What About Jerick?

The Minnesota Vikings have routinely started signing their picks in June, or more often July. Even with the 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement scripting rookie contracts, the Vikings have continued to put some time between the NFL Draft and the signing of their new players. This year was different. The 2014 NFL Draft closed on May 10. On May 16, the Vikings signed fifth-round Stanford guard David Yankey, sixth-round Maine corner Kendall James, and seventh-round North Carolina corner Jabari Price. On May 20, they signed seventh-round picks Connecticut defensive tackle Shamar Stephen and Georgia Tech linebacker Brandon Watts. On that same day, the Vikings went to the top of the draft. They signed first-round pick Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. The very next day the Vikings signed their first first-round pick UCLA linebacker Anthony Barr and sixth-round pick Virginia Tech safety Antone Exum. On May 22, they signed third-round Oregon St. defensive end Scott Crichton. In a span of six days, less than two weeks after the draft, the Minnesota Vikings signed nine draft picks to their first NFL contracts. Quick, efficient rookie signings like this might be considered routine for the Chicago Bears. In the week following the draft, the Bears had signed all of their picks. It took only four days. The Vikings flurry of rookie signings had never been seen before. When the dust of that flurry finally cleared in Minnesota, Jerick McKinnon was still unsigned.

What about Jerick?

The Minnesota Vikings selected Georgia Southern running back Jerick McKinnon with the last of the picks that they obtained from the Seattle Seahawks in the trade for receiver Percy Harvin. McKinnon was selected with the 32nd pick of the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft. It seems appropriate that the pick was part of the Harvin trade since McKinnon could provide some of the same explosive versatility that Harvin once did. McKinnon played in a triple-option offense at Georgia Southern. As a junior, he played the quarterbacking role in the offense. He switched to the tailback role as a senior. He can run, catch, throw, and return kicks. Some teams even worked him out as a defensive back. He blew up the combine. 4.41 in the 40. 32 reps in the bench. 40.5-inch vertical jump. 11-foot broad jump. These are very unique athletic skills. The Vikings likely expect him to be a change-of-pace back behind Adrian Peterson and possibly return some punts.

Why isn't he signed? Why isn't he signed after such a concentrated fury to get the other nine picks signed? Some think that he's holding out. That's silly. There's no room for hold outs with this CBA. Especially for a third round pick. My guess is that the delay is less sinister. My guess is that there is some scheduling snafu with his agent. Or, maybe a snafu with his agent. Basically, the Vikings and McKinnon and/or his agent haven't had a chance to sit down and chat. He should be signed soon. I can't wait to see what the very versatile Jerick McKinnon can do in the NFL. The Vikings have a new offensive weapon. They just have to sign him.