JACKSON, Miss. ― After an exasperating seven days of not having its first-round draft pick in camp, New Orleans agreed with Sedrick Ellis to a five-year contract that could be worth up to $49 million.

The defensive tackle’s deal reportedly includes $19.5 million in guaranteed money.

Alex Brandon / Associated Press

New Orleans Saints first round draft pick defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis (90) stretches during rookie mini camp at their training facility in Metairie, La., on Saturday, May 10, 2008.

“It’s about time,” Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said. “It took a little longer than it should have. It is what is it is. We’re glad he got it done and glad he’s in the fold.

“We’ll see what kind of shape he’s in tomorrow afternoon.”

Ellis has been in Tampa, Fla., during the offseason, working out while waiting on his deal to finish being negotiated. Loomis said the team has him scheduled to fly into Jackson, Miss., Wednesday morning, where he’ll go through testing and check in.

Head coach Sean Payton grew more and more irritated as the first week of training camp wore on him at not having Ellis at practice. He said the rookie was missing valuable time as the season grew closer, though Loomis said the coach never expressed his thoughts to the general manager.

Loomis said that’s not Payton’s job, though.

“He knows that’s not part of his responsibility,” Loomis said. “He’s going to work with the guys on the field we give him and he understands sometimes these things take time.”

But Loomis also was frustrated, though he said holdouts have become routine now because of the way contracts are structured now.

“These are complicated contracts,” Loomis said. “It’s not like the old days when it was like, ‘Hey, here’s the signing bonus check and here’s what you’re making.’ There’s a lot of things the rules create and the magnitude these contracts makes.”

The two players who went ahead of Ellis – both defensive linemen – agree to contracts by Saturday afternoon.

Glenn Dorsey, the Kansas City Chiefs’ pick at No. 5, signed early Saturday morning a five-year, $51 million contract that includes a guaranteed $23 million.

Vernon Gholston, the New York Jets’ pick at No. 6, signed late Thursday night a five-year, $50 million contract that includes $21 million.

Eugene Parker, Ellis’ agent, represents five first-round draft picks, as well as St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson and Chicago Bears return man Devin Hester. Hester signed a contract shortly into his hold out while Jackson still has yet to agree to terms with the Rams.

“He’s been pretty busy,” Loomis said of Parker. “He’s had lots going on.”

Ellis, the seventh overall pick in this spring’s draft, was an All-American and the Pac-10 Conference Defensive Player of the Year as a senior at Southern California.

He started 48 career games, Ellis finished with 144 tackles, 17½ sacks, four fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles.

Current Saints defensive line coach Ed Orgeron recruited Ellis to USC and coached him for two years.