Here are today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived: WR Detrich Clark
Detroit Lions
- Signed: OL Brett Kendrick
- Waived: S Anthony Sherrils
Despite starting 11 games last season, Lions running back Ameer Abdullah only compiled 552 rushing yards on 165 carries. After three seasons in the league, the former second-rounder was hoping for a larger role, and he acknowledged that he was frustrated with his workload during an appearance on Michael Rapaport’s podcast.
The 24-year-old might not get his wish in 2018. Detroit did hire a new head coach in Matt Patricia, but Jim Bob Cooter stuck around as offensive coordinator. The Lions also signed veteran running back LeGarrette Blount, and they used a second-round pick on Kerryon Johnson.
Add Frank Ragnow to the list of first-round picks who have signed their rookie deals. The Lions came to terms with their top draft choice, and this draft’s first center chosen, on Friday. Here’s the full list of Friday agreements heading into Detroit’s rookie minicamp:
- 1-20: Frank Ragnow, C (Arkansas)
- 4-114: Da’Shawn Hand, DE (Alabama)
- 7-237: Nick Bawden, FB (San Diego State)
Ragnow figures to immediately compete for a starting job in the Motor City. The Lions allowed starting center Travis Swanson to defect to the Jets, but they added ex-Jets starting snapper Wesley Johnson in free agency. Detroit was considering moving Graham Glasgow from guard to center, but the Ragnow addition may keep him at guard, where he fared well last season.
The former Razorback was a consensus All-American last season, and Pro Football Focus twice bestowed first-team All-American honors on Ragnow — in both his junior and senior slates. The draft slot system will place Ragnow’s rookie deal at $11.8MM over the customary four years, with an approximate $6.6MM signing bonus, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (Twitter link).
This leaves only third-round pick Tracey Walker, a safety out of Louisiana-Lafayette, as Detroit’s only unsigned pick.
One of the last UDFA contingents to be unveiled, the Lions have announced their 16-man group. Here’s the full rundown:
- Al-Rasheed Benton, LB (West Virginia)
- Amari Coleman, CB (Central Michigan)
- Antwuan Davis, CB (Texas)
- Josh Fatu, DT (USC)
- Mike Ford, CB (Southeast Missouri)
- DeAndre Goolsby, TE (Florida)
- Chris Jones, CB (Nebraska)
- Kyle Lewis, WR (Cal Poly)
- Chad Meredith, LB (Southeast Missouri)
- John Montelus, OL (Virginia)
- Beau Nunn, OL (Appalachian State)
- Brandon Powell, WR (Florida)
- Teo Redding, WR (Bowling Green)
- Ryan Santoso, P (Minnesota)
- Anthony Sherrils, S (Missouri)
- JoJo Wicker, DL (Arizona State)
This class interestingly houses two members of Southeast Missouri’s most recent defense. Ford led the Redhawks with 14 passes defensed last season and finished with 28 bench press reps at his pro day. Meredith was a first-team all-conference performer as a junior in 2016. Having started 41 career games at Appalachian State, Nunn finished last season with the fewest pressures allowed among full-time Division I-FBS players.
Detroit will bring in four cornerbacks after not using one of its six draft choices at this spot. The Lions did add former Seahawks corner DeShawn Shead in free agency and have 2017 second- and fifth-round picks Teez Tabor and Jamal Agnew on their roster.
Kerryon Johnson is officially a member of the Lions. On Friday, the Auburn running back inked his rookie contract. 
The Lions sent their No. 51 overall choice plus a fourth-round pick to the Patriots for the 43rd pick in order to select Johnson. He’ll have an opportunity to get significant playing time right out of the gate in the Lions’ mishmash backfield. Veteran LeGarrette Blount still projects as the team’s top ball carrier with Theo Riddick as a pass-catching specialist, but Johnson could tilt things in his favor with a strong summer. For what it’s worth, Riddick says he’s not concerned about losing ground to Johnson.
“It’s never a conflict,” Riddick said recently (via Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press). “I put my teammates first. I was always taught that as a player, as a young kid, and I continue to put that out. So, it really doesn’t affect me. Even, again, with Blount being here I’m just trying to get him to soak up the playbook as fast as possible, because if I can do that then that helps us all. I just want to win.”
