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Rookie Smith, 49ers agree to six-year contract

Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 12:35 am
by Jake
Rookie Smith, 49ers agree to six-year contract

The San Francisco 49ers and quarterback Alex Smith, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 draft, have agreed to terms on a $49.5 million, six-year contract, ESPN has learned.

Smith will receive $24 million in guaranteed money, which includes his bonus. Smith's average annual salary of $8.25 million tops the $7.5 million average the Giants gave to quarterback Eli Manning, the first pick in the 2004 draft.

The 49ers are expected to call a news conference Tuesday to announce Smith's signing. Several details needed to be worked out Monday night, and the document will be more than 30 pages long once it's completed.

The $24 million in guarantees for Smith is a 20 percent increase over Manning's deal -- Manning had $20 million of his $45 million guaranteed in 2004. Both deals were negotiated by by Tom Condon and Ken Kremer of IMG Football.

Condon and 49ers director of football operations Paraag Marathe had worked for months on the details of a contract that is expected to stretch 70 to 80 pages. In recent days, both sides had acknowledged that about 80 percent of the contract was completed. Condon flew to the Bay Area on Sunday afternoon to resume face-to-face negotiations Monday, and the deal was agreed upon by Monday afternoon.

The agreement, which is expected to break the negotiating inertia among the highest draft picks, will allow Smith to report to training camp Friday with the rest of the 49er rookies. In fact, San Francisco is making enough progress with its other draft choices such that everyone is expected to report to camp on time.

Smith is expected to be the 49ers' starter as the team attempts, under first-year coach Mike Nolan, to rebuild from a dismal 2-14 season. The team opens camp in Santa Clara, Calif., on Thursday.

Smith, who left Utah after his junior season, led the Utes to their first BCS bowl win, a victory over Pittsburgh in the Fiesta Bowl. They finished 12-0.

This past season, Smith completed 185 of 280 passes for 2,624 yards with 28 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He also rushed for 563 yards and 10 touchdowns in the regular season. He finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting.

This story was reported by ESPN.com senior NFL writers Len Pasquarelli and John Clayton.


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