The 8 Best Draft Picks in Vikings History
The Minnesota Vikings set sail on the 2026 NFL Draft in 25 days, so let’s take a look at the past to size up the best selections in franchise history. Next week, we’ll profile the naughty list: the worst selections by Minnesota since 1961.
Ranking the Franchise Picks That Delivered the Biggest Payoff
The criteria are simple: the Vikings players who put the biggest thumbprint on the team.
Ranking the Franchise Picks That Delivered the Biggest Payoff
Counting down from Justin Jefferson to an obvious No. 1.
8. Justin Jefferson | WR
Total Years as a Starter in NFL: 6
Drafted: Round 1 (2020)
1st-Team All-Pro: 2
Pro Bowls: 4
Here’s the stat to know about Jefferson:
Most Receiving Yards
thru First 6 Seasons of Career:
Justin Jefferson (8,480)
Randy Moss (8,375)
Torry Holt (8,156)
Jerry Rice (7,866)
Calvin Johnson (7,836)
Julio Jones (7,610)
DeAndre Hopkins (7,437)
CeeDee Lamb (7,416)
Mike Evans (7,260)
A.J. Green (7,135)
Antonio Brown (7,093)
Marvin Harrison (7,078)
Larry Fitzgerald (7,067)
A.J. Brown (7,026)
Sterling Sharpe (7,015)
Not bad.
7. Adrian Peterson | RB
Total Years as a Starter in NFL: 15
Drafted: Round 1 (2007)
1st-Team All-Pro: 4
Pro Bowls: 7
Peterson’s off-the-field antics have turned wacky as of late, but before that, he was the best running back of his era in the NFL. In fact, no one has quite replicated him stylistically since he left the sport in 2021. Derrick Henry came close, but he’s just not quite as fast.
The only player with more rushing yards and rushing touchdowns in NFL history than Peterson is Emmitt Smith, who was an obvious Hall of Famer.
Peterson will be up for Hall of Fame Consideration soon; he better get in right away without any voter shenanigans.
6. Chris Doleman | DE
Total Years as a Starter in NFL: 15
Drafted: Round 1 (1985)
1st-Team All-Pro: 3
Pro Bowls: 8
Doleman spent 10 years in Minnesota, appearing in 154 games and logging 96.5 sacks along the way. He navigated the rough stretch of mid-1980s Vikings football and helped get the Dennis Green era off the ground in style.
He ranks seventh all-time in sacks on the “unofficial” leaderboard and fifth on the official version. He would’ve ranked No. 5 on this list, but No. 5 fundamentally changed how the sport is played.
5. Randy Moss | WR
Total Years as a Starter in NFL: 12
Drafted: Round 1 (1998)
1st-Team All-Pro: 4
Pro Bowls: 6
Moss is widely known for revolutionizing the passing game in both the NFL and during his exciting 7.5 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings.
Jerry Rice is the only wide receiver in NFL history with more receiving yards and receiving touchdowns than Moss.
4. Randall McDaniel | G
Total Years as a Starter in NFL: 14
1st-Team All-Pro: 7
Drafted: Round 1 (1988)
Pro Bowls: 12
Though offensive guards rarely receive top billing, McDaniel’s accomplishments warrant consideration, as his resume speaks for itself.
From 1988 to 1999, McDaniel anchored Minnesota’s offensive line with remarkable consistency and versatility. After his departure to Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers won the Super Bowl the following season.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
3. Carl Eller | DE
Total Years as a Starter in NFL: 15
Drafted: Round 1 (1964)
1st-Team All-Pro: 5
Pro Bowls: 6
Eller was a cornerstone of the Purple People Eaters and a Hall of Famer. Before joining the Vikings, Page starred at the University of Minnesota, further enhancing his already impressive credentials.
He ranks 19th all-time in sacks on the unofficial leaderboard, which includes numbers from before 1982, when official sack tracking began.
2. Alan Page | DT
Total Years as a Starter in NFL: 15
Drafted: Round 1 (1967)
All-Pro: 5
Pro Bowls: 9
Page’s 148.5 sacks rank eighth all-time, a remarkable achievement for a defensive tackle. While the choice between him and Eller for this spot was extremely close, Page’s statistics give him a slight edge, earning him the No. 2 spot.
He also served on the Minnesota Supreme Court from 1993 to 2015.
1. Fran Tarkenton | QB
Total Years as a Starter in NFL: 18
Drafted: Round 3 (1961)
All-Pro: 1
Pro Bowls: 9
Tarkenton’s No. 1 spot stems from three key factors: his position as quarterback, the most impactful on the field; his unexpected arrival to the Vikings as a 3rd-Round pick 65 years ago; and his remarkable longevity with the team.
Tarkenton’s career spanned roughly the length of Harrison Smith’s current tenure, plus another rookie contract — all while playing quarterback. Imagine Smith playing until 2029; that’s Tarkenton’s career.
Upon his retirement in 1978, he held the league’s top records in major passing categories, marking the end of an era closely tied to Minnesota’s Super Bowl aspirations.
Honorable Mentions
- Harrison Smith (S)
- Kevin Williams (DT)
- Bobby Bell (LB)
- Ron Yary (OT)
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