Top Ten Minnesota Vikings Linebackers

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

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 a variety of orders. 

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

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 didn’t become a full-time starter until 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’ve 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 attention 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. 

Top Ten Minnesota Vikings Defensive Tackles

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

The Vikings defensive end tradition is strong. Their defensive tackle tradition is even stronger. 

Top Ten Minnesota Vikings Defensive Tackles

1.   Alan Page

2.   John Randle

3.   Kevin Williams

4.   Keith Millard

5.   Henry Thomas

6.   Pat Williams

7.   Gary Larsen

8.   Linval Joseph

9.   Doug Sutherland

10. Tom Johnson

Older Vikings fans probably have Alan Page #1. Younger Vikings might have John Randle #1. Both have a bust in Canton. 

Alan Page was a great football player. His play was one of the reasons I fell for the Vikings as a California kid in the 1970s. After his unreal 1971 season, Page became the first defensive player to ever be named league MVP. His career accolades are many and rival those of any defensive tackle in league history:

MVP

Defensive Player of the Year

5x 1st-team All-Pro

3x 2nd-team All-Pro

9x Pro Bowl

1970s All-Decade

Just as Page ripped up the league in the late 1960s and the 1970s, John Randle ripped up the league in the 1990s. He had eight seasons of double-digit sacks in his 11 years in Minnesota. With his riotous on-field behavior, snap-to-whistle effort, and ridiculous production, Randle was and continues to be a fan favorite. 

Kevin Williams started his Vikings career as a defensive end. He collected 10.5 sacks on the edge as a rookie. He moved to the interior in his second season and was named 1st-team All-Pro and went to the Pro Bowl. Over the next nine years, Williams would be named 1st-team All-Pro four more times and go to five more Pro Bowls. His outstanding play over his 11 years in Minnesota would earn him 2000s All-Decade honors. It should eventually get him into Canton. If not for the injuries that derailed, and then ended, his brilliant career, Keith Millard would have a bust in Canton. From 1985-89, he played the defensive tackle position as well as anyone I’ve ever seen. He wrecked offenses. In 1988, Millard was runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year. In 1989, he won it. He was also fifth (1988) and third (1989) in voting for league MVP . 

For his first three years, Henry Thomas was Keith Millard’s defensive tackle partner. For his final three years in Minnesota, he was John Randle’s defensive tackle partner. For all of his eight years at the heart of the Vikings defense, Thomas was a steady and often outstanding football player. His best years were the eight years in Minnesota. His entire 14-year career is deserving of a Hall of Fame discussion. Pat Williams was a very good and fun football player. During his six-year Vikings career, he paired with Kevin Williams to form the “Williams Wall.” For half of those six years, the duo were named to the Pro Bowl. No one ran on the “Williams Wall.” Pat Williams is one of the best free agent signings in Vikings franchise history. Gary Larsen was the least acclaimed of the Vikings brilliant Purple People Eaters defensive line. While Alan Page, Carl Eller, and Jim Marshall often met at the quarterback, Larsen was always there to clean up what was left. From 1965-73, Larsen was a steady and productive presence on the Vikings front. That play earned him Pro Bowl honors in 1969 and 1970. In Pat Williams and Linval Joseph, the Vikings were successful in finding enormous run-stuffers in free agency. Joseph was often a lot more than just a run-stuffer. There were stretches in which he destroyed offensive line interiors tasked only with slowing him. While Williams had Kevin Williams as an outstanding defensive tackle partner, the Vikings never could find a similar every-down partner for Joseph. When Joseph was at his best, he was unblockable. Doug Sutherland took over for Gary Larsen as the least acclaimed member of the Vikings Purple People Eaters. Sutherland started his NFL career as a guard for the New Orleans Saints. The Vikings acquired him in 1971 and immediately moved him to defense. He had a solid and overlooked 10-year career in Minnesota. 

For the final spot on this ranking, I’m going with one of the most underrated Vikings free agent additions. Like Lance Johnstone was for the defensive ends, Tom Johnson was something of a designated pass rusher at defensive tackle. He was a starter in 2017 but he always seemed more productive when his snaps were limited. He was an excellent pass rusher from the interior. Johnson had an interesting, nomadic, 13-year professional football career. 

Indianapolis Colts practice squad (2006-07)

Cologne Centurions (2007) - NFL Europe

Grand Rapids Rampage (2008) - Arena Football League

Philadelphia Soul (2009) - Arena Football League

Calgary Stampeders (2009-10) - Canadian Football League

New Orleans Saints (2011-13)

Minnesota Vikings (2014-17)

Seattle Seahawks (2018)

Minnesota Vikings (2018)

That’s persistence. That persistence was highlighted by his productive and underrated four-plus years with the Vikings. 

