The Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys kick-off the training camp season this weekend and despite a rookie wage scale,16 first round picks remain unsigned. The majority of the first round selections are simply negotiating whether or not off-set language will included in their rookie deals. If the dialogue is put in their contract, the player will not have a fully-guaranteed deal.
Three of the top five players taken in the 2013 NFL Draft remain unsigned. While Jacksonville's Luke Joeckel and Detroit's Ziggy Ansah got their deals done early, the Chiefs, Dolphins and Eagles all remain in negotiations with their prized selections. It has already been reported that both Philadelphia's Lane Johnson and Miami's Dion Jordan are holding off on signing a deal in order to avoid the aforementioned offset language. Both players are still new to the positions that they will play in the NFL, so a long absence from training camp could be a major blow to their instant impact. Johnson in particular is expected to have a major role in his rookie season, so a delay to his development puts Chip Kelly and Co. in a tough spot.
Former Eagles Head Coach Andy Reid is dealing with a rookie issue of his own. The Chiefs took Eric Fisher with the first overall pick and the signing of his deal could be the domino that gets the rest of the rookie holdouts into camp sooner rather than later. Fellow top ten picks like New York's Dee Milliner, Tennessee's Chance Warmack, Arizona's Jonathan Cooper and Cleveland's Barkevious Mingo also are without deals and could benefit from one or two more signings in the top five.
Here is a full list of first round picks that remain unsigned, just days before training camps commence:
Pick | Player | Position | Team |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Eric Fisher | Offensive Tackle | Chiefs |
3 | Dion Jordan | Defensive End | Dolphins |
4 | Lane Johnson | Offensive Tackle | Eagles |
6 | Barkevious Mingo | Defensive End | Browns |
7 | Jonathan Cooper | Offensive Guard | Cardinals |
9 | Dee Milliner | Cornerback | Jets |
10 | Chance Warmack | Offensive Guard | Titans |
12 | D.J. Hayden | Cornerback | Raiders |
13 | Sheldon Richardson | Defensive Tackle | Jets |
19 | Justin Pugh | Offensive Tackle | Giants |
22 | Desmond Trufant | Cornerback | Falcons |
23 | Sharrif Floyd | Defensive Tackle | Vikings |
24 | Bjoern Werner | Defensive End | Colts |
25 | Xavier Rhodes | Cornerback | Vikings |
26 | Datone Jones | Defensive End | Packers |
27 | DeAndre Hopkins | Wide Receiver | Texans |
28 | Sylvester Williams | Defensive Tackle | Broncos |
29 | Cordarrelle Patterson | Wide Receiver | Vikings |
32 | Matt Elam | Safety | Ravens |
It is unclear how long it will take until an agreement is reached between the Eagles and Johnson's agents. However, if Johnson misses a week or more, it could keep him from starting right away. That would likely mean that Dennis Kelly would get the start at right tackle come September.
Are you worried that a deal isn't done yet between the two sides? Does knowing that most of the other first round picks are unsigned? Also, isn't nice knowing that we're not dealing with the situation that the Vikings are in the middle of?
Update: Matt Elam signed his rookie deal with the Ravens earlier today. That leaves 16 rookie free agents unsigned. In some-what unrelated news, the Jaguars signed 4th round pick Josh Evans today as well.