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Union sign draft pick defenders Aaron Jones and Jack Elliott

The Union signed one of their 2017 draft picks, defender Aaron Jones, to a senior level contract on Thursday.

The Union signed two of their 2017 draft picks to senior level contracts this week. Defender Aaron Jones inked his deal on Thursday, and Jack Elliott did so on Friday.

Jones is a right back born in Great Yarmouth, England. He's 5-foot-9 and 160 pounds. He played four years of college soccer, two at Georgia State followed by two at Clemson. The Union took him in the second round of the draft with the 33rd overall selection.

"Aaron has impressed throughout his time with us in preseason camp, displaying quickness, his ability in passing and on free kicks, and his aggressive one-on-one defending," Union sporting director Earnie Stewart said in a statement. "We look forward to bringing him aboard officially and tracking his development at the right back position over the years to come."

Elliott is a centerback, 6-5 and 180 pounds. He's also English, and went from his native London to four years of college soccer at West Virginia. The Union took him in the fourth round at No. 77 overall.

"When you look at Jack, the first thing you notice is his height, an asset that we believe will serve him well as a professional," Stewart said. "He is a good passer who reads the game well. He has performed well in preseason and we look forward to working with him this season and beyond."

Jones and Elliott are the 29th and 30th players on the Union's roster. The Union may have 30 players on their roster, two more than the official MLS limit of 28, thanks to a new rule which allows teams with two homegrown players to have two more roster slots.

A 31st player may be signed by a MLS team and loaned to a USL affiliate for the season. Jones and Elliott are candidates to be that loanee - Jones in particular, because the Union already have two right backs in starter Keegan Rosenberry and backup Ray Gaddis.

Expect the 31st player to be a third goalkeeper who will slot behind starter Andre Blake and backup John McCarthy on the depth chart.

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