By Ed Bouchette, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

The Steelers negotiating team continued to steam ahead, reaching a contract agreement yesterday with another draft choice and moving forward on several others.

Wide receiver Chris Taylor, a seventh-round pick from Texas A&M came to terms on a three-year contract yesterday. The deal includes a signing bonus of $33,500 and annual salaries of $209,000, $298,000 and $389,000.

He is the third of seven draft choices to come to terms in what is becoming the earliest group of rookies to sign with the Steelers in years.

Linebacker Roger Knight, a sixth-round choice from Wisconsin, should have a deal completed "within a couple of days," said his agent, James Selmer.

Negotiations also are going well with their top two choices, first-rounder Casey Hampton and second-rounder Kendrell Bell.

Hampton, a nose tackle from Texas, could be signed within a couple of weeks, according to agent Brian Overstreet. Before that happens, Overstreet will get married this weekend then go on a five-day honeymoon to Maui. He hopes to have a deal done shortly after he returns.

"I don't see any problems," Overstreet said. "They seem to want to get things done this year with all of their draft picks. We're not that far apart."

Plaxico Burress, last year's top pick, did not sign his contract until after training camp began. The Steelers report to Latrobe July 19.

Bell, a linebacker from Georgia, could be signed next week during the Steelers' minicamp.

NOTES -- If the Detroit Lions release wide receiver Herman Moore soon, as expected, the Steelers will consider signing him. They have investigated signing a veteran wide receiver, bringing in Yancey Thigpen for a physical and talking to the agent for Charles Johnson, both free agents. Thigpen and Johnson are no longer in their plans. Moore, 31, once was one of the NFL's best receivers. He caught 123 passes in 1995, the first of three consecutive seasons with at least 100 catches. However, he caught only 16 in '99 and 40 last season. Moore is 6 feet 4, and when the Steelers drafted Burress, who is nearly 6-6, they compared him to Moore. ... The Steelers will hold two of their training camp practices at Westmoreland County high schools this summer. They will practice at Greensburg's Offutt Field July 25 and at Jeannette's McKee Stadium Aug. 1. Both workouts will begin at 7:05 p.m. with a 15-minute autograph session at 6:45 p.m. Admission is $3 for adults, ages 18-65, while others are free. Proceeds will benefit the Greensburg Fire Department and the athletic departments at both high schools.

denny