//MAQB: Rookies Are Way Behind on Signing; Justyn Ross’s Surgery Is Big NFL News; More

MAQB: Rookies Are Way Behind on Signing; Justyn Ross’s Surgery Is Big NFL News; More

An inability to get physicals means many NFL rookies haven’t signed contracts or been paid a dime. Plus, Justyn Ross’s injury is not just a Clemson story but a major 2021 draft story.

With more important matters ongoing in our world, here’s some football for you guys …

• Want a motivator for teams to get some players back in before the end of June? A lot of rookies still haven’t been paid a dime yet, for obvious reasons relating to their inability to take physicals. Only guys who are close enough to team doctors to go in or with teams willing to do third-party physicals are signed, and that has the number of rookie deals way down. By the end of May last year, 204 of 254 draft picks (80.3%) were signed, including 20 of 32 first-round picks. This year? As of June 1, just 51 of 255 draft