Monday, July 7, 2025

Minnesota Vikings Training Camp: 10 Most Intriguing Players

Minnesota Vikings Training Camp is now less than two weeks away. Here’s a look at ten of the team’s Most Intriguing Players.

10 Most Intriguing Players

1. Jeff Okudah, CB

Wouldn’t it be something if the Minnesota Vikings finally unlocked Jeff Okudah’s talent?

2. Dallas Turner, OLB

The Vikings will find a way to get Dallas Turner on the field. 

3. Rondale Moore, WR

If his knee is healthy, Rondale Moore has the quickness, agility, and versatility to give the Vikings a gadget player and offensive dimension they haven’t had. He may also contribute as a returner. With Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison at the top of the team’s receiver depth chart, the position group is a team strength. If he can avoid the injuries that have nagged his first three seasons, Jalen Nailor is a strong #3. Third-round pick Tai Felton has terrific potential. Moore is a wildcard. He has the talent to make the Vikings receiver group a special group. 

4. Theo Jackson, S

An interesting aspect of Theo Jackson’s 2.5 years in Minnesota has been the reaction of defensive teammates when asked about the backup safety. There’s always an immediate smile. “He just makes plays.” They all say that. When Jackson has seen action the last couple years, he’s made plays. The players and coaches that know him best know that he’s ready for an expanded defensive role. Camryn Bynum will be missed but Theo Jackson is ready. 

5. J.J. McCarthy, QB

It wouldn’t be a list of intriguing players if the quarterback isn’t on that list. It’s the J.J. McCarthy era and I can’t wait to see it start. 

6. Jordan Mason, RB

Aaron Jones is RB1. Jones at his best makes the Vikings offense a stronger and more versatile group. Jordan Mason was acquired in a trade with the 49ers in the offseason. The Vikings decision-makers had an in-person look a Mason in Week 2 of last season. Mason was difficult to get on the ground. Now, he’s going to be that back for the Vikings. He’s a bull of a back. He will help in short-yardage and goal line situations. He should also take some of the hits that would be put on Jones. 

7. Isaiah Rodgers, CB

Isaiah Rodgers was a priority target in free agency to be a starter opposite Byron Murphy Jr. Considering their respective roles entering training camp, it would seem that Rodgers should swap places with Jeff Okudah on this list. Rodgers is at #7 because his role as a likely starter is a known thing. Okudah’s role is still in the works. As a result, he has greater intrigue. Rodgers has the talent and elite speed to be a playmaker and difference-maker. This is his first shot as an every-play defender. He may even be the Vikings kick returner. 

8. Ryan Kelly, C

With the Vikings relying on a first-time quarterback, Ryan Kelly could be one of the most significant additions of the offseason. An experienced center is a boost for an inexperienced quarterback. Clark is the fulcrum of a vastly improved offensive line. 

9. Donovan Jackson, G

The last time the Vikings selected a guard in the first round, Randall McDaniel went on to an incredible Hall of Fame career. Donovan Jackson won’t have similar expectations. At the time, McDaniel didn’t have those expectations either. I can’t wait to see Christian Darrisaw and Jackson on the left-side of the Vikings new-look offensive line. It’s a pairing I hope one day rivals that of Gary Zimmerman and Randall McDaniel. 

10. Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, DL

The Vikings didn’t have a lot of draft picks this year. With one of the picks they did have, I believe that they got a steal in the fifth round with Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins. He’s a raw talent that might’ve been a Day 1 pick with another year at Georgia. The Vikings rebuilt the defensive line in free agency with the additions of Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. With Harrison Phillips closing on 30 and Allen and Hargrave past 30, a defensive line rotation will be key. Ingram-Dawkins has the talent to soon be the first off the bench and an eventual defensive line fixture. 



Sunday, July 6, 2025

Minnesota Vikings Training Camp: Most Intriguing Position Groups

In two weeks, Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks, rookies, and perhaps a few others will be reporting TCO Performance Center for training camp. Two days later, the rest of the team will report. Minnesota Vikings Training Camp is so close. Every one of the team’s position groups brings some level of intrigue. Here’s a look at some of the most intriguing. 

