BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Contract talks have significantly improved between the Buffalo Bills and rookie first-round pick Aaron Maybin, leading to expectations a deal could be reached soon.

"They're working on a deal and they're getting pretty close," a person familiar with negotiations told The Associated Press on Friday morning. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because negotiations were still taking place with the defensive end, who was selected 11th overall out of Penn State.

The new round of talks come after the two sides reached an impasse this week, raising concerns that Maybin won't be ready for the Bills regular-season opener at New England on Sept. 14.

Through Thursday, Maybin has missed 23 practices and two preseason games since training camp opened July 25. The Bills, on Wednesday, left camp in suburban Rochester and begun practicing at their Orchard Park headquarters.

Maybin was still at his home in Maryland on Friday. Without any practice time, there's no chance he'd be able to play in Buffalo's preseason game at Green Bay on Saturday. The Bills have two preseason games left, at Pittsburgh on Aug. 29 and at home against Detroit on Sept. 3.

Maybin is one of only three first-round draft picks who have yet to sign. The others are offensive tackle Andre Smith, selected sixth overall by Cincinnati, and receiver Michael Crabtree, who was drafted by San Francisco at No. 10, one spot ahead of Maybin.

Listed at 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds, Maybin is a fast and aggressive pass-rushing specialist, who was expected to immediately help a defense that registered 24 sacks, finishing in a tie with Washington for fifth-fewest in the NFL last season. The Bills believe he's versatile enough to eventually spend time at linebacker.

After sitting out his first year at Penn State as a redshirt freshman, Maybin entered the draft after only two seasons and without a full season as a starter.

Though he played 13 games last season, Maybin didn't take over as a full-time starter until the fourth week. Despite the late start, Maybin went on to lead the Big 10 Conference with 12 sacks and was voted a first team All-American.