A little news item that easily got lost in the shuffle a few days ago: The Dallas Cowboys signed 4th round pick Akwasi Owusu-Ansah out of the University of Indiana (PA). "AOA," as he is sometimes called, inked a four-year contract with base salaries of $320,000 in 2010, $405,000 in 2011, $490,000 in 2012, and $575,000 in 2013.
Owusu-Ansah was picked number 126th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft, three spots ahead of Colts fourth round pick Jacques McClendon. Two days before the Owusu-Ansah signing, Seahawks fourth-rounder E.J. Wilson signed. Wilson was drafted two spots ahead of McClendon.
Almost a month ago, the Detroit Lions signed tackle Jason Fox to a three-year deal. Fox was picked just before McClendon.
So, both the Colts and McClendon's agent know, pretty much, what the player's worth is based on the Cowboys, Seahawks, and Lions draft signings. So, we should see a deal for McClendon very soon, right?
The only thing that I could see holding up a pre-camp McClendon signing is Fox agreeing to that three year deal back on June 25th. The Colts just signed 7th rounder Ray Fisher to a four-year deal. Maybe the length of the deal (possibly three years for a 4th rounder, based off the Fox deal) is causing a delay. Maybe, like AOA, Wilson, and Fisher, the McClendon camp wants a four year deal.