EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings signed their other fourth-round pick, Rhett Ellison, on Wednesday leaving just the team's top three selections unsigned.
Ellison, a fullback/tight end out of USC, is the seventh of the team's 10 draft picks to agree to terms, officially signing a day after Minnesota signed fourth-round receivers Jarius Wright and Greg Childs, fifth-round defensive back Robert Blanton, sixth-round kicker Blair Walsh and seventh-round defensive players, linebacker Audie Cole and defensive tackle Trevor Guyton.
According to the rules of the new collective bargaining agreement, players selected in Rounds 2-7 must sign four-year contracts. First-round picks can sign with a club-option for a fifth-year added to the deal.
Left tackle Matt Kalil, the fourth overall pick from USC, first-round safety Harrison Smith from Notre Dame and third-round cornerback Josh Robinson from Central Florida are still unsigned.
Ellison was surprised when he was drafted in the fourth round by the Vikings, who are hoping he can develop into the type of blocking presence the team lost when longtime Viking Jim Kleinsasser retired after last season.
Minnesota's first organized team activities of the offseason begin next week at Winter Park.
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