Another day at Lehigh. Another two practices. Another opportunity wasted for rookie wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, who is still without a rookie contract.
It seemed as if one domino in the process fell when the first receiver taken in the draft, Darrius Heyward-Bey, inked a five-year deal on Thursday. Maclin was the third receiver selected in the draft.
On Friday evening, another key piece in the negotiating process came to fruition as Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew signed a five-year deal. NFL.com reported that it's a contract worth $14.6 million with $9.4 million guaranteed.
This is important because Maclin was the 19th pick and Pettigrew was selected one spot later. Agents will wait to see what the pick ahead of their respective player and after sign for in an attempt to wrangle the best deal possible.
Now that Pettigrew is a done deal, 15 of the 32 first-round draft picks are under contract. Heyward-Bey remains the only one of the six receivers drafted in the first round under contract.
-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 8:33 a.m., August 1
