It’s been a busy two days for the Detroit Lions rookies. Over the last 48-hours, fans have seen the 2019 draft class assigned jersey numbers, a few of them sign their rookie contracts, an additional 13 undrafted players sign deals, and a host of non-signed players roll into Allen Park for rookie minicamp. The Detroit media isn’t permitted to attend rookie minicamp, but the Lions’ media department released pictures and video of the first day of minicamp on their social media accounts. The video focuses mainly on the players drafted by the Lions, so here is a reminder of those players and their new numbers as you watch: T.J. Hockenson – 88 Jahlani Tavai – 51 Will Harris – 43 Austin Bryant – 94 Amani Oruwariye – 46 Travis Fulgham – 84 Ty Johnson – 38 Isaac Nauta – 89 P.J. Johnson – 92 There’s a lot of cool moments in the video and some of my favorites highlights came from Day 3 picks. Johnson showed off his quick and violent hands, Oruwariye’s smooth hips were on display and Fulgham looked like the smooth athlete he illustrated he is during pre-draft testing. The top moment came from the Lions first round pick when at the 56-second mark Hockenson dispatched of a blocking sled with ease:<doc-sep>For most players, rookie minicamp marks the beginning of their NFL careers. In attendance at the Detroit Lions’ 2019 rookie camp were their nine draft picks and 13 undrafted free agent signings, along with a handful of tryout players hoping to prove themselves worthy of a roster spot. Alongside all of these rookies though, are three more players trying to secure their current spot on the roster. Safety David Jones and wide receivers Chris Lacy and Deontez Alexander participated in minicamp this weekend as well. Jones originally went undrafted out of Richmond in 2018 and spent his rookie season on the Patriot’s practice squad. Near the end of the year, he was released by New England and quickly added to the Lions’ practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract with the team at the conclusion of the season. Lacy signed with the Lions during training camp in the last offseason after a brief stint with the Patriots as an undrafted player out of Oklahoma State. He had a strong showing in the preseason, which led him to be one of the first signings to the team’s practice squad after final roster cuts. He spent most of his rookie season on Detroit’s practice squad but was called up to the active roster at the end of the season and appeared in one game, but did not record a single statistic. Alexander is an extremely athletic undrafted receiver out of small-school Franklin College who first joined the Lions in the 2018 offseason after a tryout with the team. He participated in training camp and came into contention to be that years camp darling. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury during camp and was placed on injured reserve, and was released not long after that. He found his way back to the practice squad in late November and signed a reserve/future contract at the end of the season. UDFA WR Deontez Alexander is fast becoming a fan favorite for the #Lions after he was picked up and it's easy to see why. Good size, but great speed, explosion, and agility for his position, culminating in an elite #RAS at WR. pic.twitter.com/fv5G72qbBW — Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) May 15, 2018 All three players, while no longer rookies, are longshots to make the final 53-man roster. With solid performances at this year’s rookie camp, they hope to get some extra looks from the team and prove they have what it takes to play in the NFL.<doc-sep>The Lions are continuing to get their draft picks under contract. One day after the conclusion of rookie minicamp, Detroit announced that it has made deals official with seven of its nine draft picks. First-round tight end T.J. Hockenson, second-round linebacker Jahlani Tavai and fifth-round cornerback Amani Oruwariye signed before minicamp, and now they’re joined in ink by fourth-round defensive end Austin Bryant, sixth-round running back Ty Johnson, seventh-round tight end Isaac Nauta and seventh-round defensive tackle P.J. Johnson. That leaves only two draft picks without deals signed: third-round safety Will Harris and sixth-round wide receiver Travis Fulgham. Both players are expected to sign, though, as rookies have little to negotiate with all contracts being four years, fully guaranteed with salaries based on draft spot. Negotiations often come down to offset language and signing bonus deferment, but those rarely end up as sticking points, particularly for prospects taken after the first round. Also on Monday, the Lions signed undrafted linebacker Juwon Young and released linebacker Tre’ Williams to make room. Young spent the past two seasons at Marshall after transferring from Miami. Young had 44 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss last season, and the Marshall website lists him at 6 feet 2 inches and 250 pounds. Young joins the 12 undrafted free agents the Lions have signed and hosted at minicamp.