Before they break for summer, the Detroit Lions finished a few final pieces of contractual business.
The Lions signed second-round pick Levi Onwuzurike and fourth-rounders Amon-Ra St. Brown and Derrick Barnes to slotted four-year rookie contracts Thursday.
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As the 41st pick of the draft, Onwuzurike’s contract has a total value of $8.1 million, including a $3.3 million signing bonus, according to Spotrac. St. Brown’s deal is worth $4.27 million, with a signing bonus of about $785,000, while Barnes’ deal is worth $4.26 million, with a signing bonus of about $780,000.
The Lions considered trading up into the back of the first round to draft Onwuzurike, general manager Brad Holmes said on draft day, but ultimately stayed put and landed the Washington product with the ninth pick of the second round.
Onwuzurike, who opted out of the 2020 season, is expected to play defensive end in base packages and slide inside on pass-rushing downs this fall. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said Onwuzurike is the type of “ass kicker” the Lions want on defense.
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“He’s a scheme fit. He’s very explosive, very talented. He’s one that I identified early on in the process. I’ll say back from 2019, when he was still playing, and even when he had his opt-out still just kind of just refreshing on his film again last year,” Holmes said. “He’s stout at the point of attack and he’s got he ability to rush inside so we’re really, really fired up about him.”
St. Brown, the No. 112 overall pick out of USC, is expected to play as the Lions’ No. 3 receiver this fall, while Barnes, who was taken one pick later, should compete for time at middle linebacker.
The Lions, who hosted their final voluntary workout of the offseason Thursday, have signed six of their seven draft picks: Onwuzurike, Barnes, first-rounder Penei Sewell, third-rounder Alim McNeill and seventh-rounder Jermar Jefferson.
Third-round pick Ifeatu Melifonwu remains unsigned.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.