Second-rounder Hill gets reported 5-year Pats deal
The Patriots are taking care of business with their incoming crop of rookies, signing second-round defensive end Marquise Hill of LSU yesterday to a reported five-year, $3.075-million deal with a bonus of $1.15 million.
Hill, whose 6-foot-6 frame could one day cut an imposing figure in the Patriots' 3-4 alignment, was the 63rd player selected overall in this year's NFL Draft after he opted to bypass his senior season with the Tigers.
On Tuesday, the Patriots signed North Carolina safety Dexter Reid, a fourth-round pick. New England still has six draft picks to get in the fold, including first-round defensive tackle Vince Wilfork (21st overall) and tight end Ben Watson (32). As of yesterday, Hill was just the second third-rounder signed. Generally, teams don't get busy signing their rookies until July.
The Patriots have $4.13 million with which to sign their 2004 picks. Since head coach Bill Belichick and vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli took over in New England, the Pats have had little problem getting rookies to training camp on time because of contract issues. Wide receiver Deion Branch missed the reporting time for rookies by hours in 2002 while having the finishing touches put on his deal.
To give get an indication of what the contracts with Wilfork and Watson may end up being worth, consider that Cleveland center Jeff Faine signed a five-year deal worth $7.255 million ($4.65 million guaranteed) last year. Faine, like Wilfork, was the 21st selection. Meanwhile, defensive end Tyler Brayton was given a six-year, $5.9-million deal with $3 million to sign after the Raiders took him with the 32nd overall pick. Watson was New England's 32nd pick this year.
