Eagles sign first-rounder Maclin
The Philadelphia Eagles have signed Jeremy Maclin, their first-round pick, to a five-year contract. The contract is worth $15.5 million, of which $9.5 million is guaranteed.
Maclin was the third receiver drafted behind Darrius Heyward-Bey (Oakland) and Michael Crabtree (Texas Tech). However, most rated Maclin as the second-best receiver in the draft behind Crabtree.
The Eagles are hoping that Maclin will work out better than the last receiver they drafted in the first round -- Freddie "The People's Champ" Mitchell, who was drafted in 2001.
But Eagles QB Donovan McNabb suggests caution with expectations for Maclin.
"He's a rookie. You all act like he's been in the league for five or six years," McNabb said. "You don't know what he's going to do anyway. All we ask of him is to catch the ball and get up field and score. That's all we ask. He's a receiver."
At Missouri, Maclin caught 182 passes for 2,315 yards in two seasons while rushing for an additional 668 yards. He returned five kicks (three punts - two kickoffs) for scores there.