Quarterback

It always starts with the quarterback. Fran Tarkenton retired after the 1978 season. It feels like the Vikings have been searching for his replacement ever since. There’s been a legion of contenders. Tommy Kramer, Rich Gannon, Wade Wilson, Brad Johnson, Daunte Culpepper, Christian Ponder, Teddy Bridgewater, Kirk Cousins. Injuries, lack of patience, and ineptitude kept any of the legion from being a long-term answer. Perhaps it’s because he’s the current contender that makes J.J. McCarthy so intriguing. There’s something about the kid. He’s a winner. He a leader. He connects with everyone he meets. On the field, he looks and plays like the perfect quarterback for Kevin O’Connell’s offense. I can’t wait to see the start of the J.J. McCarthy era.

Offensive Line

The Vikings finally spent an offseason focused on improving the offensive line. Fans have been begging for this sort of attention for most of the past decade. The interior of the offensive line is new. The Vikings added center Ryan Kelly and right guard in free agency. They selected left guard Donovan Jackson in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The three new starters on the interior will be bookended by arguably the best offensive tackle duo in the league, left tackle Christian Darrisaw and right tackle Brian O’Neill. As with quarterback, the offensive line isn’t so much intriguing as it is exciting. 

Defensive Line

It wasn’t just the offensive line that saw a great deal of offseason attention. The Vikings added Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave in free agency. Each is an outstanding addition. The intrigue on the defensive line comes in the training camp competition for depth roles. Starters Harrison Phillips, Allen, and Hargrave are near or past 30 years. An effective rotation will be necessary. The competition to be part of that rotation is between an intriguing mix of late-round and undrafted players.

Jalen Redmond
Levi Drake Rodriguez
Taki Taimani
Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins
Alexander Williams
Elijah Williams
Travis Bell
Jonathan Harris

As a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins is the highest drafted of the bunch. For me, the competition for the final defensive line spots is the most intriguing of the Vikings training camp. 

Cornerback

From the national media’s perspective, it would seem that the most intriguing aspect of the Vikings cornerback group are players that aren’t on the roster. Most of these talking heads appear to believe that the Vikings are lacking at cornerback. I believe that the Vikings are perfectly content with the players they have. It’s a new group. Only Byron Murphy Jr., Mekhi Blackmon, and Dwight McGlothern return and Blackmon missed last season with a knee injury. The Vikings cornerbacks are a young group. That’s a pleasant change from the old farts that manned the position last year. The expectation is the Murphy and free agent addition Isaiah Rodgers will be the starters. The competition for CB3 will be fun. Former third overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft, Jeff Okudah will be part of that competition. The plans for Okudah will be interesting. If the Vikings coaches can bring out the talent that once got him selected third overall, Okudah’s signing will be one of the league’s great steals. 

Outside Linebacker

The Vikings outside linebacker group is intriguing due to the talent at the top and the competition for depth. Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel were outstanding throughout their first year in Minnesota. They were so outstanding that first-round pick Dallas Turner couldn’t get on the field. Brian Flores and the Vikings defensive coaches will find a way to get all three on the field this season. It’s going to be beautiful to watch. The competition to round out the group will be between Gabriel Murphy, Bo Richter, Tyler Batty, and Chaz Chambliss. 


Friday, July 4, 2025

Minnesota Vikings Quarter-Century Team

A quarter-century will creep up on you. 25 years into this century has brought various quarter-century teams. Here’s one for the Minnesota Vikings. The idle time between the end of OTAs and Training Camp is the time for things like this. 

Minnesota Vikings Quarter-Century Team

Offense

Quarterback 
Daunte Culpepper

Daunte Culpepper edges out Kirk Cousins. Each earned three Pro Bowls. Culpepper’s 2004 season was MVP worthy.

Running Back
Adrian Peterson

Easy. Adrian Peterson is arguably the league’s running back of the quarter-century.

Fullback
C.J. Ham

C.J. Ham edges Tony Richardson. Richardson was outstanding as a team leader and mentor for Peterson but Ham did more as a runner and receiver. Special teams too.

Receivers
Randy Moss
Justin Jefferson
Adam Thielen

Randy Moss and Justin Jefferson are easy. Adam Thielen edges Stefon Diggs and Percy Harvin.

Tight End
Kyle Rudolph

Kyle Rudolph has the tight end high moments and longevity of the quarter-century.

Offensive Tackles
Christian Darrisaw
Brian O’Neill

I’m going with the current offensive tackles. 

