After the Falcons added first-round tight end Kyle Pitts to their rookie deal early Tuesday, there are eight first-round newbies who have not yet signed:
1) Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, QB (Clemson)
2) New York Jets: Zach Wilson, QB (BYU)
3) San Francisco 49ers (from Texans to Dolphins): Trey Lance, QB (North Dakota State)
13) Los Angeles Chargers: Rashawn Slater, OT (Northwest)
14) New York Jets (by Vikings): Alijah Vera-Tucker, OL (USC)
15) New England Patriots: Mac Jones, QB (Alabama)
25) Jacksonville Jaguars (by Rams): Travis Etienne, RB (Clemson)
26) Cleveland Browns: Greg Newsome II, CB (northwest)
This isn’t a big cause for concern as first-round contracts are pretty standard and post-book. However, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler has an explanation for why at least a handful of these players still haven’t put pen to paper. According to the reporter (via Twitter) there are still some “wrinkles to be solved” in the notable quarterback deals. That feeling would likely apply to any of the top three picks, and could even apply to the Patriots’ first-round quarterback Mac Jones.
There are a number of minor details agents might be pushing for, including signing bonus terms or any other contractual language beyond the standard standard options. Teams, on the flip side, might be pushing for some sort of offset language, which means that the organization is given some financial flexibility if, for some reason, the player doesn’t sign their rookie contract with the team.
When it comes to the quarterbacks, most agents are likely waiting to see how Lawrence’s deal plays out in Jacksonville. Alternatively, if Bill Belichick and the Patriots give in (somehow) to any demands from Jones’s camp, you can bet that the top three QBs would argue for similar benefits. While there are several reasons the other non-QB players have yet to sign, one might suspect that the two offensive linemen are pushing for similar terms (Vera-Tucker could just as easily wait for his teammate to sign his contract). Etienne is in a unique position as one of only two first-round running backs (or, like Vera-Tucker, he might be waiting for his teammate) while Newsome recently fired his agent.
The teams and players want to settle contracts before the training camp at the end of July, but there are still a few weeks for negotiations.
