By PFW staff
July 24, 2008

The Lions are one player short of having a fully signed rookie class as first-round pick Gosder Cherilus and five other draft picks signed contracts last night.

Cherilus, the 17th pick out of Boston College, is expected to vie for the starting ORT job. He signed a five-year deal worth a little less than $15 million, with $8.9 million guaranteed. The Lions allowed a league-high 54 sacks last season and had four different players work at right tackle.

All that remains left unsigned is second-round LB Jordon Dizon, another potential starter.

The team also announced it signed five other rookies along with Cherilus: third-round RB Kevin Smith, who will battle with Tatum Bell for a starting job; third-round DT Andre Fluellen, who is expected to get immediate playing time, especially on passing downs; fifth-round picks WR Kenneth Moore and FB Jerome Felton; and seventh-round DT Landon Cohen. All five players agreed to three-year deals.

The Lions found out Wednesday that seventh-rounder Caleb Campbell, a West Point graduate, would not be able to join the team because he must complete his duties to the Army for at least two years. Campbell had his rookie contract ready to sign and fax back to the team when he heard the news.

In other team news, the Lions released OT Jon Dunn.