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There used to be a time when the signing of members of an NFL team’s draft class for a given year was accomplished right before Training Camp. Often times, that led to contract holdouts and other things that teams didn’t want to deal with. . .see the great Bryant McKinnie holdout of 2002 as an example.
But, with the implementation of the rookie salary scale, we pretty much already know how much rookies are going to make anyway, so teams have stopped waiting around. To that end, the Minnesota Vikings became one of the first teams to sign any members of their 2018 draft class on Thursday.
Welcome to the NFL!
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) May 3, 2018
We have signed four members of our 2018 draft class.
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Not surprisingly, the first four players to ink their contracts were the last four players that the Vikings selected last week.
Daniel Carlson, the kicker from Auburn that the Vikings took at #167 overall, is the highest of the four picks to sign his deal. Also signing were the team’s two sixth round selections, offensive lineman Colby Gossett and defensive lineman Ade Aruna, as well as their seventh round selection, linebacker Devante Downs.
We even have the terms of all of their deals, courtesy of Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
Among #Vikings draftees Daniel Carlson 4-year $2.708 million deal with $248,012 signing bonus ($542,003 cap number) Colby Gossett & Ade Aruna both 4-year $2.578 million deals with $118,408 bonuses ($509,602 cap) & Devante Downs 4-year $2.554 million w/$94,400 bonus ($503,600 cap)
— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) May 4, 2018
That leaves cornerback Mike Hughes, offensive tackle Brian O’Neill, defensive lineman Jalyn Holmes, and tight end Tyler Conklin left for Rob Brzezinski and company to sign.
Welcome to the NFL, gentlemen!