Minnesota Vikings: Then And Now

Minnesota Vikings training camp is just over two weeks away. Rookies report on July 26. Veterans report two days later. 2026 Vikings football is ticking closer. In advance of the fun, here’s a look at the projected starters at this point last year compared to the projected starters this year.

Minnesota Vikings: Then and Now

Quarterback

2025: 

J.J. McCarthy

2026: 

Kyler Murray

The J.J. McCarthy vs Kyle Murray quarterback competition will be the talk of training camp. It’s always about the quarterback. More than anything, the Vikings need consistent quarterback play. Last year, the season was wrecked by injuries at the game’s most important position. Those injuries resulted in wildly inconsistent play. Throw in Carson Wentz and the Vikings can legitimately go three-deep at quarterback. Hopefully, that won’t be necessary. No matter which quarterback wins the competition, the Vikings will be better for it. At the moment, I see Murray’s experience winning out. 

Running Back

2025: 

Aaron Jones

2026: 

Aaron Jones

Aaron Jones at 30 vs Aaron Jones at 31. The Vikings run game will likely be a committee. Last year, it was Jones and Jordan Mason. This year, it will be Jones, Mason, and sixth-round rookie Demond Claiborne. The rookie’s speed could be a game-changer. Perhaps the biggest boost to the Vikings run game will come from the coaching and schemes of new assistant head coach Frank Smith. For me, Smith’s impact on the offense in general, and run game in particular, is more interesting than the quarterback competition. 

Receiver

2025:

Justin Jefferson

Jordan Addison

Jalen Nailor

2026:

Justin Jefferson

Jordan Addison

Jauan Jennings

This is gonna be fun. Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are the best receiving duo in the league. Jalen Nailor was a very good #3. Jauan Jennings is a whole other type of receiver. Now the Vikings have the best receiver trio in the league. With his physical play, Jennings will bring a little bit of nasty to the Vikings offense. As long as he plays within the rules of the game, I think the offense can use a bit of nasty.

Tight End

2025:

T.J. Hockenson

Josh Oliver

2026:

T.J. Hockenson

Josh Oliver

T.J. Hockenson is a year older. More importantly, he’s another year removed from the knee injury caused by that jackass in Detroit. Hockenson didn’t look right last year. I’m assuming that was due more to his return from the injury than his age. With a re-worked contract that gives him free agency next March, he’s playing for his NFL future. I think we’ll see a better T.J. Hockenson this year.

Offensive Line

2025:

Christian Darrisaw/Justin Skule

Donovan Jackson

Ryan Kelly

Will Fries

Brian O’Neill

2026:

Christian Darrisaw

Donovan Jackson

Blake Brandel

Will Fries

Brian O’Neill

On paper, the only offensive line change from last year to this year is a center swap from Ryan Kelly to Blake Brandel. At a glance, that’s a swap from a proven, elite center to one that snapped for the first time last year. That’s quite a drop. When Kelly was on the field, he was very much the excellent center the Vikings needed. Unfortunately, concussions took him off the field too many times. Those concussions led to his retirement this offseason. Now, Brandel steps into the lineup. If he stays on the field all season, the center position will be better off this season than it ended up being last season. In 2025, the Vikings had a ridiculous number of injuries on the offensive line. Will Fries was the only starter that started every game. And he spent the early part of the season working his way back from a serious broken leg in 2024. With all the chaos on the line, it’s no wonder the Vikings had to play three quarterbacks. In 2026, Christian Darrisaw should be fully recovered from the 2024 knee injury that frequently took him out of the lineup in 2025. Donovan Jackson will improve on his rookie season. Brandel just needs to be solid. Fries will be better than his first year with the Vikings. Brian O’Neill is always great. If the 2026 Vikings offensive line can dodge the injuries that wrecked 2025, this could be a dominant group.

Defensive Line

2025:

Harrison Phillips

Javon Hargrave

Jonathan Allen

2026:

Jalen Redmond

Domonique Orange

Caleb Banks

It’s wild that the projected defensive line starters at this point last year aren’t even on the roster this year. Harrison Phillips was traded during training camp because of the emergence of Jalen Redmond. After big free agent deals in 2025, Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen were released in 2026. The Vikings defensive line might be the position group I’m most excited to see this summer. Redmond emerged as an impact player in his first season as a starter. He now paces this young group. I might be jumping ahead a bit in placing first-round pick Caleb Banks and third-round pick Domonique Orange as starters. If both aren’t starting at the start of the season, I expect both to make early impacts. Throw in Levi Drake Rodriguez, Elijah Williams, and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, the Vikings defensive line is going to be fun.

