The Raiders signed another draft pick Monday. This time it was wide receiver and kick returner Jacoby Ford’s turn to put the pen to the paper. Ford was taken with the Raiders second pick in the 4th round our it Clemson Unversity. The team traded up to get him by sending former middle linebacker Kirk Morrison to the Jaguars.
The speedster received the standard base salaries of $320,000, $405,000, $490,000 and $575,000 as well as a slotted signing bonus and a fourth-year escalator clause that can significantly boost the maximum value of the deal. His bonus is expected to be around $500,000.
He will compete with Jonnie Lee Higgins for primary kick return duties and will very likely supplant win the job. Depending on how he performs between now and the start of the season, he could completely supplant Higgins on the roster altogether.
Among Ford’s accolades and accomplishments include being named 2nd team All ACC last year after a season in which he caught 56 passes for 779 and 6 touchdowns. His speed is unquestioned as he holds the ACC record in the 60-meter dash and he ran a 4.27 40 yard dash at the scouting combine.
He becomes the sixth of nine Raider rookies to sign in recent weeks; joining fellow 4th round pick Bruce Campbell, 3rd round pick Jared Veldheer, 5th round pick Walter McFadden, 6th round pick Jared Goethel and early 7th round pick Jeremy Ware. Late 7th round pick Stevie Brown is rumored to have signed already but in Raider way, it was not officially reported yet.
This would just leave 2nd round pick Lamarr Houston and of course 1st round pick Rolando McClain as the lone unsigned Raider rookies.
Especially troubling is the fact that Raider training camp starts just 10 days from now and none of the 32 first-round draft picks have signed. No telling yet how long it will be until number one overall pick Sam Bradford will sign and set off the trickle down of first round pick contracts.
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