NFL Training Camps are set to begin this week and with a number of teams working on trying to improve next season, getting every player in camp will be essential and there are still a number of top named draft picks that are unsigned heading into the workouts, including Tyler Wilson, D.J. Hayden, Menelik Watson, Dion Jordan, Dee Milliner, Lane Johnson, Justin Pugh, Cordarrelle Patterson, Eric Fisher and Chance Warmack.
Many teams are still working on deals, including the Raiders as well as the Dolphins, who say that Jordan could be signed over the weekend, while some other players may end up holding out for more money. Teams want to get their players into camp, including someone like the Giants, who feel that Justin Pugh can be a starter this season and they want him in camp as soon as possible to start learning the offense, working with Eli Manning and getting acclimated to his position on the line.
The Raiders signed six draft picks already to contracts, including Brice Butler, Latavius Murray, Stacy McGee, David Bass and Nick Kasa, but that still leaves first round pick DJ Hayden as well as second rounder Watson and the fourth rounder Wilson unsigned with training camp weeks away. Kasa and Mychal Rivera were signed out of the sixth round and are both tight ends, while Murray was also a sixth round pick out of Central Florida as a running back and he could be a big force this season if Darren McFadden gets hurt.
According to Pro Football Talk, number three overall pick Dion Jordan has yet to sign a rookie contract and while he is confident that a deal will get done before training camp, there is a chance that he could holdout if the team plays hardball on a contract. Jordan said that he expects the contract to be signed by Saturday when he comes to training camp, but since the deal is not finalized, it could force him to stay away at first.
Wilson had first round grades by many teams and he may be hoping for a decent contract because he will be considered the quarterback of the future behind the newly-acquired Matt Flynn. Hayden was injured in college and he had surgery this summer for an abdominal issue, although the team said it isn't expected to linger. Those deals could take time and there is a chance that Hayden will miss some training camp anyway as he recovers from his surgery. McKenzie went after the tight ends to make up for losing Brandon Myers in free agency, as he led the team in receiving last season and now Kasa will have the chance to compete in training camp for a starting spot.
Jordan said a deal is in place and needs to get finished, but since the past two Dolphins first round picks held out, the team knows it could go the other way. Jordan was one of the top picks in the draft and was considered one of the best defensive players in the entire class and the team traded up with the Oakland Raiders to select him. Jordan had injury issues coming out of college at Oregon, but he said that he will be ready for the season and he could help overhaul a defense that was suspect last year.
Wilson likely won't start after the team traded for Flynn, but stranger things have happened and depending on how he does in training camp, Dennis Allen could make the tough call, much like Pete Carroll did with Russell Wilson over Flynn for the Seahawks. The Raiders are expecting big improvements after signing Nick Roach, Kevin Burnett, Charles Woodson, Mike Jenkins and Tracy Porter and their record should be better than 4-12. The team is not the only one with their first rounder unsigned, as the Giants, Texans, Jets, Chiefs, Dolphins and Eagles are all dealing with it, as are other teams. Some of the top unsigned names include Eric Fisher, DeAndre Hopkins, Justin Pugh, Dion Jordan, Lane Johnson and Chance Warmack among others.
