After the 2011 draft, NFL teams began signing their picks earlier than usual. Now, most teams have their draft picks under contract before Memorial Day. As of now, 163 out of 257 draft picks have already signed and submitted their contracts to the NFL Players Association.
The highest-drafted player under contract is Giants receiver Malik Nabers, who was picked sixth overall. Eleven first-round picks have signed their deals so far. The seventh round has the most players under contract, with 34 out of 37 players signed. In contrast, only eight players from the second round have signed their contracts.
Most draft picks are expected to be signed before training camp starts. However, issues may arise during contract negotiations. The main sticking points are typically the cash flow of the signing bonus, the amount of full guarantee at signing, the language that could void guarantees, and offsets for future guaranteed payments. However, in most cases, the contract terms are predetermined based on the draft slot, making negotiations relatively smooth.
In conclusion, NFL teams have started signing their draft picks earlier than usual in recent years. Most teams have their picks under contract before Memorial Day, and as of now, 163 out of 257 draft picks have already signed and submitted their contracts to the NFL Players Association. While issues may arise during contract negotiations, most contract terms are predetermined based on the draft slot.