Defensive end Derrick Harvey ended a 33-day holdout Wednesday by signing a five-year, $23.8 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Harvey was the last first-round draft pick to sign, a lengthy holdout that frustrated coach Jack Del Rio and left the former Florida standout behind in drills heading into the regular season.
The eighth overall selection in April, Harvey was expected to bolster a pass rush that struggled to pressure quarterbacks last season. But he missed all of training camp and the first three preseason games.
It was unclear whether Harvey would play in the preseason finale Thursday night at Washington. He was driving from Gainesville to Jacksonville in hopes of traveling with the team to Washington later Wednesday.
Harvey’s deal included a little more than $17 million guaranteed and could pay him as much as $33.4 million with incentives and escalators.
Harvey had 20.5 career sacks with the Gators and was the defensive most valuable player of the 2007 BCS national title game against Ohio State. The Jaguars liked – and needed – Harvey so much that they traded up 18 spots to get him. They may not have expected him to be so expensive, however.
But linebacker Vernon Gholston, selected with the sixth pick by the New York Jets, signed a five-year deal worth $50 million, with $21 million guaranteed. And New Orleans gave the No. 7 pick, defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis, a five-year deal that reportedly included $19.5 million guaranteed.
Harvey’s agent wanted a similar deal, but the Jaguars refused to give the rookie more guaranteed money than they gave quarterback David Garrard, who signed a six-year, $60 million extension that included $18 million guaranteed. It was the richest contract in franchise history.
Del Rio, meanwhile, ripped the escalating contracts of first-round draft picks.
“What’s happened at the very top of the first round is ridiculous,” Del Rio said. “When you’re paying the guys who have never done anything more than star football players in this league that have played for years and established themselves at this level what they’re capable of, it can be a little frustrating.”
The Jaguars refused to budge from their final offer to Harvey, but they eventually changed the deal’s incentives, making them easier to achieve.
Now, after so many problems at the defensive end position, Jacksonville probably would prefer to see Harvey reach all of the incentives.
James Wyche (Achilles’ tendon) is out for the season. Jeremy Mincey (wrist) has missed the entire preseason. Starter Reggie Hayward is still recovering from a hamstring injury. And second-round pick Quentin Groves has looked every bit like a rookie in the last two preseason games.
Credit: Associated Press