Guards
Steve Hutchinson
David Dixon

Steve Hutchinson is an all-time great. David Dixon was a solid right guard for about a decade.

Center
Matt Birk

On the field, Matt Birk is an easy choice. 

Defense

Defensive Ends
Jared Allen
Danielle Hunter

Jared Allen takes his much-deserved spot in Canton this summer. Danielle Hunter is still working on his potential Hall of Fame career. 

Defensive Tackles
Kevin Williams
Pat Williams

The Williams Wall are the Vikings defensive tackles of the quarter-century. Kevin Williams should find a path to Canton,

Linebackers
Chad Greenway
Eric Kendricks
Anthony Barr

This trio feels right. 

Cornerbacks
Antoine Winfield
Xavier Rhodes

Antoine Winfield and Xavier Rhodes are easily the best Vikings corners of the quarter-century. 

Safeties
Harrison Smith
Joshua Metellus

Harrison Smith is automatic. For half of the quarter-century, the Vikings have been searching for a skilled safety to pair with Smith. There have been so many contenders. Based on his singular 2003 season, Corey Chavous earned consideration. Andrew Sendejo? Anthony Harris? Camryn Bynum? Each is deserving of this quarter-century spot. On his two seasons as a do-everything, play-everywhere safety, I’m going with Joshua Metellus. 

Special Teams

Kicker
Ryan Longwell

Ryan Longwell provided the only reliable Vikings kicking since 1998.

Punter
Chris Kluwe

From productivity to longevity, it’s Chris Kluwe. 

Long Snapper
Cullen Loeffler

It’s tough to judge long snappers. Cullen Loeffler edges Andrew DePoala on longevity. 

Kick Returner
Cordarrelle Patterson

Despite Cordarrelle Patterson rivaling any returner in NFL history, there is a debate between him and Percy Harvin. Following that debate, I’m going with Patterson. 

Punt Returner
Marcus Sherels

The return duo of Cordarrelle Patterson and Marcus Sherels was the league’s best. 


Thursday, July 3, 2025

First Round Signing Tracker

And then there were two. The Jacksonville Jaguars signing of #2 pick Travis Hunter brought the number of unsigned first-round picks to two. Only two of the players selected in the second round have signed their rookie contracts. The negotiating standstill of the negotiations with second-round picks is startling.. If the general football-following public cares at all about signing progress of the rookies, it’s the players selected in the first round. Here’s another look at the signings of those players.

1.   Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB, Miami - Signed
2.   Jacksonville Jaguars: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado - Signed
3.   New York Giants: Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State - Signed
4.   New England Patriots: Will Campbell, OT, LSU - Signed
5.   Cleveland Browns: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan - Signed
6.   Las Vegas Raiders: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State - Signed
7.   New York Jets: Amand Membou, OT, Missouri - Signed
8.   Carolina Panthers: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona - Signed
9.   New Orleans Saints: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas - Signed
10. Chicago Bears: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan - Signed
11. San Francisco 49ers: Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia - Signed
12. Dallas Cowboys: Tyler Booker, G, Alabama - Signed
13. Miami Dolphins: Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan - Signed
14. Indianapolis Colts: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State - Signed
15. Atlanta Falcons: Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia - Signed
16. Arizona Cardinals: Walter Nolen, DT, Mississippi - Signed
17. Cincinnati Bengals: Shemar Stewart, Edge, Texas A&M
18. Seattle Seahawks: Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State - Signed
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State - Signed
20. Denver Broncos: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon - Signed
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina - Signed
23. Green Bay Packers: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas - Signed
24. Minnesota Vikings: Donovan Jackson, G, Ohio State - Signed
25. New York Giants: Jaxson Dart, QB, Mississippi - Signed
26. Atlanta Falcons: James Pearce Jr., Edge, Tennessee - Signed
27. Baltimore Ravens: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia - Signed
28. Detroit Lions: Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State - Signed
29. Washington Commanders: Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon - Signed
30. Buffalo Bills: Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky - Signed
31. Philadelphia Eagles: Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama - Signed
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State - Signed

***

30 of the 32 players selected in the first round have singed their first NFL contract. 

With the ridiculous negotiating stance of the Cincinnati Bengals might be forcing Shemar Stewart to be the first training camp holdout in years. 

The Bengals-Stewart standoff has been well documented. The Denver Broncos-Jahdae Barron standoff is a mystery. 


Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Top Ten Minnesota Vikings Safeties

The ranking of the Top Ten Minnesota Vikings players at each position continues with the safeties. 

Top 10 Minnesota Vikings Safeties

1.   Paul Krause 
2.   Harrison Smith
3.   Joey Browner
4.   Karl Kassulke
5.   Robert Griffith 
6.   Orlando Thomas 
7.   Joshua Metellus
8.   Camryn Bynum
9.   Corey Chavous 
10. Anthony Harris 

At the very top, it’s a strong group. Paul Krause has a bust in Canton. Harrison Smith is still building on a career that should get him there. If injuries hadn’t whittled away at his talents, Joey Browner would be there.

Paul Krause’s 81 interceptions is one of the league’s unbreakable records. Playing the safety position as a roving centerfield, he did Ed Reed-like things decades before Ed Reed did them. As a kid, I thought that every football that left the opposing quarterback’s hand was destined to end up in the hands of Paul Krause. Harrison Smith is the most versatile safety I’ve ever seen. In the box, deep, pressuring the quarterback, defending the run. He does it all. He did it at an All-Pro level for years. Entering his 14th season, he’s still doing it a high level. Unfortunately, he’s incredibly underrated. He should’ve been named to the 2010s All-Decade team. He should have a serious Hall of Fame discussion five years after he retires. His play earned at least that. At his best, Joey Browner was every bit the player of Hall of Fame safety peers Ronnie Lott and Ken Easley. From 1987-90, he was 1st-team All-Pro three times and 2nd-team All-Pro once. Being considered among the best at his position for multiple years is usually enough for serious Hall of Fame consideration. Browner has yet to receive it. For the five years they played together, Karl Kassulke was the hard-hitting enforcer to Paul Krause’s roving center fielder. They were a terrific strong and free safety pair. Kassulke’s career ended when he was paralyzed in a motorcycle accident while on his way to training camp.

Robert Griffith and Orlando Thomas were another very good safety pair. Griffith was very good for longer. Once he broke into the starting lineup in 1996 he became a defensive staple until 2001. With a league-leading nine interceptions as a rookie, Thomas made an immediate impact on the Vikings defense. Unfortunately, injuries were a career-long constant. Over his seven years in Minnesota, he played in all 16 games twice. When he was on the field, he was excellent. 

Calling Joshua Metellus a safety is far too limiting. He’s so much more than that and he’s flourished in Brian Flores’ versatile defense. Drafted in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Metellus was never supposed to be anything more than a valuable special teams player. Then along came Flores and a defense with a ridiculously varied role for Metellus. Two years later and the modestly talented football player is a franchise cornerstone. He’s a few seasons away from a spot in the Top 4 of this list. 

Over the past four seasons, Camryn Bynum played his way onto this list. Then he left this offseason in free agency. It was a damn shame. He received a lot of attention for his outrageous celebrations but he was a terrific player for the Vikings. 

The Vikings signed Corey Chavous as a cornerback. It wasn’t until he was moved to safety that he really started making an impact. He was probably the team’s best player in 2003. It often felt like he made every tackle. As and undrafted free agent, it took Anthony Harris a few years to get some traction in the league. Once he broke into the starting lineup, he started a strong, three-year run as Harrison Smith’s partner at the back of the Vikings defense.



Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Top Ten Minnesota Vikings Cornerbacks

The ranking of the Top Ten Minnesota Vikings players at each position continues with the cornerbacks. 

Top 10 Minnesota Vikings Cornerbacks

1.   Antoine Winfield 
2.   Bobby Bryant
3.   Xavier Rhodes 
4.   Carl Lee
5.   Nate Wright 
6.   Ed Sharockman 
7.   Dewayne Washington 
8.   Najee Mustafaa 
9.   Audray McMillian 
10. Brian Williams 

One of the oddities of the Vikings draft history is that a cornerback wasn’t drafted in the first round until Dewayne Washington was selected with the 18th pick in the 1994 NFL Draft. The second first-round corner was Xavier Rhodes in 2013. Adding high-end cornerbacks in the draft wasn’t a focus until Mike Zimmer was named head coach in 2014. From 2014-21, the Vikings selected three cornerbacks in the first round. Washington and Rhodes made this list. None of three more recent first-round corners did. Through the varying draft strategies, the Vikings have a modest cornerback tradition. 

