The Buffalo Bills announced on Tuesday that they had signed their second-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Alabama linebacker Reggie Ragland, to his rookie contract.
Officially official. LB Reggie Ragland has signed with the Bills!
— Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) May 24, 2016
Welcome to the fam. https://t.co/hyV0XwiQX9 pic.twitter.com/xa8V2BwYDm
Terms of the deal were not disclosed. As the No. 41 overall pick in the draft, Ragland's deal is expected to be similar to the one signed by last year's No. 41 pick, Carolina Panthers wide receiver Devin Funchess, who inked a four-year contract worth a total of $5.52 million, with $3.396 million guaranteed (of which $2.275 million was a signing bonus).
Ragland's signing means that the Bills have just two draft picks left to agree to terms with: first-round pick Shaq Lawson, who is going to miss several months after having shoulder surgery, and fourth-round pick Cardale Jones.
Bills GM Doug Whaley anointed Ragland a starting linebacker for his team mere minutes after drafting him; the rookie is expected to line up next to Preston Brown this season to form the Bills' starting inside linebacker duo.