The Minnesota Vikings have wrapped up deals with all of their draft choices, as the team late Wednesday night reached an agreement in principle with first-round selection Chad Greenway, a linebacker from Iowa who likely will start as a rookie in the club's retooled defense.
Barring any last-minute complications, Greenway, the 17th overall choice in the draft, is scheduled to officially sign a five-year contract on Thursday and report along with the rest of the team to training camp. The Vikings' initial practice under first-year head coach Brad Childress is on Friday morning. Financial details of the Greenway contract were not yet available.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Vikings signed second-round quarterback Tarvaris Jackson to a four-year contract worth $2.7 million-$2.8 million. The former Alabama State standout is viewed as the Vikings' quarterback of the future, but will be brought along slowly this season, and likely will be No. 3 on the depth chart behind starter Brad Johnson and backup Mike McMahon.
There isn't likely to be such an apprenticeship for Greenway, who will challenge veteran E.J. Henderson for the starting job at weakside linebacker in camp. Under new defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin, who has installed the "cover two" scheme he learned while working in Tampa Bay, the Vikings have shuffled their linebackers during spring workouts, seeking the right three-man combination.
Chiefs agree with first-rounder Hali
The Kansas City Chiefs have reached agreement with first-round draft choice Tamba Hali, the standout defensive end from Penn State, on a five-year contract, ESPN.com has learned. Financial details of the deal were not immediately available.
The 20th overall choice in the draft, Hali has expected to play an important role as the Chiefs implement a cover two scheme under new coach Herm Edwards.
Hali played in 47 games at Penn State, and started 34 of them, registering 179 tackles, including 36 tackles for losses. He had 14 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one interception.
A native of Liberia, Hali is noted for his big motor and intensity, along with his big-play skills. Some teams dropped him on their draft boards because of what they felt were slow 40-yard times, but the Chiefs had no such concerns.
Giants reach agreement with Kiwanuka
The New York Giants have reached agreement with defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka of Boston College, the team's first-round choice in the 2006 draft, ESPN.com has learned.
The deal, negotiated by agent Tom Condon over the last two days, is for five years, the maximum permitted for a player chosen in the second half of the opening round, and is worth slightly less than $10 million. Kiwanuka was the last player taken in the first round, after the Giants traded back with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who moved up to grab Ohio State wide receiver Santonio Holmes.
The Giants already have one of the NFL's top end tandems in Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora, and so Kiwanuka likely will slide into the No. 3 spot. He is expected to be used in nickel situations, and the New York coaches during the spring experimented with a four-man rush front that was comprised only of ends.
A pure pass-rusher, blessed with an explosive first step and excellent closing speed on the quarterback, Kiwanuka set a school record for sacks, with 37½.
Barring any last-minute complications, Greenway, the 17th overall choice in the draft, is scheduled to officially sign a five-year contract on Thursday and report along with the rest of the team to training camp. The Vikings' initial practice under first-year head coach Brad Childress is on Friday morning. Financial details of the Greenway contract were not yet available.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Vikings signed second-round quarterback Tarvaris Jackson to a four-year contract worth $2.7 million-$2.8 million. The former Alabama State standout is viewed as the Vikings' quarterback of the future, but will be brought along slowly this season, and likely will be No. 3 on the depth chart behind starter Brad Johnson and backup Mike McMahon.
There isn't likely to be such an apprenticeship for Greenway, who will challenge veteran E.J. Henderson for the starting job at weakside linebacker in camp. Under new defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin, who has installed the "cover two" scheme he learned while working in Tampa Bay, the Vikings have shuffled their linebackers during spring workouts, seeking the right three-man combination.
Chiefs agree with first-rounder Hali
The Kansas City Chiefs have reached agreement with first-round draft choice Tamba Hali, the standout defensive end from Penn State, on a five-year contract, ESPN.com has learned. Financial details of the deal were not immediately available.
The 20th overall choice in the draft, Hali has expected to play an important role as the Chiefs implement a cover two scheme under new coach Herm Edwards.
Hali played in 47 games at Penn State, and started 34 of them, registering 179 tackles, including 36 tackles for losses. He had 14 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one interception.
A native of Liberia, Hali is noted for his big motor and intensity, along with his big-play skills. Some teams dropped him on their draft boards because of what they felt were slow 40-yard times, but the Chiefs had no such concerns.
Giants reach agreement with Kiwanuka
The New York Giants have reached agreement with defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka of Boston College, the team's first-round choice in the 2006 draft, ESPN.com has learned.
The deal, negotiated by agent Tom Condon over the last two days, is for five years, the maximum permitted for a player chosen in the second half of the opening round, and is worth slightly less than $10 million. Kiwanuka was the last player taken in the first round, after the Giants traded back with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who moved up to grab Ohio State wide receiver Santonio Holmes.
The Giants already have one of the NFL's top end tandems in Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora, and so Kiwanuka likely will slide into the No. 3 spot. He is expected to be used in nickel situations, and the New York coaches during the spring experimented with a four-man rush front that was comprised only of ends.
A pure pass-rusher, blessed with an explosive first step and excellent closing speed on the quarterback, Kiwanuka set a school record for sacks, with 37½.