After inking deals on Monday with tight end Luke Deal (Auburn), wide receiver Malik Taylor (Ferris State) and defensive lineman Raequan Williams (Michigan State), the Lions on Tuesday signed defensive end Keith Cooper Jr. (Houston) to their active roster.

Cooper is a 6-foot-3, 280-pound defensive end who played collegiately at Tulane and then Houston, going undrafted after completing his Cougars career. He primarily played DE for Houston, racking up 3.5 sacks in his final year. He's a crush-the-can style of EDGE that the Lions favor, and that showed in Friday's rookie minicamp session.

Guard Mekhi Butler and defensive tackles Isaiah Iton and Wilfried Pene were added. The Patriots also released undrafted rookie tackle (and Merrimack graduate) Cole Birdow.