Work continues on signing draft picks

(updated 2:15 p.m.)

GEORGETOWN, Ky. -- More than half of the first-round draft picks have agreed to terms or signed with their teams. The number reached 17 earlier this afternoon, but the Bengals still had not come to terms with first-round pick Johnathan Joseph, a cornerback from South Carolina.

There is still time to have Joseph signed in time to avoid a holdout. The two previous first-round picks, tailback Chris Perry and linebacker David Pollack, missed significant amounts of training camp because of contract holdouts. Pollack, in fact, missed all of camp last year.

Joseph was the 24th overall pick in the first round.

Today, alone, San Francisco (Vernon Davis), Dallas (Bobby Carpenter), Tennessee (Vince Young), Denver (Jay Cutler) and Carolina (Jimmy Williams) all came to terms with first-round draft picks.

With just one of nine draft picks signed, wide receiver Bennie Brazell, the Bengals continue to negotiate and expect to have at least one more signed later this afternoon.

It is not expected to be one of the first three picks from the draft but rather another second-day pick.

-- Mark Curnutte