, the upcoming draft could be one of the most important in team history.
The franchise sits at the crossroads of contending and irrelevance. The right selections could put the team back in the forefront of the Minnesota sports landscape—a highly desirable position, since the team would like a new stadium.
The Vikings have needs at quarterback, receiver, offensive line, linebackers and the defensive backfield, so they have plenty of opportunities to improve the team.
The consensus for most fans would be for the Vikings to select a quarterback with their first selection in the draft—the 12th pick of the first round.
In the 50-year history of the team, the Vikings have had 48 first-round draft picks. In 1967, they had the second, eighth and 15th selections of the first round. For three consecutive seasons from 1990 to 1992, the Vikings did not have any first round picks, trading them toDallasfor Herschel Walker during the 1989 season.
I looked at the history of the Vikings first round draftees and ranked them based on the number of years they played, the number of games, times they were named to the First Team All-Pro and the number of Pro Bowls they played. To qualify for the ranking, theirNFLcareers needed to span at least eight years with at least four played in Minnesota.
Here are the all time top 20 Minnesota Vikings first round draft picks.
With only four years in theNFL(so far),Adrian Petersondoes not meet my criteria for the ranking.
Selected seventh in the 2007 draft, Peterson was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, has made the Pro Bowl each of his four seasons and twice been named First Team All-Pro.
Peterson is currently third on the Vikings all-time career rushing list, a mere 105 yards behind Chuck Foreman and 1,036 yards behind Robert Smith.
If he stays healthy, Peterson should become the Vikings leading rusher by the end of the 2011 season.
No. 20: Darren Nelson, Running Back—1982 Selected Seventh
Darren Nelson makes this based mainly on his longevity at running back.
Nelson would play 10 seasons in Minnesota and is seventh all-time in career rushing yards for the Vikings with 4,231 yards.
In 1989, he would be traded to Dallas as part of the deal that brought Herschel Walker to Minnesota. Nelson refused to report to theCowboysand would be sent toSan Diego, where he would play two seasons before returning to the Vikings.
In his Vikings career, he would start 67 of 129 games.
No. 19: Steve Riley, Left Tackle—1974 Selected 29th
Selected 29th, Steve Riley was the second first-round pick the Vikings had in 1974.
Riley would play his entire 11-year NFL career with the Vikings, starting 121 of 138 games at left tackle.
No. 18: Mark Mullaney, Defensive Lineman—1975 Selected 25th
The Vikings drafted Mark Mullaney with the 25th selection of the first round in 1975.
Primarily a backup for the first three years of his career, Mullaney would play in 151 over his 12-year career, all with Minnesota.
No. 17: Fred McNeil, Linebacker—1974 Selected 17th
Like Darren Nelson, Fred McNeil makes this list for his longevity.
McNeil played his entire 12 NFL seasons with the Vikings from 1974 to 1985.
In his career, he played in 167 games, starting 122 of them.
McNeil recovered 16 fumbles in his career with Minnesota, tied for sixth all-time for Vikings defensive players.
No. 16: Keith Millard, Defensive Tackle—1984 Selected 13th.
Keith Millard was drafted by the Vikings in 1984 but decided to play in the USFL with the Jacksonville Bulls.
The following season, he would make his NFL debut with the Vikings, registering 11 sacks.
In 1988 and 1989, Millard would be selected to the Pro Bowl and named First Team All-Pro.
In 1989, Millard was named the NFL AP Defensive Player of the Year when he recorded 18 sacks.
He would play six seasons with the Vikings, making 63 starts and appearing in 75 games.
Unfortunately in 1990, he would suffer a knee injury that would limit him to only four games. He would miss the entire 1991 season and attempted to make a comeback withSeattle, but he was never the same player.
No. 15: Chuck Foreman, Running Back—1973 Selected 12th
Chuck Foreman is currently second for the Vikings in career rushing yards with 5,887 yards and eighth all time in scoring with 450 points.
Drafted in 1973, Foreman led the Vikings in rushing for six straight seasons and was a member of three of the four NFC Championship teams.
Foreman played in five straight Pro Bowls from 1973 to 1977 and was named First Team All-Pro in 1975.
In seven seasons, he played 93 games, starting 78 of them. Foreman finished his career with theNew England Patriotsin 1980.
The fact he only played eight seasons prevents him from rising higher on the list.
