The Vikings selected Iowa defensive end Christian Ballard (No. 46) with their fourth round draft pick in the NFL Draft on Saturday. (credit: David Purdy/Getty Images)
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings have selected Iowa defensive tackle Christian Ballard with their fourth-round draft pick.
The Vikings took Ballard with the ninth choice of the round, 106th overall on Saturday. The 6-foot-3, 283-pound tackle could add depth at the position with Kevin Williams facing a four-game suspension and Pat Williams a free agent.
It’s the first defensive player new head coach Leslie Frazier, a former defensive coordinator, has chosen in the draft.
The Vikings took quarterback Christian Ponder in the first round on Thursday and Notre Dame tight end Kyle Rudolph in the second round on Friday. They did not have a third-round pick because they traded it to New England for Randy Moss.
The Vikings have seven picks on the final day of the draft.
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