With the Philadelphia Eagles Fletcher Cox signing his rookie deal on Monday, now seems a good time to tally up the number of unsigned first-round NFL Draft picks.
Of the top 32 picks, 17 are signed. Among the top 10 picks, only two – Luke Kuechly in Carolina and Stephon Gilmore in Buffalo – are signed. Kuechly, the No. 9 pick, is the highest signed player. San Francisco wide receiver A.J. Jenkins, the No. 30 pick, is the lowest unsigned pick.
The issue is offset language, a somewhat complicated contractual clause benefitting owners.
There has been no official recent word on the contract status of Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III. Trent Richardson of Cleveland, the third pick, fold reporters Monday his contract was "close." Sixth overall pick Morris Claiborne had about the same sentiment four days ago. There has been seemingly no word on fourth overall pick Matt Kalil.
It won't be a shock if Jacksonville's Justin Blackmon is the last pick from the first round to sign due to his legal troubles. It's been more than a week since there's been any sort of discussion about contracts for Mark Barron, Ryan Tannehill and others. So, that's the brief down and dirty status of rookie contracts. Fear not, if your team's rookie hasn't signed, he will do so soon. Maybe.