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24 thoughts

Expect contract negotiations between the Patriots and first-round draft choice Brandon Meriweather to pick up momentum. This is commonplace across the NFL, as most negotiations with first-round choices shift into another gear after July 4.

With that in mind, here is a look at the contract of last year's 24th overall pick, Bengals cornerback Johnathan Joseph:

Length: 5 years
Total value: $8.2 million
First-year roster bonus: $815,000
Second-year option bonus: $4.01 million

By using the contract of last year's No. 24 pick -- which is the slot Meriweather was selected -- the sides have a starting point for talks.

From the agent side, one of the goals is to see those numbers increase. Structure of the contract, and when the bonus money is paid out, is also an important consideration.

Based on the league's collective bargaining agreement, the maximum length of Meriweather's deal can only be five years. So using Joseph's contract last year as a benchmark, expect Meriweather to land a deal in the $1.8 million range per season over five years.

Joseph's deal could hit a $2.5 million escalator in the final year, which would increase the value.