A thought occurred to me. Last year, the Dolphins proceeded to negotiate a contract for Jake Long to sign before the draft, bypassing the potential for holdouts while a contract is usually finalised during training camp. If pre-draft contracts are allowed, why do teams not negotiate with a player they want, who would likely land further down the ladder, for a reasonable salary as IF they traded down picks?

For example, and ignoring the fact that this is an unrealistic assumption for a minute, propose that the Lions decide they prefer Mark Sanchez instead to QB. However, Sanchez is projected as mid 1st round pick. Since nobody wants to trade down with the Lions, they would be stuck paying 1st overall salary, would they not? Why not arrange Sanchez to sign a contract worthy, of, say, the number 10 pick in the draft, and proceed to select him 1st overall?

Is there a rule preventing teams who do not hold the first overall pick from contacting and arranging contracts prior to the draft? I'm assuming there would be, since another team may proceed to draft the signed rookie prior to the team who signed him, gets to pick him.

---

I don't see why Sanchez would do that, he'd be cheating himself out of alot of money in that case.

As for the other teams, I don't know if the slight discount you get weighs up to being 'blackmailed' by another team.

I mean, if we offer a guy like Mack a contract, why would he want to be paid less than usual? He could just aswell let himself drop and go to a better team. Also, it would pretty much waste a high pick.

If we do this with a guy like Raji and everyone knows we want him, teams like the Bengals will start threatening and forcing us to trade up with a big trade.

Or at least, that's how I think it'd go.

One pick and one pick only pre-draft. The 1st one. We are all watching Detroit.

Ah, but Sanchez is likely to be drafted around 8-18 anyway. Is there a possibility that Sanchez will be drafted, say, 3rd? Sure, but the odds are that he'd make something like #10 money anyway. Perhaps a more extreme example would have made it clearer -

The a rookie projected to land circa the bottom half of the 1st round, is paid mid-round money by the team picking 1st overall, who does not have to pay the equivalent of the 1st overall pick, considering their inability to trade out of the position.

---

Ive seen reports saying Sanchez is going to Seattle at #4 he already visited him and must have something close because Crabtree is now talking with Cleveland.

---

The first pick is the only one that i believe can actually hash out a contract offer. Anyone else would just be guessing, as draft day can change things alot in a short time. Trades, teams going up or down in the order, too many possibilities.
I mean......a team can contact a guy and say "If you are still available at our spot, we are gonna pick you". But even that can change on draft day.

---

For clarification, if Detroit signs someone prior to the draft, the "next" team is "on the clock" and can also sign someone, and so-forth, and so-on.

I think this might just be a ploy by Seattle to get someone to trade up for him. Ah, we're so close to actually finding all of this out.

---

But what if a player were to opt out of the draft and declare himself a free agent? Could teams then negotiate with him? You obviously don't HAVE to be drafted to play for the NFL, since UDFAs are signed every season.

---

You don't have to be drafted, but you do have to declare yourself for the draft, if I recall correctly. You'll have to go through the whole process and if you're not drafted, you can just sign with anyone you want.

Or at least, that's how I thought it worked.