In addition to Blount and Riddick, the Lions also have Zach Zenner, Dwayne Washington, and former second-round pick Ameer Abdullah under contract.
Johnson holds the potential to be a three-down back in the NFL, but some evaluators worry that his running style and frame will make him injury prone. He didn’t seem to have any trouble at Auburn, however, as he ran for 1,391 yards and 18 touchdowns in his final year on campus. He also recorded 24 catches for 194 yards and two scores.
Here are Thursday’s minor moves.
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: RB Bronson Hill
Detroit Lions
- Waived: RB Tion Green
Miami Dolphins
- Waived/Injured: CB Tracy Howard
New England Patriots
- Waived: OL Jason King
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LB Matthew Thomas
Today’s draft pick signings:
- The Falcons have agreed to terms with second-round cornerback Isaiah Oliver, fourth-round running back Ito Smith, sixth-round receiver Russell Gage, and sixth-round linebacker Foyesade Olukom. That leaves Atlanta with just two remaining unsigned draft picks, first-round wideout Calvin Ridley and third-round defensive tackle Deadrin Senat. None of the four selections signed by the Falcons today figure to have much of a 2018 role, but given the strength of Atlanta’s roster, the club was able to target future value. Oliver fits the Falcons’ size requirements for a defensive back and could help out down the line, while Smith is a hedge against Atlanta failing to sign Tevin Coleman, who will become a free agent at season’s end.
- Fifth-round offensive lineman Tyrell Crosby has signed his rookie deal with the Lions. Crosby surprisingly fell to Day 3 of the draft after many analysts pegged him as at least a Day 2 selection. Although he played tackle at Oregon, Crosby could shift to guard in Detroit, especially given the presence of incumbent tackles Taylor Decker and Ricky Wagner. Crosby may compete to start at left guard, but with Graham Glasgow likely locking down that position, Crosby is probably looking at reserve duty for 2018.
- The Steelers have inked their first rookie to a contract, as fifth-round rookie running back Jaylen Samuels is now signed. Samuels, a North Carolian State product, was something of a jack-of-all-trades during his collegiate days, and it won’t be surprising if he sees action at fullback, tight end, or receiver during his rookie season in Pittsburgh. Long-term, Samuels could be a candidate to replace Le’Veon Bell, who will once again play under the franchise tag in 2018.
- Fifth-round wideout Justin Watson has singed his rookie pact with the Buccaneers, tweets Jenna Laine of ESPN.com. Watson posted excellent athletic testing results and put up outstanding production at Pennsylvania, but he’s coming from a small school and Lance Zierlein of NFL.com says Watson “doesn’t move with desired suddenness.” Watson likely won’t factor into Tampa Bay’s offense this season, but could carve out a role on special teams.
- The Patriots didn’t land a first-round quarterback as many had projected, but they did pick LSU signal-caller Danny Etling in the seventh round, and he’s now under contract. New England doesn’t figure to keep three quarterbacks on its roster, so Etling will likely (at best) spend the 2018 season on the club’s practice squad. It’s possible he’s just a camp arm.
Today’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Claimed: RB Elijah Hood (from Raiders)
Cincinnati Bengals
- Claimed: WR Ka’Raun White (from Seahawks)
Detroit Lions
- Waived: LB Brandon Chubb
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DT Taylor Stallworth
- Waived: LB Sae Tautu
The NFL has reinstated former Lions and Titans defensive lineman Sammie Lee Hill, a source tells Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). Hill has been suspended since November 2016. 
Given that Hill has been away from the game for more than a full season, it’s not clear what kind of market he’ll find for his services. The former fourth-round pick is 31 years old and turns 32 in November.
Hill served a four-game suspension as a free agent in 2016 for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Months later, he was hit with a one-year ban for an undisclosed violation.
In the past, the Seahawks and Jets showed interest in Hill, so they could be candidates to reach out to him this time around.
Hill, an Alabama native, has 97 games with 48 starts to his credit. Over the years, he has amasses seven sacks and nearly 160 total tackles.
- The undisclosed 2019 pick that the Lions acquired from the Dolphins in the Akeem Spence trade is a conditional seventh-rounder, tweets ESPN’s Field Yates. Miami originally acquired the selection in the deal that sent Jarvis Landry to the Browns.
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