The Packers didn't have a first-round holdout of any significant length under former negotiator Andrew Brandt, who after eight years surprisingly was not offered a contract for 2008. Ball, who has considerable negotiating experience with other NFL clubs, has yet to complete a first-round deal for the Packers because Thompson traded out of the round during his first year with the club.
Matthews' deal could get done faster than Raji's because of where he was selected. His agents completed a deal Wednesday with the 28th pick, Buffalo center Eric Wood, and they also represent the 27th pick, Indianapolis running back Donald Brown.
Having already set the market with the 28th pick, the 27th and 26th shouldn't be that hard to do for the agents.
Raji's deal doesn't have to depend necessarily on the financial packages the picks around him receive, but things could be complicated because the No. 10 pick, San Francisco's Michael Crabtree, fell only because he had an injured foot at draft time. He'll argue that he should be paid like a top-5 pick and if the 49ers give in, it will set the bar high for other agents with top-10 clients.