Raiders sign first-round pick Gareon Conley
NAPA, Calif. — The Raiders’ first-round pick has at last agreed to terms.
Gareon Conley signed with the team Friday evening in Napa, ending a rookie negotiation that was the second-longest among NFL draft picks this year.
The cornerback joins the Raiders in time for Saturday’s first full-squad practice of training camp. He was absent Monday when rookies first reported.
The four-year deal for Conley is worth $10.5 million and features a fifth-year club option.
Conley, 22, has wanted to focus on football. This will help.
The Raiders drafted him with the 24th overall pick on April 28. They did so despite an ongoing legal matter; a woman accused the former Ohio State standout of rape in a Cleveland hotel room a few years earlier. To date, no charges have been filed. The investigation remains ongoing, a source familiar with it said Friday. The person added that there is belief the investigation will reach a resolution in the coming weeks.
Conley has declared his innocence. He passed a polygraph test on the day the Raiders selected him.
Of the 253 players drafted, only Tennessee Titans wide receiver Corey Davis, the fifth overall pick, remains unsigned. San Francisco 49ers defensive end Solomon Thomas, the third choice, edged Conley by a few hours; he signed on Friday morning.
Special teams depth
Training camp became less of a grind Friday for Jon Condo.
The Raiders long snapper, who will turn 36 in August, was freed from taking every practice and preseason rep, as the team signed Andrew East to a reserve role. East handled the same duty last year.
Condo is entering his 11th season with the Raiders. He is their second-longest tenured active player behind kicker Sebastian Janikowski, who has been with the organization since 2000.
Oakland now has 89 players on its 90-man roster.
Contact reporter Michael Gehlken at mgehlken@reviewjournal.com. Follow @GehlkenNFL on Twitter.
