Broncos sign second-round pick Smith to 4-year deal
Broncos sign second-round pick Smith to 4-year deal
The Denver Broncos signed second-round pick Alphonso Smith to a 4-year deal yesterday, a day before rookies were scheduled to report to camp.
That leaves the Broncos with five unsigned draft picks, including first-round selections Knowshon Moreno and Robert Ayers. Second-round pick Darcel McBath, fourth-rounder David Bruton and sixth-rounder Tom Brandstater are also unsigned.
Smith, a defensive back out of Wake Forest, is expected to compete for a spot in the nickel package, with Champ Bailey and André Goodman already penciled in as the starting cornerbacks.
Smith's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said it was a priority to get him into camp on time.
"That was important to us," he said. "It's not easy when you have as many picks in the first and second round [as the Broncos have]. But they found a way to be creative. Alphonso's very happy."
Noteworthy
* Cleveland signed defensive end David Veikune, a second-round pick, to a 4-year deal. The move came 1 day after the Browns reached a deal with first-round draft pick Alex Mack. Mack is an All-America center from California, who also plays guard. Terms were not released for either deal.
Veikune appeared in 41 games in three seasons at Hawaii (2006-08), including 15 starts. He had 118 tackles, 18 sacks, 28 stops for losses, 12 quarterback pressures, three pass deflections and four forced fumbles during his career. Veikune earned second-team All-WAC honors as a senior in 2008 when he recorded a career-high 73 tackles, nine sacks and four forced fumbles.
Alsoy, the Browns waived wide receiver Devale Ellis.
* Buffalo Bills second-round pick Andy Levitre signed a 4-year contract, leaving the team with three unsigned rookies after 2 days of training camp.
The offensive guard's agent Leo Goeas said his client had signed the deal at the team's headquarters in Orchard Park, N.Y., and was traveling to report to camp in suburban Rochester. He missed only four practices after the Bills opened camp on Saturday.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it's expected to be worth about $3.5 million.
The 51st overall pick out of Oregon State, Levitre made 39 starts and was first-team All-Pac 10 last year. The Bills are counting on Levitre to start at left guard as part of a completely retooled offensive line, which is also projected to feature unsigned first-round pick Eric Wood playing right guard.
Aside from Wood, the Bills have also yet to sign first-round pick, defensive end Aaron Maybin and second-rounder safety Jairus Byrd.
In other Bills news, coach Dick Jauron said starting defensive tackle Marcus Stroud will miss up to a week with a strained left hamstring. Jauron and Stroud termed the injury as minor. Stroud was hurt during the second of Buffalo's two practices on Saturday.
The news is far worse for rookie running back Justice Hairston, who is expected to miss the rest of the season after hurting his knee minutes into the Bills' camp-opening practice on Saturday. Hairston signed with Buffalo as an undrafted free agent out of Central Connecticut.