<doc-sep>Allen Park — The Detroit Lions announced the signing of 13 undrafted free agents Friday morning, coinciding with the opening of the team's three-day rookie minicamp. In addition to the signings, the team released wide receiver Brandon Reilly, bringing the offseason roster to a full 90 players. Here's a breakdown on each of the undrafted free agents. ► Nate Becker, TE, Miami (Ohio) Becker wasn't much of a receiving threat for the RedHawks, catching just 19 passes during his college career. But his 6-foot-5, 260-pound frame, plus his reputation as one of the team's weight room stars, suggests he's primed to be a solid blocker. ► Beau Benzschawel, G, Wisconsin Tall for a guard, the 6-foot-6 Benzschawel is coming off a season where he earned consensus first-team All-American honors. He started 49 consecutive games for the Badgers, with most of his work coming at right guard. His remaining action came at right tackle. Coming out of high school, he was a two-way player at tight end and defensive end. ► Malik Carney, LB, North Carolina Cut from the mold like coach Matt Patricia likes his linebackers, the 6-foot-2 Carney tipped the scales at 251 pounds a the combine. He primarily played on the edge for the Tarheels, tallying 12 sacks over 20 games the past two seasons. He also showed a knack for jarring the ball loose, forcing seven fumbles during that stretch. ► Jonathan Duhart, WR, Old Dominion College teammates with Lions draft pick Travis Fulgham, the two made for a potent tandem for the Monarchs. Duhart topped 1,000 receiving yards as a senior, leading Conference USA with 74 catches for 1,045 yards and nine scores. At 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, he brings excellent size to the table, but lacks ideal top-end speed. ► Tre Lamar, LB, Clemson Another big-bodied linebacker (6-foot-3, 253 pounds), Lamar played off the ball behind Clemson's dominant front four, tallying 85 tackles (5.5 for loss) in 14 starts last season. His below-average speed and agility indicate he's more suited to be a two-down linebacker at the professional level, with some potential to contribute on special teams. ► C.J. Moore, S, Mississippi Moore was unable to finish his senior year after tearing a pectoral muscle in October. It was the second time he suffered the injury in three years. As a junior in 2017, he flashed some playmaking ability, recording 51 tackles and three interceptions. Moore's twin brother, A.J., spent time with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent last season. ► Matt Nelson, DE, Iowa The Lions have rostered a couple future doctors in recent years, including running back Zach Zenner. Add Nelson to that list. A four-time academic All-American, medical school waits when the football dream ends. The big-bodied edge defender had a productive college career, recording 23.0 tackles for loss in 37 games from 2016-18. ► Donald Parham, TE, Stetson You won't find many tight ends built like Parham, who stands 6-foot-8, but weighs just 243 pounds. It's safe to say blocking isn't going to be the small school star's forte. Late to picking up football, he posted monster receiving numbers as a senior, hauling in 85 passes for 1,319 yards and 13 scores. There's potential to be tapped as a red zone matchup weapon out of the slot. ► Anthony Pittman, LB, Wayne State Everyone likes a good local story. Pittman, a two-time captain, is undersized for the position, but was productive for the Warriors, recording 181 tackles, including 31.5 behind the line of scrimmage. ► Ryan Pope, OT, San Diego State As has been reported, Pope received the largest guarantees of any undrafted free agent, $165,000 in total. That bodes well for his roster chances and how the Lions view him as a developmental tackle. Part of one of the best run-blocking lines in the country, he primarily started at right