Let's nip this in the bud before it has any chance of becoming a thing.
On Friday, a day after the Falcons became the first team to sign their entire 2016 draft class, came this:
@BlackBlueReview have we signed any of our picks? Is there any rush to?
— Roderick Freeman (@RodFreeman05) May 6, 2016
Because those worries are still common, now's a good time to remind that the answer to the second question is NO.
Rookie contracts became what are essentially boilerplate deals when the current CBA passed in 2011. Negotiations and holdouts are no more. Instead, draft picks sign four-year, slotted contracts.
According to Spotrac, these are the estimated total values of the Panthers' five draft picks:
Vernon Butler - $8.60 million
James Bradberry - $3.96 million
Daryl Worley - $3.43 million
Zack Sanchez - $2.61 million
Beau Sandland - $2.40 million
The Panthers' picks will cost them around $3.88 million against the cap in 2016, the smallest sum in the league.
Those contracts could start getting done as soon as Monday, which marks nine days since the end of the draft. That's how long it took the Panthers to lock up their rookie class last year. The process lasted longer in 2013 and 2014 when everyone was signed within 26 days of the draft.
2015
Draft: Apr. 30-May 2
Signed:
May 7
Shaq Thompson
Daryl Williams
David Mayo
May 8
Cameron Artis-Payne
May 11
Devin Funchess
2014
Draft: May 8-May 10
Signed:
May 17
Tyler Gaffney
May 20
Tre Boston
Bené Benwikere
May 29
Kony Ealy
June 5
Kelvin Benjamin
Trai Turner
2013
Draft: Apr. 25-Apr. 27
Signed:
May 22
Kawann Short
May 23
A.J. Klein
Kenjon Barner
Star Lotulelei
Edmund Kugbila
When they're unsigned, most draft picks use an injury-protection letter to get them on the field ASAP. So if one, some or all don't have done deals by the end of this week, the newest Panthers will be in Charlotte on Friday for the first of a two-day minicamp.
(UPDATE: Mon. May 9, 7:30 p.m.)
The #Panthers have signed draft picks James Bradberry and Beau Sandland!
More Info » https://t.co/C2WZ7QFq0t pic.twitter.com/2WwEQA4XuG
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) May 9, 2016