SPORTS

Martinez, Lowry, Murphy sign rookie contracts

Ryan Wood
USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
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The Green Bay Packers have signed more than half of their draft class before the conclusion of rookie orientation, with the rest potentially on the way soon.

Northwestern defensive lineman Dean Lowry sacks Penn State  quarterback Christian Hackenberg during a Nov. 7, 2015 game in Evanston, Ill.

The signings of fourth-round picks Blake Martinez (ILB, Stanford) and Dean Lowry (DE, Northwestern), fifth-round pick Trevor Davis (WR, Cal) and sixth-round pick Kyle Murphy (OT, Stanford) were confirmed Friday by the Packers after the first practice of rookie orientation camp.

The Packers’ first three picks – UCLA DT Kenny Clark, Indiana OT Jason Spriggs and Utah State OLB Kyler Fackrell – remain unsigned.

It shouldn’t take long for the Packers to get their draft class signed. Under the current collective bargaining agreement, there is little flexibility in rookie contract negotiations. Each pick has a slotted salary value.

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The Packers’ seven draft picks will have a $5.315 million cap hit in 2016. They currently have $10.657 million in cap space, according to the National Football League Players Association. However, only the top 51 contracts count against the offseason cap.

So Davis and Murphy are unlikely to count until after final cuts, if they both make the 53-man roster.

The Packers had their entire rookie class on the field for the first time Friday inside the Don Hutson Center. Players in attendance included the Packers’ seven draft picks, 19 undrafted free agents, players from last season’s practice squad and prospects trying out for the roster.

The Packers will be on the practice field again Saturday, but they won’t practice Sunday. Their offseason program will resume Monday.

.rwood@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @ByRyanWood

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