Minnesota takes Watts in seventh

Linebacker Brandon Watts keeps his eyes on the ball during drills at Georgia Tech Pro Day Friday, March 28, 2014, in Atlanta.

Linebacker Brandon Watts keeps his eyes on the ball during drills at Georgia Tech Pro Day Friday, March 28, 2014, in Atlanta.

Georgia Tech had its third player selected in the NFL draft when the Minnesota Vikings picked linebacker Brandon Watts early in the seventh and final round Saturday.

Watts, who turned heads at Tech's pro day in March with a 40-yard dash in the 4.4 second range, followed defensive end Jeremiah Attaochu (second round, San Diego) and defensive back Jemea Thomas (sixth, New England).

It’s the most draft picks the Yellow Jackets have had in a draft since the four-player 2010 draft (Derrick Morgan, Demaryius Thomas, Morgan Burnett, Jonathan Dwyer) and the first time three defensive players have been picked since 2009 (Michael Johnson, Vance Walker, Darryl Richard).