Cornerback Will Blackmon, one of seven Green Bay Packers restricted free agents as of last weekend, took himself off the market by signing his one-year qualifying offer.
A source with access to the NFL's transaction wire said Blackmon signed the deal Monday, the first day of the Packers' off-season workout program. It's not surprising Blackmon signed so early because he is coming off major knee surgery and probably won't receive any interest around the league.
The Packers offered him a one-year, $1.176 million tender, which places the compensation for signing him at a fourth-round pick, the same round in which he was drafted in 2006. By signing the offer, Blackmon can take part in the workout program knowing his salary is protected if he gets hurt at the team's facility.
Players without contracts cannot take part in the activities unless they reach a protection agreement with the club, so it's not unusual for them not to be there. The only player known to have an agreement protecting him is fullback John Kuhn, who has the lowest tender of the remaining restricted free agents.
The others are guards Daryn Colledge and Jason Spitz, safety Atari Bigby, end Johnny Jolly and cornerback Tramon Williams, all of whom are pursuing long-term deals with the Packers or someone else.
They have until April 15 to seek an offer with another team. If they don't get one, they become exclusive rights of the Packers. Some will sign after April 15 so they can take part in the off-season program with their salary protected.
Money matters: The four-year deal nose tackle Ryan Pickett signed is worth $24.925 million and includes a $2 million signing bonus and a $6.4 million roster bonus, both paid this season, a source with access to NFL salary information said.
His first-year salary can be as high as $9.9 million.
His base salaries are: $1.2 million in 2010, $2.7 million in '11, $4.5 million in '12 and $5.4 million in '13. The deal also includes $800,000 in workout bonuses ($200,000 each year) and $700,000 in likely-to-be-earned incentives ($100,000 this year, $400,000 next year and $100,000 in '12 and '13).
Meanwhile, offensive tackle Mark Tauscher's two-year deal is worth $8,262,500, the source said. This year, he'll receive a roster bonus of $2,081,250, a base salary of $1.4 million and a workout bonus of $200,000 for a total of $3,681,250 in first-year earnings.
In '11, he has a base salary of $4.1 million, a roster bonus of $281,250 and a workout bonus of $200,000.