The free agency signing of Antoine Winfield in 2004 is one of the best in Vikings franchise history. From 2004-12, he was brilliant. It’s ridiculous that he received no postseason honors until 2008. He made the Pro Bowl from 2008-10. He should’ve made the first of a slew of Pro Bowls even before he joined the Vikings. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the 1999 NFL Draft and was brilliant as soon as he became a full-time starter in 2000. In his nine years with the Vikings, Winfield had over 90 tackles five times. That’s a big number for any corner. It’s an especially big number for a 5’9” 180lb corner. It was amazing to watch Winfield’s refined tackling in a league with so much sloppy tackling. Too many defensive backs are looking for the big hit. Winfield just wanted to wrap up and get the runner on the ground. It was wonderful to see. He should’ve been an annual All-Pro simply for his tackling. Winfield was an excellent outside corner. He was even better on the inside. With only three Pro Bowls and one 2nd-team All-Pro, Winfield will probably never get the Hall of Fame discussion he deserves. In my opinion, during an era with Ty Law, Champ Bailey, Charles Woodson, Ronde Barber, and Darelle Revis, Antoine Winfield was one of the best corners in the league. He’s an easy choice for the best corner in Vikings franchise history.

When one looks at the great Vikings defenses of the Super Bowl years, it’s easy to focus on the defensive line. From there, it’s a solid group of linebackers and Paul Krause and his crazy number of interceptions. It’s so easy to overlook skinny, 6’1” corner Bobby Bryant. It felt like opposing offenses routinely overlooked him as all he did was put together a 13-year career filled with big plays. His 51 career interceptions are second to Krause’s 53 in Vikings franchise history. Many of Bryant’s big plays came in the biggest games. In terms of pure cornerbacking talent, Xavier Rhodes and Carl Lee are arguably the best in Vikings franchise history. From 2015-17, Rhodes was the best corner in the league. If he’d maintained that level of play for another couple of seasons, he’d challenge Antoine Winfield for #1 on this list and (more importantly) have a strong Hall of Fame argument. He was terrific as he repeatedly shut down the best receivers in the league. His somewhat rapid fade was sad and shocking to watch. Like Rhodes, Lee had about a three-year stretch during which he was one of the best cover corners in the league. It’s tough to separate the two. Lee was probably better for longer while Rhodes’ best years were better. 

For most of the 1970s, Nate Wright was Bobby Bryant’s cornerback partner. Wright’s most memorable moment was probably his most forgettable moment. He was the defender that Dallas Cowboys receiver Drew Pearson shoved to the ground in the 1975 divisional playoffs. The non-flagged OPI cost one of the Vikings most talented teams another shot at the Super Bowl. Wright was much more than that one play. Despite receiving no post-season accolades, he was one of the league’s best cover corners for most of the 1970s. Ed Sharockman is at #6 on this list mostly for his 40 career interceptions. He was the Vikings top corner from the frustrating expansion years to the early years of dominance in the late 1960s. 

As the Vikings first first-round corner, Dewayne Washington was an immediate starter as a rookie. He was a solid player for all of his four years with the Vikings. I thought that he was going to be a franchise cornerstone. Instead, he left for the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency. To this day, I can’t believe that the Vikings let him get away. I know that there’s a lot we don’t now about negotiations between player and team but this one will always be a big Vikings mistake for me. Perhaps it’s his name change from Reggie Rutland. Maybe it’s because he played only five seasons (three as a starter) for the Vikings. I always thought Najee Mustafaa was a very underrated football player. From 1989-91, he and Carl Lee were an excellent corner pair. Audray McMillian is another underrated corner. He followed Mustafaa as the starter opposite Carl Lee. Unlike Mustafaa, McMillian did have one season with accolades. Due to his eight interceptions and two pick-6s, he was named 1st-team All-Pro and to the Pro Bowl in 1992. 

Perhaps Earsell Mackbee, John Turner, Cedric Griffen, or the ageless Terence Newman might be the better choice for this list than Brian Williams. Like Dewayne Washington, I felt like the Vikings let a very good corner get away when Williams left in free agency. I really liked the potential of an Antoine Winfield-Brian Williams corner pairing. 

If Byron Murphy Jr. plays the next few seasons like he did last year, he’ll challenge for a spot in this list’s Top 5. 


