List of Minnesota Vikings first-round draft picks explained

The Minnesota Vikings joined the National Football League (NFL) in 1961. The Vikings' first draft selection as an NFL team was Tommy Mason, a running back from Tulane University. The team's most recent first-round selection is Jordan Addison, a wide receiver from the University of Southern California.

Every April, each NFL franchise seeks to add new players to its roster through a collegiate draft known as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting", more commonly known as the NFL draft. Teams are ranked in reverse order based on the previous season's record, with team with the worst record picking first, the team with the second-worst record picking second, and so on. The two exceptions to this order are made for teams that appeared in the previous Super Bowl; the Super Bowl champion always picks last and the Super Bowl loser always picks second-last. Teams have the option of trading away their picks to other teams for different picks, players, cash, or a combination thereof. Thus, it is not uncommon for a team's actual draft pick to differ from their assigned draft pick, or for a team to have extra or no draft picks in any round due to these trades.

The Vikings have selected number one overall twice. The Vikings received the first pick in 1961 as an expansion franchise and then again in 1968 when the franchise chose Ron Yary, an offensive tackle from the University of Southern California. The Vikings have used first-round selections on players from the University of Southern California five times, Michigan State University four times, and from the University of Notre Dame, Oklahoma State University, Ohio State University, Florida State University and North Carolina State University three times. The Vikings have drafted 10 running backs, the most common position drafted by the franchise, followed by defensive end (9), defensive tackle (8), defensive back (8) and wide receiver (8). Six eventual Hall of Famers have been selected by the Vikings in the first-round: Carl Eller, Alan Page, Chris Doleman, Randall McDaniel, Ron Yary and Randy Moss.[1]

Key

BBackKKickerNTNose tackle
CCenterLBLinebackerFBFullback
DBDefensive backPPunterHBHalfback
DEDefensive endQBQuarterbackWRWide receiver
DTDefensive tackleRBRunning backGGuard
EEndTOffensive tackleTETight end
^Indicates the player was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
§Enshrined in the Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor
†Indicates the player was selected for the Pro Bowl at any time in their career.
 * Selected number one overall
—The Vikings did not draft a player in the first round that year.
YearEach year links to an article about that particular NFL Draft.
PickIndicates the number of the pick within the first round
PositionThe player's position
CollegeThe player's college football team

Player selections

Minnesota Vikings first-round draft picks
YearPickPlayer namePositionCollegeNotes
National Football League, Early Era (1950–1969)
19611Tommy Mason  † *RBTulane
1962No pick[2]
19633Jim DunawayTOle Miss[3]
19646Carl Eller  † § ^DEMinnesota
19658Jack SnowWRNotre Dame[4]
19667Jerry ShayDTPurdue
19672Clinton JonesRBMichigan State[5]
8Gene Washington  †WRMichigan State
15Alan Page  † § ^DTNotre Dame[6]
19681Ron Yary  † § ^ *TUSC
1969No pick[7]
National Football League, Modern Era (1970–present)
197025John WardTOklahoma State
197124Leo HaydenRBOhio State
197210Jeff Siemon  †LBStanford[8]
197312Chuck Foreman  † §RBMiami (FL)
197417Fred McNeillLBUCLA[9]
25Steve RileyTUSC
197525Mark MullaneyDEColorado State
197625James WhiteDTOklahoma State
197727Tommy Kramer  †QBRice
197821Randy HollowayDEPittsburgh
197916Ted BrownRBNC State
19809Doug MartinDTWashington
1981No pick[10]
19827Darrin NelsonRBStanford
198319Joey Browner  † §DBUSC
198413Keith Millard  †DEWashington State
1984*13Allanda SmithCBTCU[11]
19854Chris Doleman  † § ^LBPittsburgh[12]
198614Gerald RobinsonDEAuburn[13]
198714D. J. DozierRBPenn State[14]
198819Randall McDaniel  † § ^GArizona State
1989No pick[15]
1990No pick[16]
1991No pick
1992No pick
199321Robert Smith  †RBOhio State
199418Dewayne WashingtonCBNC State[17]
19Todd Steussie  †TCalifornia
199511Derrick AlexanderDEFlorida State[18]
24Korey Stringer  † §TOhio State
199616Duane ClemonsLBCalifornia
199720Dwayne RuddLBAlabama
199821Randy Moss  † § ^WRMarshall
199911Daunte Culpepper  †QBUCF[19]
29Dimitrius UnderwoodDEMichigan State
200025Chris HovanDTBoston College
200127Michael Bennett  †RBWisconsin
20027Bryant McKinnie  †TMiami (FL)
20039Kevin Williams  †DTOklahoma State[20]
200420Kenechi UdezeDEUSC[21]
20057Troy WilliamsonWRSouth Carolina[22]
18Erasmus JamesDEWisconsin
200617Chad Greenway  †LBIowa
20077Adrian Peterson  †RBOklahoma
2008No pick[23]
200922Percy Harvin  †WRFlorida
2010No pick[24]
201112Christian PonderQBFlorida State
20124Matt Kalil  †TUSC[25]
29Harrison Smith  †SNotre Dame[26]
201323Sharrif FloydDTFlorida
25Xavier Rhodes  †CBFlorida State[27]
29Cordarrelle Patterson  †WRTennessee[28]
20149Anthony Barr  †LBUCLA[29]
32Teddy Bridgewater  †QBLouisville[30]
201511Trae WaynesCBMichigan State
201623Laquon TreadwellWROle Miss
2017No pick[31]
201830Mike HughesCBUCF
201918Garrett BradburyCNC State
202022Justin Jefferson  †WRLSU
31Jeff GladneyCBTCU
202123Christian DarrisawTVirginia Tech
202232Lewis CineSGeorgia
202323Jordan AddisonWRUSC
202410J. J. McCarthyQBMichigan
17Dallas TurnerDEAlabama

