National Football League

Bills sign DE Alex Carrington

Published Jul. 19, 2010 7:39 p.m. ET

foxsports

Bills rookie defensive end Alex Carrington can begin focusing on the start of training camp now that his contract is out of the way.

The third-round draft pick out of Arkansas State signed a four-year deal with Buffalo on Monday, a little over a week before the team will open camp in suburban Rochester on July 29.

''It's quite a bit of a relief,'' Carrington said. ''I'm glad my deal got done so that wouldn't be on my mind. ... I didn't want to miss a day of training camp.''

Selected 72nd overall, Carrington is competing for a backup role on a revamped defense that's making the switch to the 3-4 system under first-year head coach Chan Gailey. The Bills are already deep at the position, with Marcus Stroud making the switch from tackle, and the signing of Dwan Edwards in free agency.

At 6-foot-5 and 285 pounds, Carrington was a proven pass-rushing specialist as a four-year starter in college.

He finished with 21 1/2 career sacks to rank second in school history and fourth on the Sun Belt Conference list. His 10 1/2 sacks in 2008 earned him the conference's defensive player of the year selection.

''I'm definitely catching on to everything, but I know training camp will be another introduction to the NFL,'' he said. ''I'm ready to get to hitting now and put some pads on.''

The move leaves the Bills with two unsigned draft picks: First-round selection, running back C.J. Spiller; and second-rounder, defensive tackle Torell Troup.