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Vikings Sign 4th-Round Draft Pick Rhett Ellison

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings have signed tight end Rhett Ellison and now have seven of their 10 draft picks under contract.

The Vikings announced the deal Wednesday. Ellison was one of the team's three fourth-round selections. He was chosen 128th overall out of USC and could eventually take the place of longtime battering ram Jim Kleinsasser, who retired after last season.

The Vikings signed six of their picks Tuesday.

First-round selections Matt Kalil and Harrison Smith and third-round pick Josh Robinson have yet to sign.

The NFL's new collective bargaining agreement sets a more rigid system for negotiating contracts, which has streamlined the process for signing deals.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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