At this rate, all the rookie deals around the NFL might be done by the time the horses load in the gate for the Preakness next Saturday in Baltimore.
The Lions have finalized contracts with five of their seven draft picks, the club said Thursday night on its website. Cornerback Alex Carter (third round), defensive tackle Gabe Wright (fourth round), fullback Michael Burton (fifth round), cornerback Quandre Diggs (sixth round) and offensive tackle Corey Robinson (seventh round) have all signed their deals with Detroit.
Carter, who played collegiately at Stanford, seems likely to compete for time as a reserve at corner. The same goes for Diggs, a Texas product. Wright, who played at Auburn, will try to crack the defensive tackle rotation. Burton of Rutgers, meanwhile, will compete at fullback with Emil Igwenagu. Thompson (6-7, 324) was a three-season starter at left tackle at South Carolina.
The Lions’ first-round pick, Duke offensive guard Laken Tomlinson, has yet to sign, as has second-round selection Ameer Abdullah, a tailback from Nebraska.