It's not hard to remember, not if you have been following the Cardinals for any length of time, but signing draft picks used to be much, much more difficult. Yes, the ease in which picks are signed these days is rules-related -- once the new collective bargaining agreement essentially slotted each pick's money and took the hardest part (money) out of the negotiating equation, things were going to speed up.

But to think the Cardinals already have all of their draft picks under contract on May 9 is impressive. The time frame to finish up since 2011, when the new CBA went into effect, has gotten earlier and earlier:

2011: Amid the chaos of so many signings as the CBA was ratified post-lockout just as training camp was starting, first-rounder Patrick Peterson and second-rounder Ryan Williams signed July 31. 2012: First-rounder Michael Floyd and third-rounder Jamell Fleming signed June 11. 2013: First-rounder Jonathan Cooper signed July 29. 2014: First-rounder Deone Bucannon signed June 5. 2015: First-rounder D.J. Humphries signed June 1. 2016: Sixth-rounder Harlan Miller, third-rounder Brandon Williams and fourth-rounder Evan Boehm sign May 9.

The Cardinals aren't unique -- the Bears have been signing their entire draft class within a couple days of the draft the last couple of seasons, for instance -- but to have all those deals done not only before the players break prior to camp but before OTAs have even begun is a good thing. The days of the Cards having their first-round pick sit out at least a few days of training camp -- or more, Wendell Bryant -- are long over.