No. 14: Tommy Kramer. Quarterback—1977 Selected 27th
Tommy Kramer would have the unenviable task of replacing Fran Tarkenton, who led the Vikings to three of their four Super Bowls.
He would only play in 10 games in his first two seasons before Tarkenton would retire, and Kramer would be named the starter for the 1979 season, starting all 16 games.
I still remember the game during his rookie year in 1977 when Kramer came off the bench to replace Tarkenton on December 4 against theSan Francisco 49ersat Metropolitan Stadium.
The Vikings were losing 24-7 and Kramer would throw three touchdowns in the fourth quarter, the last one a 69 yard pass to Sammy White to lead the Vikings to a 28-27 win.
During his 13-year career with the Vikings, Kramer would start 110 of 128 games he played.
Injuries would limit him to only 21 games over three seasons from 1982 to 1984.
In 1986, Kramer would lead the NFL with a 92.6 quarterback rating. That season, he would be selected to the Pro Bowl and be named the AP Comeback Player of the Year.
He second all-time in passing yards and touchdown passes for the Vikings with 24,775 yards and 159 touchdown passes.
No. 13: Dewayne Washington, Cornerback—1994 Selected 18th
DewayneWashingtonplayed 12 seasons in the NFL, but only the first four for Minnesota.
As a rookie in 1994, Washington started all 16 games at cornerback.
Over his four seasons with the Vikings, he would have 10 interceptions and score four defensive touchdowns.
Unfortunately for Vikings fans, Washington would sign with thePittsburgh Steelersfollowing the 1997 season.
While the Vikings had the best season in franchise history, going 15-1, Washington would have the best season of his career, intercepting five passes and scoring two touchdowns inPittsburgh.
For his career, he would start 171 of 191 games he would play.
No. 12: Daunte Culpepper, Quarterback—1999 Selected 11th
Daunte Culpepper was drafted in 1999 following the Vikings' best season in franchise history, going 15-1 in 1998.
In 2000, he would be named the starting quarterback and start all 16 games, leading the Vikings to an 11-5 record and a return to the NFC Championship game.
He would play 11 seasons in the NFL, the first seven in Minnesota.
During his time in Minnesota, Culpepper would start 100 games for the Vikings.
A three time Pro Bowl selection, he led the NFL with 33 touchdown passes in 2000.
He is third all time in career passing yards and touchdown passes for Minnesota with 20,162 passing yards and 135 touchdown passes.
A severe knee injury would limit Culpepper to seven games in 2005. After the season, the Vikings would trade him to theMiami Dolphins.
No. 11: Jeff Siemon, Linebacker—1972 Selected 10th
Jeff Siemon played his entire 11-year NFL career in Minnesota.
He would start eight games at middle linebacker in his rookie season.
Over the next seven seasons, Siemon would only miss four games, starting 97 of the Vikings 102 regular season games.
He was selected to four Pro Bowls in 1973, and consecutively from 1975 to 1977.
For his career, he had 11 interceptions and 11 fumble recoveries.
No. 10: Tommy Mason, Running Back—1961 Selected First
Tommy Mason has distinction of being the very first player drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in their inaugural season in 1961.
Mason played 11 seasons in the NFL, six with the Vikings, followed by four with the Los AngelesRamsand finishing his career in Washington.
For his career, he would play in 120 games and start 59 of them.
A three-time Pro Bowl selection, he was named in consecutive seasons in 1963 to 1965.
In 1963 he was named First Team All-Pro.
Mason is eighth in Vikings franchise history with 3,252 rushing yards and eighth with 28 rushing touchdowns.
The unfortunate fate of being an expansion team's first draft pick, Mason never played on a winning team during his six seasons in Minnesota.
No. 9: Todd Steussie, Left Tackle—1994 Selected 19th
As a rookie in 1994, Todd Steussie would start all 16 games at left tackle. In fact, over the seven seasons he played in Minnesota, Steussie would only miss one game, starting 111 as the backside protector of Vikings quarterbacks.
His career would span 14 years with three years inCarolinafollowed by two inTampa Bayand two inAtlanta.
Joey Browner made his mark playing special teams for the Vikings as a rookie in 1983. He was a sure-handed and fierce tackler covering punts for the Vikings.
In 1985, Browner's third year in the NFL, he would start all 16 games at strong safety.
In his career, Browner would start 117 of the 145 games he played.
Over his nine years with the Vikings, he would intercept 37 passes, the fourth most in Vikings franchise history.
