Vikings sign rookies Barr, Crichton, Exum

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) The Minnesota Vikings have signed draft picks Anthony Barr, Scott Crichton and Antone Exum to contracts.

The Vikings signed Barr, the ninth overall pick, and Exum, a seventh-rounder, on Wednesday. They announced the deal for Crichton, a third-round pick, on Thursday.

Barr, a linebacker from UCLA, is expected to immediately upgrade a position group that struggled to make big plays last season. He had 23 1/2 sacks in two seasons for the Bruins after making the switch from running back.

Exum is a safety from Virginia Tech and Crichton is a pass-rushing end from Oregon State. He had 7 1/2 sacks for the Beavers last season.

The moves leave third-round running back Jerick McKinnon as the only player unsigned from the Vikings' 2014 class.

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