Here's one look at the best rookies at each position in the history of the Minnesota Vikings.
Quarterback
Fran Tarkenton-1961
Tarkenton got his rookie season rolling early when he led the Vikings to a win over the Chicago Bears in the first game in franchise history. He's in the Hall of Fame and an easy choice here. Christian Ponder and Teddy Bridgewater are the only other quarterbacks to play significant roles as rookies.
Running backs
Adrian Peterson-2007
Chuck Foreman-1973
Easy choices. Each took home rookie of the year awards. Each were immediate difference-makers.
Receivers
Randy Moss-1998
Sammy White-1976
More easy choices. Two more rookie of the year winners. They combined for 27 touchdowns and 2219 yards in their first NFL seasons.
Tight end
Joe Senser-1980
Senser's 4-year career was way too short. It started well. 42 catches and 7 TDs.
Tackles
Gary Zimmerman-1986
Korey Stringer-1995
Ron Yary probably would have made this team if it wasn't for Bud Grant's "rookies aren't ready to start" philosophy. Zimmerman was great. So was Stringer. His life and career ended way too soon.
Guards
Randall McDaniel-1988
Marcus Johnson-2005
McDaniel is an automatic choice. Johnson takes the other spot by default as he's the only other guard in Vikings history to play a significant role as a rookie. Ed White would probably get the nod if Bud Grant started rookies.
Center
Mick Tingelhoff-1962
Tingelhoff started every game in his 17-year Hall of Fame career. That streak started with his rookie season.
Defensive ends
Carl Eller-1964
Dan Hultz-1963
Eller is an easy choice. Hultz's best season was his first season. He recovered an NFL record nine fumbles. A record that still stands. Chris Doleman would be paired with Eller if he hadn't started his NFL career as an outside linebacker.
Defensive tackles
Alan Page-1967
Keith Millard-1985
Page is an automatic choice. Even Bud Grant couldn't keep Page on the bench as a rookie. Millard was an immediate force in the middle of the Vikings line. 11 sacks as a rookie.
Linebackers
Anthony Barr-2014
Jeff Siemon-1972
Matt Blair-1974
Barr's future is super bright. Siemon was another rookie that Grant decided, probably reluctantly, to play. So was Blair.
Cornerbacks
Xavier Rhodes-2013
DeWayne Washington-1983
Rookie corners haven't made much of an impact on Vikings defenses. Perhaps that's because the team has so rarely spent top picks on the position. Through the first 53 drafts in Vikings franchise history Washington and Rhodes were the only two corners selected in the first round.
Safeties
Joey Browner-1983
Harrison Smith-2012
They are the two best safeties in team history. And it isn't close. Browner gets the nod despite starting a single game at safety. He was a dynamo on special teams. Smith was a force from the start.
Kicker
Blair Walsh
His best season was his first season. He made the Pro Bowl as a rookie.
Punter
Bobby Walden-1964
He takes it over Chris Kluwe and Jeff Locke.
No comments:
Post a Comment