The 49ers just set the table for the Lions to get things done with Tate Ratledge

The Detroit Lions have themselves a problem with second-round pick Tate Ratledge. Lions rookies reported to training camp on Wednesday, and this time, we don't know if Ratledge was among them since he has not signed his rookie deal yet. 

Ratledge is one of 30 second-round picks who have not yet signed their rookie deal. The big holdup stems from the Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns signing Jayden Higgins and Carson Schwesinger to fully guaranteed contracts. Something that has not really been done with the second round. 

While the Lions and the rest of the teams with unsigned picks have been waiting to see what the Seattle Seahawks would do with 35th pick Nick Emmanwori, the San Francisco 49ers have provided a way out of all of this for the Lions. 

They have signed the 43rd pick, Alfred Collins, to his rookie deal, and the big news here is that they did not sign him to a fully guaranteed deal. They did set him up with some nice guarantees, but not fully guaranteed.

That is significant news for the Lions, who now have a pathway to get 57th pick Ratledge signed to a deal that won't break the bank or require a fully guaranteed deal. Ratledge's agent can still shoot for it, but he's going to have a hard time getting it, considering picks way above his client aren't getting it. 

At this time, we have not heard any news on a deal, but it could be coming before you know it. As Schefter notes, this should begin a domino effect.