INDIANAPOLIS – The steady falling of the second-round dominoes finally reached JT Tuimoloau.
Selected No. 45 overall and with the 13th pick in round 2 of the April draft, the Ohio State defensive end has agreed to his rookie contract with the Indianapolis Colts, according to multiple reports. Tuimoloau is the last of the team’s eight-player draft class to finalize his deal.
Tuimoloau’s four-year contract is valued at $9.942 million and includes a $3.87 million signing bonus, according to overthecap.com. It isn’t immediately known how much of the contract is guaranteed, which has been a sticking point with second-round picks this year.
Players selected in round 2 have been seeking to break new ground in negotiations. Previously, they’ve received partially-guaranteed deals unlike first-round picks whose contracts have been fully guaranteed. Until recently, only the signing bonus, first- and second-year base salaries and perhaps a portion of year 3 were guaranteed.
That’s changed.
The first three picks in round 2 and five overall have secured totally guaranteed four-year deals: Cleveland linebacker Carson Schwesinger, Houston wide receiver Jayden Higgins, Seattle safety Nick Emmanwori, Miami offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea and Chicago wideout Luther Burden.
A slew of other second-round picks have signed late in the week with varying degrees of guaranteed contracts.
Defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku, selected No. 44 by Dallas, was able to get 84% of his $10.155 million contract guaranteed ($8.5 million). That includes 38% of his year 4 base salary of $2.224 million.
That represents a guideline for Tuimoloau’s expected guarantees.
The Colts anticipate Tuimoloau making an immediate impact with coordinator Lou Anarumo’s defense.
The 6-4, 264-pounder started 42 of 55 games at Ohio State and piled up 23.5 sacks, 43.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, three forced fumbles and 144 tackles.
Tuimoloau was a difference-maker for the Buckeyes’ national championship team last season with 12.5 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss.
Colts rookies report to Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield Monday for the start of training camp. The remainder of the team reports Tuesday.
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.