And Then There Was One

The Minnesota Vikings didn't start signing their draft picks until the end of last week. That was about three weeks later than they intended. A typically smooth process was slowed when the NFL Player's Association had some issues with some of the language that the Vikings had in their rookie contracts. Sources said that the team didn't change that language so the rookies have signed the contracts as is. About three weeks late.

Rodney Adams, a fifth-round receiver out of South Florida, was the first to sign when signed last Thursday. He was soon followed by Ifeadi Odenigbo, a seventh-round defensive end out of Northwestern, later that day.

On Friday, the number of signed rookies hit five as Jaleel Johnson, a fourth-round defensive tackle out of Iowa, Ben Gedeon, a fourth-round linebacker out of Michigan, and Danny Isidora, a fifth-round guard out of Miami, all signed The Vikings were on a rookie-signing roll as they headed into the Memorial Day weekend with five of their 11 draft picks signed.

The Vikings got right back to work after the long weekend. On Tuesday, the Vikings announced the signings of Pat Elflein, a third-round center out of Ohio State, Bucky Hodges, a sixth-round tight end out of Virginia Tech, Stacy Coley, a seventh-round receiver out of Miami, Elijah Lee, a seventh-round linebacker out of Kansas State, and Jack Tocho, a seventh-round safety out of North Carolina State. Those signings left only top pick Dalvin Cook, a second-round running back out of Florida State, as the only unsigned Vikings' rookie. A source said that Cook was close to signing his deal. Only the usual dotting of "i's" and crossing of "t's" remain before the signing of the Vikings 2017 rookie class is complete.

In other rookie news, the Vikings announced the signing of former Nebraska quarterback Tommy Armstrong. After going undrafted in the 2017 NFL Draft, Armstrong was invited to try out at the Vikings rookie minicamp on May 5-7. He worked with the running backs for the first two days and as a safety on the final day. He got the attention of the Vikings as a safety. There were some reports that he was going to be signed soon after the tryout but there wasn't room on the roster. The Vikings decided yesterday that they had room for another safety. Receiver Mitch Matthews was released so that Armstrong could be signed.