Minnesota Vikings Drafted Quarterbacks

19 days until the Minnesota Vikings draft a quarterback. Over 63 drafts, they’ve never selected a quarterback with a top-10 pick. They’ve never really had the opportunity to select a quarterback that high. Other than their initial expansions, the Vikings have rarely been bad enough to draft high enough to select one of those elite throwers. Armed with the draft capital to trade to near top of this year’s draft, hopefully the Vikings will secure their first quarterback in the top-10. With the draft and quarterbacks on the mind here’s a look at all of quarterbacks drafted by the Minnesota Vikings and the rounds in which they were drafted. 

First Rounders

Tommy Kramer (1977)

Daunte Culpepper (1999)

Christian Ponder (2011)

Teddy Bridgewater (2014)

Second Rounders

Bill Cappleman (1970)

Tarvaris Jackson (2006)

Third Rounders

Fran Tarkenton (1961)

Fourth Rounders 

Mike Wells (1973)

Steve Dils (1979)

Chad May (1995)

Fifth Rounders

John David Booty (2008)

Jaren Hall (2023)

Sixth Rounders

Steve Bono (1985)

Joe Webb (2010)

Seventh Rounders 

Gino Toretta (1993)

Tyler Thigpen (2007)

Nate Stanley (2020)

Eighth Rounders

John Hankinson (1965)

Jeff Jordan (1965)

Wade Wilson (1981)

Ninth Rounders

Brad Johnson (1992)

Tenth Rounders 

Bill Salmon (1976)

Eleventh Rounders

Brian Dowling (1969)

Brent Pease (1987)

Fifteenth Rounders

Jim Haynie (1968)

Sixteenth Rounders 

Neil Graff (1972)

Seventeenth Rounders

Bob Lee (1968)

Twentieth Rounders

Mike McFarland (1961)

Mailon Kent (1963)

The Vikings selected Daunte Culpepper with the 11th pick of the 1999 NFL Draft. That is the highest pick the team has ever used for a quarterback. The first rounders were all selected to be franchise quarterbacks. Injuries riddled Tommy Kramer’s career. When he was on the field he brought thrills. He was a fun quarterback. Unfortunately, those injuries prevented any consistency. Knee injuries ended the potentially brilliant careers of Culpepper and Teddy Bridgewater. Christian Ponder was a serious first round reach. 

The only quarterback drafted by the Vikings that reached the exalted “franchise quarterback” status was the first third round selection, Fran Tarkenton. The team has been searching for their next franchise quarterback ever since he retired after the 1978 season. 

63 drafts and 29 drafted quarterbacks. Maybe six were selected with franchise quarterback in mind.

Fran Tarkenton

Tommy Kramer

Daunte Culpepper 

Tarvaris Jackson

Christian Ponder

Teddy Bridgewater

None was selected in the top-10 of their respective drafts. The remaining 23 quarterbacks were selected as developmental fliers. All of that changes in 19 days. The Vikings will trade into the top 10 and grab their quarterback.