He would be named to six consecutive Pro Bowls between 1985 and 1990 and was named First Team All-Pro three times.
No. 7: Kevin Williams, Defensive Tackle—2003 Selected Ninth
Kevin Williams is the only player drafted in this millennium and only one of two active NFL players to make the ranking.
Since being drafted in 2003, Kevin Williams has only missed two games. He has started every game he has played for the Vikings—126 of them.
Williams' 49.5 sacks rank him sixth in franchise history.
During his eight seasons, he has been selected to six Pro Bowls and has been named First Team All-Pro five times.
No. 6: Chris Doleman, Defensive End—1985 Selected Fourth
Chris Doleman spent his first nine seasons playing defensive end for the Minnesota Vikings.
After two seasons with theAtlanta Falconsand three inSan Francisco, he would finish his 15-year career where it started in 1999.
Doleman was an eight-time Pro-Bowler and twice named First Team All-Pro.
In 1989, he led the NFL with 21 sacks and in fourth since the NFL started to record sacks with 150.5.
Doleman is the Vikings career leader in forced fumbles with 31, and his 16 fumble recoveries places him fifth in franchise history.
Over his 15 NFL seasons, he would play in 232 games, starting 213 of them.
No. 5: Randy Moss, Wide Receiver—1998 Selected 21st
Looking back over his career with the Vikings, it becomes quite apparent why 19 teams passed onRandy Mossin the 1998 draft—theCincinnati Bengalspassed him over twice.
Yet, on the field, he was a force that tipped the balance of the game to the Vikings favor.
As one of only two active players to make the list, Moss enters his 13th year in the NFL. His first seven season were spent in Minnesota.
Moss has been named to seven Pro Bowls—five of them as a Viking. He is also a four-time First Team All-Pro.
His 587 receptions and 9,316 receiving yards are both good for second place all-time in Minnesota Vikings history. His 564 points are fourth in team history.
Ron Yary is the first of four Vikings first-round draft choices to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Yary played 16 years in the NFL, the first 15 with the Vikings.
In his third year in the league, he was named the Vikings starting right tackle. Over the next 12 seasons, he would miss only two starts for the Vikings.
In his career, he would play in 208 games, starting 180 of them.
Starting in 1971, Yary would be selected to seven consecutive Pro Bowls and named First Team All-Pro for six consecutive years.
During his tenure, Yary's dominance on the offensive line would be overshadowed by the Vikings defensive line—the Purple People Eaters.
Yary was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001.
No. 3: Carl Eller, Defensive End—1964 Selected 6th
Carl Eller played 16 years in the NFL, 15 of them with the Minnesota Vikings.
From his rookie season in 1964, he was a starter on the defensive line.
Eller played in 225 games, starting 209 of them.
He was named to six Pro Bowls and was a five-time First Team All-Pro.
Eller was a member of the Vikings Purple People Eaters whose motto was to "meet at the quarterback."
He was inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1996.
No. 2: Randall McDaniel, Left Guard—1988 Selected 19th
Randall McDaniel played 14 years in the NFL and anchored the left side of the Vikings offensive line for 12 of them from 1988 until 1999, when he signed withTampa Bay.
He was named to his first Pro Bowl after his second season. McDaniel would become a perennial Pro Bowler, being named for 12 consecutive years from 1989 to 2000. His 11 Pro Bowl selections while with the Vikings are the most in team history.
He was named seven times First Team All-Pro, also a franchise record for the Vikings.
For his career, he would play in 222 games, starting all but two of them.
McDaniel was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009.
No. 1: Alan Page, Defensive Tackle—1967 Selected 15th
Alan Page tops the list as the best first-round draft choice the Vikings have ever made. He was a fierce and disruptive force on Vikings defensive line as a member of the Vikings Purple People Eaters along with Carl Eller, Jim Marshall and Gary Larsen.
Page played 15 years in the NFL, 11-plus seasons with the Vikings and three-plus seasons inChicagoto close out his career.
He was the first defensive player to ever be named the NFL AP Most Valuable Player in 1971. That season, he was also named the AP Defensive Player of the Year.
For nine consecutive years starting in 1968 until 1976, he was named to the Pro Bowl and was a six-time First Team All-Pro.
In his rookie season he would start 11 of 14 games. For the next 14 years, he would start every game of every season, totaling 215 starts in 218 games.
Page was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988.
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