IRVING, Texas -- The NFL's new collective bargaining agreement has essentially taken all the fun -- if you can call it that -- out of rookie contract negotiations.
There is basically a formula that spits out the numbers.
But the third round is a different story.
The top 13 picks from this year's third round, including Maliek Collins of the Dallas Cowboys, have not yet signed.
This story from the Florida Times-Union gives a good look at what has happened (or not happened). Essentially there is room to negotiate additional compensation for the third-rounders, but there is no guideline on the percentage a player receives.
In looking back at the rookie contracts from 2011-15, the team and agent try to cherry pick the numbers that best solve their situation. In a way, it’s a game of chicken.
Agents don’t want to go too early and see a larger percentage go to a player behind their client. Teams don’t want to go too soon and pay out above the slot.
So what does it mean? Nothing really. Collins is on the field for the organized team activities and will be around for the June minicamp.
According to the story, the top-10 third-round picks in 2015 signed as late as July 27 and others were signed by mid-June. The Cowboys are scheduled to fly to Oxnard, California, this summer for training camp July 28. Their minicamp runs June 14-16.
As for the Cowboys’ fourth-round picks, Charles Tapper and Dak Prescott, those deals could be finished soon.
The Cowboys signed first-rounder Ezekiel Elliott, second-rounder Jaylon Smith, and sixth-rounders Anthony Brown, Kavon Frazier, Darius Jackson and Rico Gathers with relative ease.