The 2011 collective bargaining agreement fundamentally changed how draft picks are paid. A rookie wage scale drastically reducing salaries for early first-round picks was implemented. It remains in existence.All contracts for draft choices are four years in length under the rookie wage scale. Four-year deals in the first round before the rookie wage scale were virtually nonexistent. Most first rounders got five-year deals, except quarterbacks selected early in the draft, such as in 2009 and in 2010, who signed six-year contracts.Teams have an option for a fifth year with first-round picks that must be exercised after the third year of the rookie contract. The period for exercising fifth-year options begins after a player's third regular season ends. These options must be picked up prior to May 3. Options for 19 players selected in the 2019 first round were picked up this year.The timing for when draft picks could sign contract extensions also changed. Draft pick contracts can't be renegotiated until Saben Lee Jersey the conclusion of a player's third NFL regular season. This means 2019 draftees became eligible to sign extensions after the 2021 regular season ended on Jan. 9. 2022 is a not contract year for 2019 first round picks if the option for a fifth year is exercised. Rookie contracts for first-round picks expire after the 2023 season in these cases. Because of this, only a few first-round picks sign extensions before the start of or early in their fourth NFL season.Since 2011 first-round picks initially became eligible for new deals in 2014, just 25 first rounders have signed extensions within this timeframe. The 25 players are listed in the charts below.2011 NFL DraftPickNamePositionTeam5CB9OT11DT14EDGE2012 NFL DraftPickNamePositionTeam8QB9LB26EDGETexans2013 NFL DraftPickNamePositionTeam1OT4OT8WRRams20OG31CCowboys2014 NFL Draft: None2015 NFL DraftPickNamePositionTeam10RBRams2016 NFL DraftPickNamePositionTeam1QBRams2QBEagles4RBCowboys2017 NFL DraftPickNamePositionTeam1EDGE8RBPanthers10QBChiefs12QBTexans16CB27CB2018 NFL DraftPickNamePositionTeam7Josh AllenQBBills15OT20CDuring the first eight times first-round picks have been eligible for extensions (2014 through 2021), an average of 3.125 players per year received new deals after three years. 2018 12th overall pick isn't included. The defensive tackle didn't sign a new deal until a day before the 2021 regular season ended.Surprisingly, none of the 2014 first-round picks signed extensions in 2017 despite containing NFL Defensive Player of Year award winners defensive tackle and edge rusher . Donald held out from the Rams for most of the preseason trying Rodney McGruder Jersey to get a new deal before returning to play under the fourth year of his rookie contract.The high water mark for early first-round extensions was in 2020. Six 2017 first-round picks with options exercised didn't play the fourth season under their rookie contracts because extensions were signed. offensive tackle , whose fifth-year option was declined, has been excluded. His deal came 10 games into Denver's 2020 regular season.Only 14 have done an early first-round pick extension since 2014. The teams that don't fit the criteria are the , Broncos, Buccaneers, , , , , , , , , , , , , and .Surprisingly, the Rams lead the way with four extensions given their recent philosophy of "F** Them Picks." This number isn't going to change anytime soon. The Rams haven't had a first-round pick since Jared Goff in 2016 and don't have another one until 2024.The extensions have skewed toward offensive players by slightly more than a two-to-one margin. Only eight of the extensions have gone to defensive players while 17 have been to Bob Lanier Jersey those on the offensive side of the ball.An emerging trend is to extend the contracts of quarterbacks early. Overall, six quarterbacks have gotten early extensions. Five of the new deals for pa sers have been in the past three eligible draft cla ses (2016 through 2018).Nobody from the 2019 first round has signed an extension so far this offseason. Based on history, three of these first rounders should get new deals before the regular season starts in September. The season opener for most NFL teams is on Sunday, Sept. 11. The most logical candidates to get early extensions are below.First Pick: , QB, Cardinals ARI QB #1 Murray has been pushing for a new deal practically ever since the Cardinals lost to the Rams in the wild-card round. Erik Burkhardt, Murray's agent, released a statement in all capital letters during February e sentially demanding a new contract. The Cardinals haven't made an offer to Murray. Burkhardt recently pulled the offer he had made to the Cardinals.When the offseason workout program started in mid-April, Murray was a no show. This prompted some speculation that Murray could eventually be traded. Cardinals GM Steve Keim stating there's "zero chance" of a Murray being traded should end the rumors. The two-time Pro Bowler is also skipping organized team activities that started for the Cardinals this week.Murray could be the beneficiary of the Cardinals not operating on his timetable for a new contract. Christian Wood Jersey Nobody envisioned quarterback Deshaun Watson getting a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract in connection with his trade from the Texans to the Browns, especially considering the sexual a sault and misconduct allegations he's still facing. Watson had four years worth $136 million remaining on the four-year contract extension averaging $39 million per year he signed in September 2020. Burkhardt initially pushing for a fully guaranteed contract comparable to Watson's wouldn't be a surprise.A fully guaranteed contract could be problematic because of the NFL's archaic funding rules and the Cardinals aren't considered a cash rich team. Teams are required to put into an escrow account the amount of any guarantees in a contract other than those just for injury, including ones in future contract years.The Cardinals didn't pay Murray's signing bonus in a lump like 2019 second overall pick got from the 49ers. $6,839,924 of Murray's $23,589,924 signing bonus was deferred until March 1, 2020.Second Pick: Nick Bosa, Isiah Thomas Jersey DE, 49ers SF DE #97 Bosa didn't show any ill effects from the left ACL tear he suffered in San Francisco's second game during the 2020 season. 2019's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year was fourth in the NFL with 15.5 sacks last season.Bosa was named a starter for the NFC in the Pro Bowl for the second time in his three NFL seasons. He also earned All-NFL/All-Pro honors from the Pro Football Writers of America and the Sporting News.49ers general manager John Lynch called Bosa a foundational piece shortly after the 49ers lost the NFC Championship Game to the Rams. Negotiations are expected to take place at some point this offseason. The 49ers are proactive in signing core players to extensions.It's hard to imagine a Bosa deal that doesn't top the four-year, $112.011 million extension a