The Jacksonville Jaguars completed their draft deals Thursday evening, signing first-round defensive tackle John Henderson of Tennessee to a five-year contract worth $10.23 million, and getting him into the fold in time for Friday's opening of training camp.

Henderson was the ninth player chosen overall in the draft and became the 16th pick in the first round to agree to terms. He is expected to challenge for a starting job in his first NFL season and, teamed with 2001 first-rounder Marcus Stroud, provides the Jaguars a young and talented tackle tandem.

The contract includes a signing bonus of $2.895 million and a second-level option bonus of $3.69 million that is due next spring. Henderson's base salary for 2002 is $978,000.

The former Vols star won the Outland Trophy in 2000 and was a finalist in 2001, when his performance dropped off a bit, largely because of a high ankle sprain that slowed him for much of the season. Henderson is a two-time All-American and, when healthy, is a player who can dominate the line of scrimmage.

Henderson suffers from a chronic back problem, typically needs to go through a lengthy warmup ritual to loosen his back, and will have to be monitored by Jacksonville's training staff. He suffered a hamstring strain this spring that limited his work.

A big-framed defender, Henderson has good explosion off the line, uses his hands well, and can either stack blockers or hit the crease and get into the backfield. He generated great interest in 2000, when he registered 12 sacks, but his total fell off to 4½ in 2001 as he struggled through the ankle injury.

The Nashville native is a hard worker and, as evidenced in 2001, will play through pain. He has tremendous raw strength but also moves well laterally, and has enough quickness to chase down plays from the backside.

In three seasons, he started 28 of 32 games, and totaled 165 tackles, 20½ sacks, 25 pressures, four forced fumbles and five recoveries.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.