By college

CollegeDraftees
USC6
Michigan State4
Notre Dame3
Oklahoma State3
Ohio State3
Florida State3
NC State3
Stanford2
Miami (FL)2
UCLA2
Pittsburgh2
California2
Wisconsin2
Florida2
Ole Miss2
UCF2
TCU2
Alabama2
23 colleges1

By position

PositionDraftees
Running back10
Defensive back9
Defensive end10
Defensive tackle9
Wide receiver9
Offensive tackle8
Linebacker7
Quarterback5
Guard1
Center1

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hall of Famers by Franchise - Hall of Famers - Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site. www.profootballhof.com. 21 April 2018. 15 October 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151015213446/http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/teams.aspx. live.
  2. The Vikings first-round pick in 1962 was acquired by the Los Angeles Rams from the New York Giants. The Vikings had traded their first-round pick in 1962 to the Giants for quarterback George Shaw.
  3. Jim Dunaway opted to sign with the Buffalo Bills of the American Football League (AFL).
  4. The Vikings traded Jack Snow to the Los Angeles Rams before the start of the 1965 NFL season.
  5. The Vikings acquired the New York Giants 2nd and 28th (second-round) overall picks from the 1967 draft, the 1st overall pick from the 1968 draft and the 39th (second-round) pick from the 1969 draft in exchange for quarterback Fran Tarkenton.
  6. The fifteenth pick in 1967 was acquired from the Los Angeles Rams.
  7. The Vikings first-round pick in 1969 was acquired by the New Orleans Saints.
  8. The Vikings traded quarterback Joe Kapp to the Boston Patriots in 1970 in exchange for the Patriots' 10th overall pick in 1972.
  9. The Vikings traded quarterback Bob Lee and linebacker Lonnie Warwick to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for the Falcons' quarterback Bob Berry and the 17th overall pick.
  10. The Vikings traded their first-round pick (18th overall) to the Baltimore Colts in exchange for Colts' two second-round and one fifth-round draft picks.
  11. In 1984, The NFL held a three-round supplemental draft for college seniors who had already signed with a USFL or CFL team. The Vikings drafted Allanda Smith who had already signed the Los Angeles Express of the USFL.
  12. The Vikings traded their second overall pick to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for Falcons' fourth overall pick and a third-round pick (60th overall).
  13. The Vikings traded their eighth overall and 67th overall (third-round) to the San Diego Chargers in exchange for the Chargers' 14th and 44th (second-round) overall picks.
  14. The Vikings traded their 16th overall and a fifth-round pick to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for the Dolphins' 14th overall pick.
  15. The Vikings 24th overall pick was acquired by the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for LB Mike Merriweather .
  16. The Vikings traded linebackers Jesse Solomon, David Howard, cornerback Issiac Holt, running back Darrin Nelson, defensive end Alex Stewart, their 21st, 47th (second-round) and 158th (sixth-round) picks from the 1990 draft, their 11th and 38th (second-round) picks from the 1991 draft, their 40th (second-round) and 71st (third-round) picks from the 1992 draft, and their 13th overall pick in the 1993 draft to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for the Cowboys' running back Herschel Walker, the 54th (third-round), 116th (fifth-round), 249th (tenth-round) picks from 1990 and the 68th (third-round) pick from 1991. The deal, known as the Herschel Walker trade, is the largest player trade in NFL history.
