Vikings Announce Flurry Of Signings; Cook Still Unsigned
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – The Vikings announced Tuesday they have signed all but one of their 2017 draft picks.
Bucky Hodges, a sixth round pick out of Virginia Tech, has signed his rookie contract. With his signing, the Vikings have locked up more than half of their 11 draft picks.
Hodges came to Virginia Tech as a quarterback, but the 6-foot-6-inch, 257 pound 21-year-old transitioned to tight end after showing his receiving skills on the scout team.
He set records for receptions, yardage and touchdowns at Virginia Tech and entered the draft a year early.
The Vikings took Hodges with the 201st overall pick. The athletic tight end will back up Kyle Rudolph, who is coming off the best year of his career. Rudolph played all 16 games in 2016, catching 83 balls for 840 yards and seven touchdowns.
Fellow sixth-rounder Stacy Coley also signed his contract. In addition to his receiving duties, Coley was a standout kick returner for the Miami Hurricanes.
Third round pick Pat Elflein also signed Tuesday. A center out of Ohio State, Elflein was widely considered one of the best interior linemen in the draft.
A pair of seventh rounders, linebacker Elijah Lee and defensive back Jack Tocho, also signed their rookie deals.
In non-draft pick news, the Vikings signed safety Tommy Armstrong and wide receiver Mitch Mathews.
