The days of rookie contract holdouts practically all but ended back in 2011 when the NFL's Collective Bargaining Agreement tightened salary cap regulations for drafted players.
Without getting too deep in the weeds of salary capology, rookie contracts basically became a slotted figure.
Since then, holdouts have gone the way of the kickoff, well almost, anyway. The kickoff still exists in a very watered-down form, especially now, after the league decided to allow kick returners to fair catch a ball no matter where it is kicked on the field.
Training camp holdouts have been practically nonexistent, though pass rush standout Joey Bosa, the third overall pick in 2016 of the Los Angeles Chargers was one famous hiccup.
Otherwise, it’s relatively easy to get the rookie signed, sealed, and delivered by no later than when camp doors swing open, typically at the end of July.
The Philadelphia Eagles haven’t had any issues. Usually, they are first out of the game with signing rookies to contracts, and they were again this past spring when they made Jalen Carter, the draft’s ninth overall pick, the first rookie to sign his contract prior to the team’s rookie minicamp on the first weekend after the draft ended.
A handful of hours later, the Eagles wrapped up sixth-round quarterback Tanner McKee and seventh-round defensive lineman Moro Ojomo.
The team then began ticking the rest of their picks off the contract list – except one.
The last one to agree to terms with the Eagles was Nolan Smith, who signed on May 22.
One of the seven picks remains.
Fourth-round cornerback Kelee Ringo remains unsigned with less than a month to go until camp opens on July 25. Obviously, there's plenty of time to work out a deal, and certainly one will come along at some point, but the fact that Ringo still hasn’t come to terms is curious.
Ringo, who the Eagles traded up to select with the 105th overall pick, is one of only two fourth-round picks who remain unsigned y their respective teams. Offensive tackle Blake Freeland, who was drafted one spot after Ringo by the Indianapolis Colts, is the other.
It’s bigger news that just 22 of 31 first-round picks remain unsigned, including three quarterbacks – Bryce Young, C.J. Stoud, and Anthony Richardson – but the fact the Eagles and Ringo have not yet made a deal is something to watch as the countdown to report day picks up speed.
Ed Kracz covers the Philadelphia Eagles for SI's EaglesToday.
Please follow him and our Eagles coverage on Twitter at @kracze.
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