Ndamukong Suh, other top picks wait to see what Rams will pay Bradford

Tim Twentyman / The Detroit News Allen Park -- The Lions have signed all of their draft picks except first-rounders Ndamukong Suh and Jahvid Best. But the Lions aren't the only one waiting to get first-round picks under contract. With some training camps set to open today, there is only one first-round pick under contract -- wide receiver Dez Bryant, the No. 24 pick, and the Cowboys reached an agreement Thursday. There are a number of potential reasons for that -- 2010 being an uncapped year or the likely implementation of a rookie salary scale after this season -- but the main reason, according to some agents, is that No. 1 pick Sam Bradford has yet to sign his deal.
 
"The first pick hasn't signed yet and sometimes this is the way it happens when a first-overall pick doesn't sign before the draft," said agent Kevin Poston, who represents Lions linebacker Julian Peterson and Packers cornerback Charles Woodson, among others. "Once Bradford signs you'll see a lot of signings in a short period of time." When Bradford signs, and for how much, will ultimately set the market for players for the top players taken in the draft. Bradford has reportedly begun negotiations with the Rams and is expected to sign the largest rookie contract in NFL history with upward of $50 million in guaranteed money. Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford signed for $41.75 million in guarantees as the No. 1 pick last season. Suh's agent, Roosevelt Barnes, told The Detroit News earlier this week that Bradford's status has nothing to do with the current negotiations with the Lions.

However, the large nature of Bradford's potential deal is why one agent thinks the Lions don't have a deal with Suh and why the Buccaneers don't have deal with defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, the third overall pick. "If you are the agent for Suh or McCoy, why wouldn't you wait for Bradford, who is a quarterback, who's No. 1, to get the big money so you can use that as more money for you?" the agent said. "(Bradford) is a quarterback. The last thing I want to do as an agent is sign a poor deal where he gets $70 million and now I've signed a deal that I thought was good at $50 million. There's a big difference." The Lions could also be in a tricky situation of potentially having to pay Suh, a defensive tackle, who was a No. 2 pick, more than Stafford, their franchise quarterback. The Lions aren't likely too thrilled about that prospect. "The agent for Suh is going to say he's the best player in the draft. So whatever Bradford signs for he's going to try to get over that. He's going to say the only reason the Rams took Bradford is because they needed a quarterback. But the best player in the draft was my guy, Suh," said an agent familiar with these types of negotiations. "If the Lions are smart, they are going to say 'Hey look Suh, this is the deal,' and of course the agent is going to fight it for a while, but if the Lions go over Stafford with guaranteed money they are stupid. Why would you give a second-overall pick, who is a defensive tackle, more than your franchise quarterback who was taken No. 1? There is no reason to. Even if the economy was up, you don't do it. That doesn't mean Suh shouldn't get a great deal, because he should get a great deal. But he shouldn't get more than Stafford." That could potentially turn into a sticking point. In regard to Best, the two sides are optimistic a contract can be agreed upon before camp starts July 31. Best was drafted 30th and shouldn't be affected by what the players near the top of the draft do. "Bradford is a long way away from where Jahvid was drafted, so no, we're not waiting," his agent, Tony Flemming, wrote in an e-mail to The News.

Prospect progress A look at the contract status of the Lions 2010 draft picks.:
• 1st round (2 overall): Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska, unsigned
• 1st round (30): Jahvid Best, RB, Cal, unsigned
• 3rd round (66): Amari Spievey, CB, Iowa, 3 years, $1.912M ($697,000 signing bonus)
• 4th round (128): Jason Fox, OT, Miami, 3 years, $1.545M ($330,970)
• 7th round (213): Willie Young, DE, North Carolina State, 3 years, $1.262M ($47,800 )
 • 7th round (255): Tim Toone, WR, Weber State, 3 years, $1.241M ($26,140)

Source: Mac's Football Blog