Outside Linebacker

2025:

Jonathan Greenard

Andrew Van Ginkel

2026: 

Dallas Turner

Andrew Van Ginkel

I did not like the draft day trade of Jonathan Greenard. I didn’t like it but I understand it. He was demanding a salary increase the Vikings were reluctant to pay. More importantly, Dallas Turner is ready for a full time role. Andrew Van Ginkel is one of the most fun and unusual defensive players I’ve ever seen. His preternatural edge play is a joy to watch. I wish that he was Turner’s age (23). At 31, I’m hoping Van Ginkel has a few more years in him. Greenard will be missed but Turner and Van Ginkel will be a fun duo.

Inside Linebacker

2025:

Blake Cashman

Ivan Pace Jr.

2026:

Blake Cashman

Eric Wilson

Obviously, the difference here is Eric Wilson. He was a revelation last year. After four years slumming in Philadelphia and Green Bay, he returned to Minnesota as a special teams signing. An early season injury to Blake Cashman put him on the field at linebacker and he never left. Wilson’s play at linebacker got him an extension and an opportunity to form a terrific interior duo with Cashman.

Cornerback

2025:

Byron Murphy Jr.

Isaiah Rodgers

Jeff Okudah

2026:

Byron Murphy Jr.

Isaiah Rodgers

James Pierre

On paper, the difference here is Jeff Okudah vs James Pierre at CB3. It really isn’t a comparison. Okudah was a reclamation project that didn’t work. James Pierre might be turning 30 in September but his underrated career is on the rise. New Vikings secondary coach Gerald Alexander knows Pierre well from their time together in Pittsburgh.

Safety

2025:

Harrison Smith

Joshua Metellus

2026:

Joshua Metellus

Theo Jackson/Jay Ward/Jakobe Thomas

With Harrison Smith currently on the retired list, it’s tough to judge the Vikings safety group. I believe that he returns for his 15th season. Perhaps that’s simply because I’m not ready for his departure from the game. Whether or not Smith returns, I’m expecting third-round rookie Jakobe Thomas to make an early impact. If Smith doesn’t return, I wouldn’t be surprised if Metellus and Thomas are the Vikings starting safeties as early as the season-opener. 

What a difference a year makes. 

Unsigned Draft Picks: By Round

If there’s a break in the NFL offseason, it’s now. The handful of weeks between the end of minicamps and the start of training camps are the slow part of the NFL calendar. The slow times are often reflected in the signing of the draft picks. The two quarterbacks continue to be the only unsigned players from the first round. The surprise of this year’s draft picking signing saga has been the casual pace of third- and fourth-round signings. That was especially true of the top picks in each of those rounds. Here’s a look at the unsigned draft pick status for each of the seven rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft. The first round, of course, is shown in detail.

Unsigned Draft Picks: By Round

First Round

1.   Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana 

2.   New York Jets: David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech - Signed

3.   Arizona Cardinals: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame - Signed

4.   Tennessee Titans: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State - Signed

5.   New York Giants: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State - Signed

6.   Kansas City Chiefs: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU - Signed

7.   Washington Commanders: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State - Signed

8.   New Orleans Saints: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State - Signed

9.   Cleveland Browns: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah - Signed

10. New York Giants: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami - Signed

11. Dallas Cowboys: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State - Signed

12. Miami Dolphins: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama - Signed

13. Los Angeles Rams: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

14. Baltimore Ravens: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State - Signed

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami - Signed

16. New York Jets: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon - Signed

17. Detroit Lions: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson - Signed 

18. Minnesota Vikings: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida - Signed

19. Carolina Panthers: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia - Signed

20. Philadelphia Eagles: Makai Lemon, WR, USC - Signed

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State - Signed

22. Los Angeles Chargers: Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami - Signed

23. Dallas Cowboys: Malachi Lawrence, Edge, UCF - Signed

24. Cleveland Browns: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M - Signed

25. Chicago Bears: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon - Signed

26. Houston Texans: Keylan Rutledge, G, Georgia Tech - Signed

27. Miami Dolphins: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State - Signed

28. New England Patriots: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah - Signed

29. Kansas City Chiefs: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson - Signed

30. New York Jets: Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana - Signed

31. Tennessee Titans: Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn - Signed

32. Seattle Seahawks: Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame - Signed

2/32 players are unsigned.

Second Round

23. New England Patriots: Gabe Jacas, Edge, Illinois

1/32 players are unsigned.

Only three unsigned players from the first two rounds. That’s pretty good. It’s the next two rounds that surprise. 

