signings started to trickle in last week, when as high as second-round picks were signed. On Monday, the Seattle Seahawks signed 15th overall pick Bruce Irvin, who was the first of the first-round picks to sign. On Tuesday, the San Diego Chargers signed 18th overall pick Melvin Ingram.
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