With training camp less than a week away, wide receiver Jeremy Maclin is the Eagles' only unsigned draft pick. But Maclin's agent, Jim Steiner, said there is nothing to worry about.
The Eagles and Steiner, who also represents former Eagles safety Brian Dawkins, had preliminary discussions last week, and "negotiations should intensify in the middle to latter part of this week," Steiner said yesterday.
Maclin, the No. 19 overall pick, is far from the only first-round selection without a deal. As of yesterday, only two No. 1 picks - quarterbacks Matthew Stafford (Detroit) and Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) - had been signed. The NFL's roster of second-round picks had not wrapped up deals either, although Eagles running back LeSean McCoy signed a contract last month.
Steiner, of the Creative Artists Agency, has been in negotiations with Eagles consultant Andrew Brandt.
"Realistically, we should be able to find some common ground to get Jeremy into camp on time," Steiner said. "I'm optimistic. I don't think Jeremy is worried, and I don't think the Eagles are worried."
A message left with Brandt was not returned. The Eagles typically do not comment on contract negotiations. Steiner would not comment on the particulars of the talks or how far apart the sides were.
Eagles rookies are scheduled to report to Lehigh University for the opening of camp Sunday. Maclin, like all NFL players, must be under contract before he can attend training camp.
"There are many factors that contribute to how a first-round deal gets done," Steiner said. "Often, the picks line up and sign one after the other. Sometimes it depends on what a player at the same position gets."
Maclin was the third wideout taken in the draft: Oakland selected Maryland's Darrius Heyward-Bey with the seventh pick and San Francisco took Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree at No. 10.
A 6-foot, 198-pound receiver out of Missouri, Maclin had solid minicamps by most observations. He is listed behind Kevin Curtis and Jason Avant on the team's unofficial depth chart.
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