Eagles sign rookie Kendricks to 4-year deal

Linebacker Mychal Kendricks signed a four-year contract Tuesday, becoming the first Eagles draft pick in the fold this year.

The remaining eight could have deals in time for the start of minicamp on Saturday, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said.

"I don't think it's going to be a long process with most of the players," Roseman said. "I think the players want to get it done. They know that there isn't any incentive to waiting in terms of getting a different deal."

The new collective-bargaining agreement, which established a strict rookie wage scale, has essentially eliminated the need for negotiations. Salaries are largely slotted according to draft position.

The days when top draft picks would miss significant time in late July and early August during training camp appear to be long gone. All three of the Eagles' first- round draft picks from 2009 to 2011 - Jeremy Maclin, Brandon Graham, and Danny Watkins - missed part of camp.

There's a chance this year's top pick - Mississippi State defensive tackle Fletcher Cox - could be signed sooner rather than later. Two first-round picks - San Diego linebacker Melvin Ingram and Seattle defensive end Bruce Irvin - have already signed five-year contracts.

Except for first-round selections, contracts for rookies drafted in Rounds 2-7 are four years in length. The terms of Kendricks' deal were not immediately known. The California linebacker was drafted 46th overall. The Eagles selected Marshall defensive end Vinny Curry 13 picks later in the second round.

Contracts with the Eagles' other unsigned rookies - third-round quarterback Nick Foles, fourth-round cornerback Brandon Boykin, fifth-round tackle Dennis Kelly, sixth-round receiver Marvin McNutt, sixth-round guard Brandon Washington, and seventh-round running back Bryce Brown - don't have to be completed in time for the players to participate in this weekend's minicamp.

The first two days of the three-day camp will consist of two-a-day practices. Players will wear helmets but not pads. In recent years, veterans could partake in the camp, but the new CBA has limited offseason workouts.

To allow for scrimmaging, the Eagles will invite nonroster players for so-called tryouts. The team invited Rouge et Or College defensive end Frederick Piesius, who was the 10th overall pick in last week's CFL draft and previously played at Baylor, and Wilfrid Laurier receiver Shamawd Chambers, who was taken sixth overall, according to an NFL source.

With nine draft picks, 13 undrafted rookie free-agent signings, and several practice squad leftovers who didn't play last season, the nonroster tryouts should give the Eagles enough bodies.