saintfan

The Saints have not had their top draft pick signed before the start of training camp since Ricky Williams in 1999, but that streak could change this year.

With players scheduled to report Thursday, only three days remain for General Manager Mickey Loomis and senior football administrator Russ Ball to finalize deals with the club's five remaining unsigned rookies.

Yet, Loomis said he is content with the progress of negotiations and doesn't anticipate any major holdouts, including top pick defensive end Will Smith, before practices begin Friday.

"I think we'll have a chance to get everybody in here by Friday," Loomis said this past Friday. "The first-round guys have a tendency to hold out. We hope to avoid that situation. I think we're a little more optimistic than we've been in the past."

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