Kevin Conner, the agent for New Orleans Saints first-round cornerback Patrick Robinson, tells Robert Stewart of The Times-Picayune that the two sides have conducted preliminary talks on a contract.

"Things are positive, but there's nothing to report," Conner said. "They've become a little more in-depth in terms of proposals."

Saints rookies and veterans report to Metairie, Louisiana on July 29. While Conner understands the importance of reporting to camp on time, he couldn't say if Robinson would be signed before next Thursday.

"I'm not going to predict that at all. The main objective is of course to get Patrick a solid deal," Conner said. "It's essential for a rookie to get in on time. But at the same time, Patrick understands this is a business."

Half of the Saints' six-member 2010 draft class have signed, with Robinson, second-round offensive tackle Charles Brown, and third-round tight end Jimmy Graham as the draft picks without contracts five days before training camp.

The Cincinnati Bengals signed third-round cornerback Brandon Ghee on Friday, which may help expedite a deal with Graham, who was chosen one spot ahead of Ghee. Of the three second-round picks who have signed, one is New York Jets guard Vladimir Ducasse, who was selected three spots ahead of Brown, the last pick of that round.

Brown and Graham's deals will come before Robinson's contract. Even though the Saints will have a fixed dollar amount they can spend in 2010 on Robinson, negotiating years two through five of the contract are much involved than contracts signed by players chosen in the second round and beyond.

Malcolm Jenkins, the Saints' first-round pick in 2009, did not sign his rookie contract until August 9, 2009, ten days after training camp opened up.