  17. The Vikings traded offensive tackle Gary Zimmerman to the Denver Broncos in exchange for the Broncos' 18th and 179th (sixth-round) picks in the 1994 draft, and the 42nd (second-round) overall pick in the 1995 draft.
  18. The Vikings traded defensive end Chris Doleman to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for the Falcons' 40th overall pick in the 1994 draft and the 11th overall pick in the 1995 draft.
  19. The Vikings traded quarterback Brad Johnson to the Washington Redskins in exchange for the Redskins' 11th and 73rd (third-round) picks in the 1999 draft and the 56th overall (fifth-round) pick in the 2000 draft.
  20. The Vikings passed on the seventh and eighth overall picks.
  21. The Vikings traded their 19th overall pick from the 2004 draft to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for the Dolphins' 20th and 119th (fourth-round) picks.
  22. The Vikings traded wide receiver Randy Moss to the Oakland Raiders in exchange for the Raiders' middle linebacker Napoleon Harris and the seventh and 219th (seventh-round) overall picks.
  23. The Vikings traded their 17th overall pick (first-round), the 73rd and 82nd overall picks (third-round), and 182nd overall pick (sixth-round) in the 2008 draft for defensive end Jared Allen from the Kansas City Chiefs.
  24. The Vikings traded their 30th overall pick (first-round) and the 128th overall pick (fourth-round) in the 2010 draft to the Detroit Lions for the 34th overall pick (second-round), the 100th overall pick (fourth-round), and the 214th overall pick (seventh-round) in the 2010 draft.
  25. The Vikings traded their original 3rd overall pick (first-round) in the 2012 draft to the Cleveland Browns for the 4th overall pick (first-round), the 118th overall pick (fourth-round), the 139th overall pick (fifth-round), and the 211th overall pick (seventh-round) in the 2012 draft.
  26. The Vikings traded the 35th overall pick (second-round) and 98th overall pick (fourth-round) in the 2012 draft to the Baltimore Ravens for the 29th overall pick (first-round) in the 2012 draft.
  27. The Vikings traded wide receiver Percy Harvin to the Seattle Seahawks for the 25th overall pick (first-round) and 214th overall pick (seventh-round) in the 2013 draft as well as the Seahawks third-round selection in the 2014 draft.
  28. The Vikings traded the 52nd overall pick (second-round), 83rd overall pick (third-round), 102nd overall pick (fourth-round), and 229th overall pick (seventh-round) in the 2013 draft to the New England Patriots for the 29th overall pick (first-round) in the 2013 draft.
  29. The Vikings traded their original 8th overall pick (first-round) in the 2014 draft to the Cleveland Browns for the 9th overall pick (first-round), and the 145th overall pick (fifth-round) in the 2014 draft.
  30. The Vikings traded their original 40th overall pick (second-round) and 108th overall pick (fourth-round) in the 2014 draft to the Seattle Seahawks for the 32nd overall pick (first-round).
  31. The Vikings traded their 14th overall pick in the 2017 draft and their fourth-round pick in the 2018 draft to the Philadelphia Eagles for quarterback Sam Bradford.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "List of Minnesota Vikings first-round draft picks".

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