Third Round

1.   Arizona Cardinals: Carson Beck, QB, Miami

5.   Chicago Bears: Sam Roush, TE, Stanford

12. Pittsburgh Steelers: Drew Allar, QB, Penn State

3/36 players are unsigned. 

Fourth Round

1.   Las Vegas Raiders: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

6.   Houston Texans: Febechi Nwaiwu, G, Oklahoma

2/40 players are unsigned.

Fifth Round

0/41 players are unsigned.

Sixth Round

0/35 players are unsigned. 

Seventh Round

0/41 players are unsigned. 

8/257 players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft are unsigned. 

Half of the unsigned players are quarterbacks. 

To 5 Minnesota Vikings Returners

The ranking of the best Minnesota Vikings players at each position concludes with the returners. I’ve combined kick and punt returners in this ranking.

1. Cordarrelle Patterson

2. Percy Harvin

3. Marcus Sherels

4. David Palmer

5. Kene Nwangwu

I feel that the Vikings have had a strong return history. There’s some recency bias in that feeling. Four of the above five returners played for the Vikings since 2009. 

Cordarrelle Patterson is in the argument for best kick returner in NFL history. His best four years and first four years were in Minnesota. He was first-team All-Pro four times. Two of those were with the Vikings. He returned nine kicks for touchdowns. Five of those with the Vikings. Percy Harvin also had five kick return touchdowns for the Vikings. Harvin was the Vikings first-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft and was an immediate hit as a returner and receiver. Cordarrelle Patterson was selected in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft to replace Harvin. Patterson was also an immediate hit. From 2009-16, the Vikings had the best kick returner in the league. For eight years, every Vikings kick return was a legitimate threat to score. During that same time, Marcus Sherels held the same threat as a punt returner. It took a bit longer but Sherels matched the five kick return touchdowns of Harvin and Patterson with five punt return touchdowns. Harvin, Patterson, and Sherels were an awesome trio of returners. I was thrilled when the Vikings selected David Palmer in the second round of the 1994 NFL Draft. He was such a versatile football player at Alabama. He didn’t really reach my expectations on offense but Cris Carter, Jake Reed, and Randy Moss were in that Vikings receiver room. It was tough for any other receiver to gain any traction. Palmer did reach my expectations as a returner. He returned two punts and one kick touchdowns. He’s the only returner in Vikings history to return a punt and a kick for touchdowns. Palmer was a fun football player. For three years, Kene Nwangwu made Vikings kick returns dangerous again. During his rookie 2021 season, he returned two kicks for touchdowns and posted a ridiculous average of 32.2 yards/return. He returned a third kick for a touchdown in his second season. Injuries took a chunk out of his third and final season with the Vikings.

The eight years of Percy Harvin, Cordarrelle Patterson, and Marcus Sherels have to rank as some of the best and most exciting returning in league history. The three combined for 15 touchdowns. Returns were so much fun during those years. 

 

Top 5 Minnesota Vikings Punters

The ranking of the best Minnesota Vikings players at each position continues with the punters. If I ranked the kickers, I had to rank the punters. 

1. Chris Kluwe

2. Greg Coleman

3. Ryan Wright

4. Mitch Berger

5. Bobby Walden

The above five could probably be rolled out in any order. Harry Newsome, Jeff Locke, and Britton Colquitt could also be in the mix. Chris Kluwe tops this list mostly for his consistency over eight years. I don’t remember any down years. Greg Coleman was the most fun punter in Vikings franchise history. In my memories of his 10-year career in Minnesota, he ran with the ball, rather than punted, far more times than he actually did. In reality, he ran for only four first downs. I remember more than a dozen. Ryan Wright could’ve become the best punter in Vikings franchise history. Instead, he departed this offseason for the New Orleans Saints. Over his four years in Minnesota, he has the highest yards/punt and best rate of punts inside the 20-yard line. Those are two of the best metrics for a punter. The only knock on Wright’s Vikings career is his underwhelming second season. It was that season that seemed to make him a bubble player in each of his three training camps as the incumbent. Mitch Berger was simply a solid and consistent punter for all of his six seasons in Minnesota. The Vikings have only had one punter lead the league in yards/punt. That punter was Bobby Walden. He paced the league’s punters as a rookie in 1964. As a kid, I remember Walden as the steady punter of the Pittsburgh Steelers. It was actually a bit of a shock to discover that his first four seasons were with the Vikings. How did he get away in an era when player movement was quite restricted? 

The Vikings have a solid punter history. A reason that it isn’t a great one is that the team was often looking for their next punter. Only Greg Coleman, Chris Kluwe, and Mitch Berger punted for at least five years for the Vikings. Those three are franchise outliers. Here’s a look at the team’s most tenured punters.

