The Lions didn't get any compensation picks for losing free agents, but they did gain an extra seventh-rounder when the NFL announced the official draft order Monday.

League rules call for there to be 256 picks in the draft. After compensatory picks are awarded, open slots are filled based on first-round draft order. The Lions received the second to last pick, No. 255 overall. Two years ago, they took Mr. Irrelevant Ramzee Robinson with the last pick in the draft.

They now have eight overall picks, including two first- and two third-rounders, but no choices in the fourth or fifth rounds.

The league also announced its prime-time kickoff weekend and Thanksgiving games at its annual meetings Monday. The Lions host Green Bay on Thanksgiving for the second time in three years. They've lost their last five holiday games.

The rest of the league schedule will be revealed next month.

My list of pending Lions free agents didn't make it to the web today, so here's a by-position recap for everyone who doesn't see the printed product.

This is in addition to the six cuts revealed yesterday, and I can't see but a handful of players re-signed. Jason Hanson for sure. The Lions would like to bring back Moran Norris, though I don't know if he feels the same way. Maybe Stephen Peterman, who played under new offensive-line coach George Yarno at LSU. Ramzee Robinson is the only restricted free agent on this list and should make it to camp. Beyond that, expect most of these guys to be ex-Lions.

QB: Dan Orlovsky
RB/FB: Aveion Cason, Rudi Johnson, Moran Norris
WR/TE: Keary Colbert, Shaun McDonald, John Owens
OL: Damion Cook, George Foster, Andy McCollum, Stephen Peterman
DL: Shaun Cody, Langston Moore, Corey Smith
LB: Paris Lenon, Ryan Nece
DB: Ramzee Robinson, Stanley Wilson
K: Jason Hanson

Sorry, I'm chiming in a little late here on the news of the day, John Niyo's report that the Lions will be releasing cornerback Leigh Bodden next week, but I'm pulling double (triple?) duty up here in East Lansing with football signing day and a Michigan State basketball game to cover.

Anyway, Bodden seemed to be goner when team president Tom Lewand mentioned at a town-hall meeting last week that the Lions expected to be some $35 million under the salary cap when free agency opened later this month - they're $26-$28 million under right now. Bodden had a subpar season (one interception), was due an $8.6-million roster bonus and had some choice words for the since-departed coaching staff after the season, not exactly the confluence of events that leads to long-term stability.

Still, while his pending release – Monday is the first day teams can cut players – comes as no surprise, it does leave the Lions with one more hole to fill this offseason. Their current cornerback quartet of Keith Smith, Travis Fisher, Ramzee Robinson and Dexter Wynn frightens no one, and the truth of the matter is there isn't a must-have upgrade on the open market. Oakland's Nnamdi Asomugha, the best corner in the NFL, will no doubt be franchised, and Houston's Dunta Robinson, the (distant) second-best corner available in free agency, is barely a year removed from a gruesome knee-and-hamstring injury and likely will re-sign with the Texans.

With all due respect to Buffalo's Jabari Greer, who returned both his interceptions for touchdowns last year, the only other true impact free-agent corner available is a man new Lions coach Jim Schwartz knows well – former Titan and Cowboy Pacman Jones. Jones is one of the best pure talents in the NFL, even if he's coming off a suspect season and is occasionally a suspect in the police blotter.

I'm not suggesting Schwartz and Jones will reunite in Detroit – the Lions are far more likely to sign ex-Titans Chris Carr, who I mentioned in my blog yesterday for his return prowess, or Eric King, a better cover corner than Carr who broke his forearm last season – but it's an intriguing possibility. Schwartz knows well how talented Jones is and he knows well how that sort of player can impact a game (both positively and negatively).

Jones may be a bit more of a free-lancer than the disciplined Schwartz likes on the field, but if the new Lions coach thinks he can control the sixth overall pick in the 2005 draft off it – and if owner William Clay Ford signs off – maybe adding Pacman is an option worth exploring.

One other note today, semi courtesy of FoxSports.com, Cedric Saunders will remain with the Lions despite rumors he was headed to Tampa Bay to join his good friend Raheem Morris. FoxSports reported that Saunders was promoted to vice-president of football operations, an elevation that actually took place in September when Matt Millen was fired. Saunders will, the website reported, have a more prominent role in personnel evaluation going forward. That's a good move as he's considered a bright up-and-comer.

The all-important third preseason game is here, but don't expect the Lions to play their starters into the third quarter like they may have done in the past. They've stayed remarkably healthy so far — most of the first unit and key reserves, anyway. There's no sense chancing that, plus there's enough positions at the back of the roster still up for grabs that the coaching staff will give players the opportunity to win their way on or off the team. That's a good thing. I'll have a position battle breakdown in the paper next week, but there's more competition here than the previous two years combined under Rod Marinelli.

Now, for three things I'll be watching for today:

• The ninth defensive back. In all likelihood, the Lions will keep nine DBs. Cornerbacks Brian Kelly, Leigh Bodden, Travis Fisher and Keith Smith, and safeties Gerald Alexander, Daniel Bullocks, Dwight Smith and Kalvin Pearson are guaranteed spots. No. 9 is up for grabs with corners Dovonte Edwards and Ramzee Robinson and safety Greg Blue in the mix. Secondary coach Jimmy Lake said both Robinson and Edwards have had good camps, but Robinson has been more consistent in games. Edwards rebounded with a good effort last week against the Bengals, but he struggled Week 1 against the Giants. Blue is a monster hitter whose ball skills have gotten perceptively better since last season. Typically, teams lean towards five corners, but both Pearson and Alexander can play nickel corner, which evens the field for Blue. Whoever plays best in the next two games — and contributes the most on special teams — should win the job.

• George Foster. Left for dead after last season than re-signed when no free-agent replacement surfaced, Foster will make his third straight start at right tackle — to many people's surprise. "I ain't a bad player," Foster said. Foster has had one penalty in limited snaps this preseason (his big issue last year) and appears to be closing in on a roster spot, maybe at the expense of Jonathan Scott. Scott was thought to be the Lions' swing tackle, but rookie Gosder Cherilus, breathing down Foster's neck for the starting right-tackle job, has worked on the left side some this preseason. Both Foster and Cherilus should get work with the first team today.

• The punt return. Kind of a rehash of last week's Devale Ellis watch, but the Lions are still trying to identify their punt returner. Marinelli said Aveion Cason is No. 1 for now, but there's an opportunity for Ellis and fellow receiver Brandon Middleton to win that job and solidify a spot on the team. Ellis has gone back for one return each of the first two weeks; one punt sailed out of bounds and he returned the other two yards in a hailstorm of traffic. Middleton went back for a return last week for the first time since his NFL Europe days. That one, too, landed out of bounds. Both players need more opportunity to be properly evaluated.