Monday, June 30, 2025

Top Ten Minnesota Vikings Linebackers

The ranking of the Top Ten Minnesota Vikings players at each position continues with the linebackers.

Top 10 Minnesota Vikings Linebackers

1.   Matt Blair
2.   Anthony Barr
3.   Eric Kendricks
4.   Jeff Siemon
5.   Chad Greenway
6.   Ed McDaniel
7.   Ben Leber 
8.   E.J. Henderson 
9.   Roy Winston 
10. Lonnie Warwick 
10. Wally Hilgenberg

The Vikings defensive front is loaded with Hall of Famers, soon-to-be Hall of Famers, and could-be Hall of Famers. The team’s linebacker tradition doesn’t really have any players like that. Most of the above Top-10 can be presented in many ways. 

Matt Blair is the one Vikings linebacker that’s deserving of a Hall of Fame argument. I have doubts that he’ll ever get it. A lot of players were added in the 1970s to eventually take over for the great players that formed the Purple People Eaters. It was a very tall task for all of those new players. Blair was the one player that was up to the task. While he started a handful of games as a rookie in 1974, he became a full-time starter in 1976. Blair was soon one of the best linebackers in the league. He was named to the Pro Bowl six times and 1st-team All-Pro once. In addition to his outstanding play on defense, he was one of the best kick blockers I have ever seen. I don’t think that Anthony Barr ever got enough credit for all that he did in Mike Zimmer’s defense. He was a great blend of speed and power. Zimmer’s team-defense revolved around his talents, physically as well as mentally. He probably would’ve been a bigger star as an edge rusher in a 3-4 but he was great in Zimmer’s 4-3. From UCLA to the Vikings, Eric Kendricks was Anthony Barr’s long-time defensive partner. Drafted a year apart, they were an outstanding pairing in the middle of the Vikings defense. Despite his modest size, Kendricks could do everything required of an NFL middle linebacker. Blitz, stop the run, and drop in coverage. He was named 1st-team All-Pro and went to his only Pro Bowl in 2019. With only that one season of post-season accolades, Kendricks was wildly underrated. He was one of the best middle linebackers in the game for all of his eight years in Minnesota. 
Jeff Siemon may have been the only Vikings player to have a good game in Super Bowl XI. It felt like he made every tackle that day. The Vikings terrific front four and safety Paul Krause got most of the defensive attention in the 1970s. Siemon was deserving of some of it. He was a very good linebacker. With four Pro Bowl appearances, he did get some recognition for his play. Chad Greenway lost his rookie season to a torn ACL in his first preseason game. He came back in 2007 like it never happened. He played all of his 11-year career in Minnesota and the fans love him for it. He was a very good, and often great, linebacker for all of those 11 years. Ed McDaniel is one of the most underrated players in Vikings history. John Randle got most of the attention on those modest Vikings defenses of the 1990s. McDaniel was deserving of much more than he received. He was named to one Pro Bowl. It should’ve been about five. 

In my opinion, Chad Greenway, E.J. Henderson, and Ben Leber are the best trio of linebackers in Vikings franchise history. Greenway was always so steady. Leber always seemed to be there for the big play when the big play had to be made. Henderson was the heart of the defense. After the brutal broken leg late in the 2009 season, his play and leadership was missed in the playoffs.

The linebacker trio of Greenway, Henderson, and Leber just edges that of Roy Winston, Lonnie Warwick, and Wally Hilgenberg for the best in franchise history. Winston was the Vikings starting left-side linebacker from 1963-73. Warwick was the starting middle linebacker from 1966-70. Hilgenberg was the right-side linebacker from 1969-76. In 1969, the Vikings defense emerged as one of the best the league has ever seen. Most of the attention was focused on the outstanding front four. In terms of accolades, the trio of linebackers that played behind them were mostly anonymous. Despite the lack of attention, the trio was very good and were a big part of those dominant Vikings defenses. 

The strength of the current Vikings defense crafted by Brian Flores is its adaptability. At its base is a 3-4. If Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel build on what they did during their first season in Minnesota, I’ll be forced to rethink this traditional linebacker ranking. 3-4 outside linebackers are nothing like the linebackers of the Vikings past. Greenard and Van Ginkel were outstanding. In his second season, Dallas Turner will unleash his untapped talent.