Teams Getting Earlier Starts On Rookie Negotiations

I always used to wonder why the way of the NFL was to draft a player in April, have him in for a rookie minicamp and some other offseason practices, and then say goodbye to him for the action-less period on the league calendar between mid-June and early July and not even try to negotiate a contract with him and his agent until a few days before training camp opened.

It was just the way the NFL worked, and it left everyone scrambling just before camp to attempt to avoid having unsigned prized rookies report late.

Not this year.

Most teams, it seems, are making efforts this time around to get their drafted players signed earlier. Not only was top overall selection Jake Long signed by the Miami Dolphins before the draft, but third pick Matt Ryan was signed by the Atlanta Falcons and fourth selection Darren McFadden was signed by the Oakland Raiders in the weeks that followed. Signings of third- to seventh-rounders also are trickling in around the league, so there should be less scrambling in rookie negotiations come mid-July.

There are plenty of tricky and, undoubtedly, contentious sets of negotiations still to come, but at least front office executives around the league are trying to get things done earlier this year.

By Mark Maske |  June 26, 2008; 9:42 AM ET  | Category:  League
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