Defensive end William Hayes, a fourth-round draft pick of the Tennessee Titans and a former star at Winston-Salem State, has agreed to a four-year contract.
Hayes, a High Point native and the first Rams' draft pick since 1993, was hoping to be signed before training camp for the Titans opens on Saturday. Hayes will report to training camp on Friday.
"I'm actually signing (on Tuesday) but the deal is done," Hayes said Monday afternoon just as he was about to work out at Winston-Salem State with former teammate, Jason Holman.
"I guess my celebration is I'm working out to get ready for the start of camp."
Hayes, 23, said that the details of the contract have been hammered out over the last few days. He didn't know how much the deal was worth but it's believed to be a total package of about $3 million, according to Hayes' agent, J.R. Rickert.
Hayes, who is 6-2 and 258 pounds and a former star at High Point Andrews, says that one of the first things he will do with his money is make sure his mother, Vivian, won't have to work much longer. She works at a restaurant in High Point.
"She's done working as far as I'm concerned," Hayes said. "I'm going to take care of my family because they have taken such good care of me over the years."
Hayes will receive a signing bonus that's believed to be a little over $500,000, according to Rickert. Hayes will earn that bonus even if he doesn't make the team, but he has already been put on the team's depth chart as second string after doing very well in minicamps earlier this summer.
The NFL minimum salary for a rookie this season is $295,000 and that is likely what Hayes will earn if he's on the 53-man roster after training camp ends in August.
Even though Hayes has signed a contract he says that doesn't mean he can coast.
"By no means is my job complete because training camp is coming up and that's the real deal," Hayes said.
In two minicamps Hayes impressed a lot of the coaches with his work ethic. However in one drill Hayes went a little overboard and actually hit quarterback Vince Young and stripped the ball away.
According to The Nashville News Hayes made the hit and realized he had made a mistake.
"I didn't mean to strip Vince Young. I initially tried to hit the ball, but I forgot that you don't touch Vince or any quarterback," Hayes told the newspaper. "That's a quick way to get sent home."
Jim Washburn, the defensive line coach of the Titans, told the newspaper that it was a good play but he had to remind Hayes not to hit the quarterback in a controlled drill.
"Coach Wash came over there, and was like, 'Good job, baby. But don't touch Vince no more.' It was pretty funny," Hayes told The Nashville News.
When Rickert was told that Hayes was on the verge of working out after hearing the contract was done, it didn't surprise him.
"That's William in a nutshell," Rickert said. "If you handed him a $1 million dollars right now he would be in the gym the next day working hard."
Rickert said that there is always anxiety among NFL rookies heading into training camp, but having the contract details settled will give Hayes some relief.
"Training camp isn't easy as it is," Rickert said. "But having this done just eases William's mind."
Said Hayes: "I'm glad this is done. I'm excited about going into camp and being under contract."
Hayes, who led the Rams in sacks last season with 8.5, started 22 of 30 games in his career. During his career he caused a school-record eight fumbles and also recovered six fumbles. Last season he returned two fumbles for touchdowns as the Rams were playing their second season in the Football Championship Subdivision.
Hayes was taken 103rd overall in April's draft. He's the first player drafted from WSSU since running back Richard Huntley in 1993.
John Dell can be reached at 727-4081 or at jdell@wsjournal.com
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