Green Bay Many people have assumed that first-round draft choice B.J. Raji is the one holding up negotiations, waiting until players selected around him consummate deals so he can make sure he doesn't undersell himself.
But what if the Green Bay Packers are the ones stalling?
They have as much to lose as Raji if they sign him to a big-money deal and Jacksonville's Eugene Monroe, chosen one spot ahead of Raji, signs a below-market deal. Everyone is wondering what No. 10 pick Michael Crabtree's contract will look like because he is reportedly negotiating like he's a No. 5 pick. .
There have been indications that the Packers are in a holding pattern while they wait to see what pick Nos. 6, 8, 10, 11 and 12 do. The Packers haven't exactly laid out an ultimatum to Raji that he better get in soon or he'll lose his starting spot and they continue to say they understand that it's just business.
Asked why Raji wasn't in camp yet, general manager Ted Thompson said:
"If I had the answer to that, he'd probably be signed. I think the higher you get in rounds, it seems like with the first-round guys there are a little more complications and a little more wondering what the other guy is going to do. But we're working at it. Everybody's trying to do the right thing. We'll get it worked out."
The top 10 in this draft have been as unusual as any in quite some time.
The Detroit Lions gave No. 1 pick Matthew Stafford a 39% increase in guaranteed money over 2008 No. 1 pick Jake Long in order to get the Georgia quarterback signed prior to draft day. The New York Jets followed by giving USC quarterback Mark Sanchez $28 million in guarantees, topping the 2008 No. 5 pick by more than 40%.
Then the Oakland Raiders gave No. 7 pick, receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, a 20% increase in signing bonus money, raising the ante for everyone in the top 10. In a normal year, the percentage of increase over last year would taper down dramatically, but the market is different this year.
Adding to the logjam is Crabtree's insistence that he be paid top 5 money. He was projected to be the No. 1 pick, but fell because of a foot injury. Nevertheless, his agent is reportedly seeking a premium for his services.
If the 49ers deliver that premium, everyone around Crabtree is going to want it, too.
"Everyone is waiting for Crabtree," said an agent who represents one of the unsigned players.
Apparently, that means the clubs, too, because there doesn't seem to be much movement going on with the remaining nine unsigned players: No. 3 Tyson Jackson, Kansas City; No. 4 Aaron Curry, Seattle; No. 6 Andre Smith, Cincinnati; No. 8 Monroe; No. 9 Raji; No. 10 Crabtree; No. 11 Aaron Maybin, Buffalo; No. 12 Knowshon Moreno, Denver; and No. 14 Malcolm Jenkins, New Orleans.