Greg Coleman: 10 years

Chris Kluwe: 8 years

Mitch Berger: 6 years

Ryan Wright: 4 years

Bobby Walden: 4 years

Harry Newsome: 4 years

Jeff Locke: 4 years

Neil Clabo: 3 years

Mike Eishceid: 3 years 

Bucky Scribner: 3 years

Those punters punted for 46 of the Vikings 65 years. Over the other 19 years, it was a merry-go-round of punters. 

Top 5 Minnesota Vikings Kickers

The ranking of the best Minnesota Vikings players at each position continues with the kickers. Yes. The kickers. 

1. Will Reichard

It shouldn’t be this easy to rank so high. Will Reichard was selected in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. An injury cut his rookie season to 13 games. His second season may have been the greatest display of kicking I’ve ever seen. In only two seasons, Will Reichard has become more myth than real. In only two seasons, he’s risen to be the best kicker in Vikings history. He is that good at kicking a football. 

2. Fred Cox

I discovered the Vikings with Fred Cox as the kicker. Despite becoming the kicker in the Vikings third season, it just felt like he’d always been the team’s kicker. He’s the team’s all-time scoring leader and second isn’t remotely close. Cris Carter’s 670 points is less than half of Cox’s 1365 points. 

Fred Cox also invented the Nerf football. That alone is almost enough to bump him ahead of Will Reichard. Reichard is just too good,

3. Ryan Longwell

As a Cal alum, it was a revelation to see Ryan Longwell depart Green Bay for Minnesota. Until Will Reichard, Longwell was the most reliable kicker of my Vikings life. He was a great kicker in Green Bay. That’s why he was there for nine years. He was even better in Minnesota. The cozy comfort of a domed stadium certainly helped. If Longwell was kicking for the Vikings in 1998, they would’ve been playing in Super Bowl XXXIII. If he had a chance to kick in 2009, the Vikings would’ve been playing in Super Bowl  XLIV. 

4. Blair Walsh

There was a time when Blair Walsh was for the Vikings what Will Reichard is now. Walsh’s rookie season is one of the best rookie seasons in the kicking history of the NFL. He was outstanding as a rookie. He was great in his second and third seasons. Then he missed that short kick in the frozen outdoors against the Seattle Seahawks in the playoffs. After that, he had the yips. He was never the same kicking beast he was as a rookie. 

5. Gary Anderson

Gary Anderson kicked in the NFL for 23 years. From 1998-2002, he kicked for the Vikings. In 1998, he was perfect, 35 field goal attempts. 35 field goals made. 59 extra points attempts 59 extra points made. Anderson didn’t miss a kick until the NFC Championship. His miss in that game is one of the most painful moments in Vikings franchise history. 

In Gary Anderson, Ryan Longwell, and Blair Walsh, Vikings fans have seen the gamut of a kickers impact. All three were among the best in the league during their Minnesota days. Anderson missed a kick he always makes. Longwel never got a shot at potentially the biggest kick in team history. Walsh missed that easy kick in very cold weather. Here’s hoping that Will Reichard gets all of those big kick opportunities. And more. Will “the Thrill” will not miss. 

Top Ten Minnesota Vikings Safeties

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

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.

Top 10 Minnesota Vikings Safeties

1.   Paul Krause 

2.   Harrison Smith

3.   Joey Browner

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. I’m still expecting a return for his15th season. Unfortunately, Smith is 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. 

4.   Karl Kassulke

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.

5.   Robert Griffith 

6.   Orlando Thomas 

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. 

7.   Joshua Metellus

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. Three years later and the modestly talented football player is a franchise cornerstone. He’s about a seasons away from a spot in the Top 4 of this list. 

8.   Camryn Bynum

9.   Corey Chavous 

10. Anthony Harris 

In his too short four years in Minnesota, Camryn Bynum played his way onto this list. Then he left 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 an 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.

Top 10 Minnesota Vikings Cornerbacks

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

Top 10 Minnesota Vikings Cornerbacks

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 the three more recent first-round corners did. Through the varying draft strategies, the Vikings have a modest cornerback tradition. 

1. Antoine Winfield 

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.

2. Bobby Bryant

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. 

3. Xavier Rhodes 

4. Carl Lee

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. 

5. Nate Wright 

6. Ed Sharockman 

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. 

7. Dewayne Washington 

8. Najee Mustafaa 

9. Audray McMillian 

10. Byron Murphy Jr. 

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. If Byron Murphy Jr. continues playing like he’s been playing, he could challenge the top five.