JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) -Defensive end Derrick Harvey ended a 33-day holdout Wednesday by signing a five-year, $23.8 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Harvey was the last first-round draft pick to sign, a lengthy holdout that frustrated coach Jack Del Rio and left the former Florida standout behind in drills heading into the regular season.

The eighth overall selection in April, Harvey was expected to bolster a pass rush that struggled to pressure quarterbacks last season. But he missed all of training camp and the first three preseason games.

It was unclear whether Harvey would play in the preseason finale Thursday night at Washington. He was driving from Gainesville to Jacksonville in hopes of traveling with the team to Washington later Wednesday.

Harvey's deal included a little more than $17 million guaranteed and could pay him as much as $33.4 million with incentives and escalators.

Harvey had 20.5 career sacks with the Gators and was the defensive most valuable player of the 2007 BCS national title game against Ohio State. The Jaguars liked - and needed - Harvey so much that they traded up 18 spots to get him. They may not have expected him to be so expensive, however.

But linebacker Vernon Gholston, selected with the sixth pick by the New York Jets, signed a five-year deal worth $50 million, with $21 million guaranteed. And New Orleans gave the No. 7 pick, defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis, a five-year deal that reportedly included $19.5 million guaranteed.

Harvey's agent wanted a similar deal, but the Jaguars refused to give the rookie more guaranteed money than they gave quarterback David Garrard, who signed a six-year, $60 million extension that included $18 million guaranteed. It was the richest contract in franchise history.

Del Rio, meanwhile, ripped the escalating contracts of first-round draft picks.

"What's happened at the very top of the first round is ridiculous," Del Rio said. "When you're paying the guys who have never done anything more than star football players in this league that have played for years and established themselves at this level what they're capable of, it can be a little frustrating."

The Jaguars refused to budge from their final offer to Harvey, but they eventually changed the deal's incentives, making them easier to achieve.

Now, after so many problems at the defensive end position, Jacksonville probably would prefer to see Harvey reach all of the incentives.

James Wyche (Achilles' tendon) is out for the season. Jeremy Mincey (wrist) has missed the entire preseason. Starter Reggie Hayward is still recovering from a hamstring injury. And second-round pick Quentin Groves has looked every bit like a rookie in the last two preseason games.

Aug. 30 - Roster cutdown to maximum of 53 players.

Aug. 31 - Clubs may establish practice squad of eight players.

Sept. 4-8 - 2008 regular season starts.

Oct. 13-15 - NFL fall meeting, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Oct. 14 - Trading deadline.

Dec. 28 - Regular season ends.

Jan. 3-4 - Wild-card playoffs.

Jan. 10-11 - Divisional playoffs.

Jan. 18 - Conference championships.

Feb. 1 - Super Bowl, Tampa, Fla.

Feb. 8 - Pro Bowl, Honolulu.

Feb. 18-24 - NFL combine.

Feb. 27 - Free agency begins.

March 22-25 - Annual owners meeting, Dana Point, Calif.

April 25-26 - NFL draft, New York.

Jacksonville Jaguars first-round draft pick Derrick Harvey will end his 33-day holdout Wednesday after reaching agreement on a five-year contract that could be worth $30 million, according to a source.
A month of stalled negotiations came to an end when Harvey and the Jaguars found creative ways to get around the differences between the seventh pick and the ninth picks in the draft. According to a source, Harvey will receive guarantees of $17,177,500.

His base package will be $23.8 million over the five years. The key tradeoff that ended the holdout was the ability to get $6.2 million of incentives and escalators based on playing time. A source said those escalators and incentives have less of a trigger than the picks above and below him.

If Harvey becomes a Pro Bowl-caliber player, the contract could max out at $33.4 million.

The Jaguars traded into the No. 8 spot in the draft to acquire Harvey to improve their pass rush as they chase the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South.

The plan is for Harvey to reach the Jaguars headquarters on Wednesday for a physical. If he gets there in time, he will try to join the team for its trip to the Washington Redskins on Thursday, the team's preseason finale.

John Clayton is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.