tackle. At 6-foot-7, 320 pounds, with 34-inch arms, he has an NFL-ready build. ► Ray Smith, DT, Boston College Despite a less-than-ideal frame, the stout Smith built a reputation for being an anchor in the trenches for the Eagles, controlling his gaps and recording more than 100 tackles over the past two seasons. He had a strong showing at his pro day, running the 40 in 4.9 seconds and hoisting the bar 27 times on the bench. He was coached by Lions defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni for two seasons (2016-17). ► Micah St. Andrew, G, Fresno State St. Andrew is listed at a whopping 348 pounds, which is down considerably from the 380 he weighed when he first arrived at Fresno State. Highly durable, he started 43 straight games for the Bulldogs, primarily at right guard, although he got some late action at center. The school's offensive line paved the way for 2,161 rushing yards last season, while impressively allowing fewer than a sack per week. ► Kevin Strong, DT, Texas San-Antonio At 6-foot-4, 300 pounds, Strong is a tall, long interior lineman prospect. He put up consistent numbers each of his four college seasons, averaging 6.6 tackles for a loss.<doc-sep>
After not taking an offensive lineman in last month's NFL draft, the Detroit Lions went heavy at the position in rookie free agency. The Lions signed four offensive linemen among their 13 undrafted rookies on Friday, including one defensive end they're converting to offense (T.J. Hockenson's former teammate at Iowa, Matt Nelson). Here's a look at the Lions' entire UDFA class in advance of rookie minicamp this weekend. • LB Tre Lamar, Clemson: Went undrafted after leaving school as a junior but has the size (6-foot-3, 253 pounds) and production (79 tackles last season) Lions like. Received a $10,000 signing bonus and $15,000 base-salary guarantee. • LB Anthony PIttman, Wayne State: Birmingham native made 29 career starts at middle and outside linebacker and had 31.5 career tackles for loss. Attended the Lions' local day workout. • DE Malik Carney, North Carolina: Undersized edge rusher had 12 tackles for loss each of the last two seasons. Received a $10,000 signing bonus and $35,000 base-salary guarantee. • DB C.J. Moore, Ole Miss: Had two fumble recoveries in five games before suffering a season-ending pectoral injury. Received a $7,000 signing bonus and $20,000 base-salary guarantee. • OT Ryan Pope, San Diego State: Massive right tackle (6-7, 320 pounds) got huge money from the Lions, a $145,000 base salary guarantee and $20,000 signing bonus • OG Micah St. Andrew, Fresno State: Big, mauling guard at 6-2 and 343 pounds; is cousins with former Michigan State standout Domata Peko. • OG Beau Benzschawel, Wisconsin: Played right tackle and right guard for the Badgers, and was considered one of the better rookie free-agent interior linemen. Was one of the most sought-after undrafted players with around 20 offers, per NFL.com. • OT Matt Nelson, Iowa: A 6-foot-7 defensive end, who had one sack each of the last two years for the Hawkeyes, will play offensive line for the Lions. • WR Jonathan Duhart, Old Dominion: Big slot receiver with special-teams ability had a team-high 74 catches last season. Former teammate of Lions' sixth-round pick, wide receiver Travis Fulgham. [ Lions WR Travis Fulgham tried to emulate game after Calvin Johnson ] • TE Nate Becker, Miami (Ohio): Developmental tight end caught a career-high 13 passes last season. • TE Donald Parham, Stetson: Extremely tall (6-8), thin (243 pounds) tight end was an FCS All-American after catching 85 passes and 13 touchdowns last season. Played in the Senior Bowl. • DL Ray Smith, Boston College: Undersized nose tackle played 2016-17 seasons for Lions defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni. Received a $10,000 signing bonus and $35,000 base-salary guarantee. • DL Kevin Strong, Texas-San Antonio: Ranks second in UTSA history with 26.5 career tackles for loss. Played for Lions defensive line coach Bo Davis in 2017. UAB wide receiver Andre Wilson and Pitt lineman Alex Bookser, both of whom reportedly were signing contracts with the Lions after the draft, were invited to camp on a tryout basis, and Ball State cornerback Josh Miller did not immediately pass his physical. The Lions also released wide receiver Brandon Reilly on Friday. Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett. Read more on the Detroit Lions and sign up for our Lions newsletter.