Report: Vikings Agree to Terms with Trae Waynes, Other Draftees

Image courtesy of Vikings.com

As first reported by ESPN 1500 contributor Darren Wolfson Thursday afternoon, Trae Waynes became the fourth first-round pick to sign his rookie deal. The four-year contract, which includes a fifth-year option for the team, is worth $12.944 million and pays Waynes a $7.674 million signing bonus.

The Vikings selected Waynes with the 11th-overall pick, making him the most valuable cornerback they’ve ever taken in the draft. He joins rookies Eric Kendricks, Danielle Hunter, B.J. Dubose, and Edmond Robinson as the latest additions to Mike Zimmer’s defensive rebuild.

After the announcement, Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press reported that the Vikings are taking a different approach to signing rookies. Last year, Rick Spielman waited two weeks to sign first-round picks Anthony Barr and Teddy Bridgewater. Now, he is working to sign as many of the team’s draft picks as possible by the start of rookie minicamp on Friday:

In addition to the Waynes deal, the Vikings also agreed to terms with second-round selection Eric Kendricks.

Kendricks, per Tomasson, agreed to terms on a four-year, $5.155 million deal with a signing bonus of $2.009 million. The star UCLA linebacker is set to compete for a starting role this season.

Danielle Hunter, the Vikings’ third-round selection and No. 88 overall pick, agreed to terms on a four-year, $2.9 million deal. He received a $627,724 signing bonus and will fight for playing time behind Brian Robison at defensive end this season.

As announced by his agent, T.J. Clemmings has agreed to terms on a four-year, $2.804 million deal with the Vikings. The Pittsburgh product will receive a $524,956 million signing bonus on the non-guaranteed contract:

In the fifth round of the NFL Draft, the Vikings selected two players — Southern Illinois tight end MyCole Pruitt and Maryland wide receiver Stefon Diggs. Pruitt, the No. 143 overall pick, agreed to terms on a four-year, $2.51 million contract, while Diggs, the No. 146 overall pick, signed a four-year, $2.507 million deal. The rookies received $230,588 and $227,712 signing bonuses, respectively.

Sixth-round pick Tyrus Thompson, the reserve tackle out of Oklahoma, agreed to terms on a four-year, $2,395,352 deal. Though his contract isn’t guaranteed, Thompson is set to receive a $115,325 signing bonus. B.J. Dubose, a sixth-round pick out of Louisville, joined his fellow rookies by agreeing to terms on Thursday. Dubose’s four-year contract is worth $2.399 million, and the defensive tackle will receive a $119,860 signing bonus.

The Vikings’ seventh-round pick, Edmond Robinson, agreed to terms shortly after the Kendricks and Thompson announcements. His agent, Cliff Brady, confirmed the report, and stated that Robinson will sign his four-year, $2.348 million contract on Friday. Like Thompson, Robinson’s contract is not guaranteed, but the Newberry star will receive a $68,132 signing bonus.

Per Chris Tomasson, the Vikings have agreed to terms with Austin Shepherd, making him the seventh of the Vikings’ 10 draftees to sign a deal with the team:

The flurry of activity means the Vikings have signed all 10 of their 2015 draft picks. They’ll take part in today’s rookie minicamp along with the team’s undrafted free agents and other invited players.

 

Share: