The San Francisco 49ers signed fifth-round draft choice Scott McKillop, a linebacker from Pittsburgh, and seventh-round draft choice Ricky Jean-Francois, a defensive end from LSU, to four-year contracts, the team announced yesterday on its Web site.

The players become the second and third 2009 draft picks to sign contracts with their NFL teams this offseason, joining Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, who signed his contract prior to the start of the draft.
“It says a lot about these young men that they have made it a priority to get their contract negotiations out of the way early,” said 49ers general manager Scot McCloughan on 49ers.com. “Now they have the ability to focus solely on helping to make this team better and starting their professional careers off on the right foot. The cooperation we received from their agents was tremendous.”
The 6-foot-1, 244-pound McKillop was a two-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year (2007 and 2008). A 2008 semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, given annually to the country’s best defensive player, he led the Big East in tackles (137), ranking 10th in the nation.
The 6-3, 295-pound Jean-Francois played in 25 games (9 starts) and was named Most Outstanding Defensive Player in the 2008 BCS National Championship Game, registering six tackles, a half sack and a blocked field goal, in LSU’s win over Ohio State.