Knowshon Moreno (Photo courtesy Lars Bakke, Denver Broncos Football Club)

With the signing of Robert Ayers yesterday, the Denver Broncos have one rookie left to sign. Knowshon Moreno was the 12th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft and is among the 9 first round picks that have still not signed a contract. Moreno is an explosive play maker and will be a force for the Broncos...when he signs and reports to training camp. As of today, he's held out longer than any other Broncos rookie since 1997.

I did some research to see what the Broncos will have to pay Knowshon Moreno. To get my numbers, I used the reported contracts for first round picks on nfl.com, to see the report click here. To come up with an estimated contract I used a few variables to come up with what should be close to the deal Moreno gets.

• Picks 8-12 have not signed
• Pick #7 Darrius Heyward-Bay signed for $38.25 million with $23.5 guaranteed.
• Pick #13 Brian Orakpo signed for $20 million with $12.1 million guaranteed.
• If you take the difference between #7, #13 and divide by 5 (for the 5 spots between them) add this amount to what Orakpo got and you get my projection.

 You might ask, what about other first round running backs? The only other running backs drafted in the first round were Donald Brown at #27 and Chris "Beanie" Wells at #31. Donald Brown signed for $12.8 million with $6.8 million guaranteed. Beanie Wells signed for $11.8 million with $6.34 million guaranteed. You can't really compare Moreno's contract with these two as they were drafted much lower than he was.

So as a fan, not an agent or general manager, I predict Knowshon Moreno will get a contract for 5 years $23.6 million overall and $14.38 guaranteed. This is a pretty good payday for a guy that hasn't done anything in the NFL. As the Broncos and Moreno negotiate his contract, the guaranteed money is most likely the hold up. Because of idiots like Al Davis (he gave $23.5 million guaranteed to Heyward-Bay) signing players for too much money, some agents are not willing to sign their clients for what they know is a fair price. Hopefully Moreno will keep from getting too greedy and will sign quickly...