Top 10 Minnesota Vikings Defensive Ends

It’s on to the defense. The ranking of the Top Ten Minnesota Vikings players at each position continues with the defensive ends. 

Ever since the Purple People Eaters of the late 1960s and 1970s, the Minnesota Vikings have had a very good to great defensive tradition. Starting with the defensive ends, here’s a look at some of the players that make up that tradition.

Top 10 Minnesota Vikings Defensive Ends

1.   Carl Eller 

2.   Chris Doleman 

3.   Jared Allen 

4.   Danielle Hunter

5.   Jim Marshall 

6.   Everson Griffen 

7.   Brian Robison 

8.   Doug Martin

9.   Mark Mullaney 

10. Lance Johnstone 

Carl Eller, Chris Doleman, and Jared Allen are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Danielle Hunter continues to build his Hall of Fame case. Then there’s Jim Marshall. He’s been on the Hall’s wait list for so long that it’s bordering on the ridiculous. 

Speaking of Hall of Fame waits, Carl Eller had about a 20-year wait. You look at his career and accolades and have to wonder, “Why the 20-year wait?”

1970s First-team All-Decade

5x 1st-team All-Pro

6x Pro Bowl

He also made 2nd-team All-Pro in a year he didn’t make the Pro Bowl

3x Top-10 in MVP voting

2nd to teammate Alan Page in the 1971 Defensive Player of the Year voting

A player has a career of that quality today and he’s probably going into the Hall on his first vote. Eller’s 20-year wait is one of the great mysteries of that voting process. 

On a Christmas night in 1989, I had a pretty good idea that Chris Doleman would end up in Canton. That was the night that he ran past and through Cincinnati Bengals all-everything tackle Anthony Munoz. He finished with 21 sacks that season. Jared Allen topped Doleman’s 21 sacks with 22 in 2011. The trade for Allen in 2008 was one of the best in Vikings franchise history. He was the final piece to an emerging defense. The defensive line of Allen, Kevin Williams, Pat Williams, and Ray Edwards rivaled that of the Purple People Eaters. It was a damn sad day to see Danielle Hunter sign with the Houston Texans during the 2024 offseason. He had a brilliant eight-year career in Minnesota. He sat behind Brian Robison for a couple seasons. Despite playing limited snaps, he collected 12.5 sacks in his second season. There was no sitting after that. If he hadn’t missed all of the 2020 and most of the 2021 seasons, he would’ve collected over 100 sacks in those eight years. Five years after his career is done, there will be a Hall of Fame argument for Hunter. There’s been about a 40-year Hall of Fame argument for Jim Marshall. This is a very sensitive subject for Vikings fans. They see no argument. It’s sensitive because Marshall might be the most important player of the team’s first 20 years. He was the heart, soul, and leader of the great Vikings teams that went to four Super Bowls. He was also a great football player. 

Everson Griffen’s career was interesting. He sat behind Jared Allen for his first four years. And Allen rarely came off the field. Despite playing very limited snaps, anyone looking could see Griffen’s talent. The Vikings tried him at linebacker one training camp just to get him on the field. He was a gunner on punts. A 275-pound gunner! His first year as a starter was the first year of his second contract. He received a big second contract despite never having been a full-time player. He showed immediately that he deserved that contract. He was a mystery to the national media. He was even a mystery to his new coach, Mike Zimmer. Griffen was one of the league’s best pass rushers for the rest of his career. Brian Robison played all of his 11 seasons in Minnesota. Fitting, as he was always and always will be a fan favorite. He was the less heralded member of a 2007 Vikings draft class that included Adrian Peterson and Sidney Rice. Robison’s career would be a lot like his status in that draft class. Initially, he played behind Ray Edwards for four years. Then he played in the shadow of Jared Allen and Everson Griffen. He even played in the shadow of Danielle Hunter while starting ahead of him. Through it all, Robison was a very good and productive football player. Doug Martin and Mark Mullaney had the misfortune of being drafted to replace legends. Even though I thought and hoped that Carl Eller and Jim Marshall would play forever, their great Vikings careers were going to eventually end. It was hoped that Martin and Mullaney would simply continue the team’s great defensive end tradition. Those are brutal expectations. Martin got off to a decent start. His 11.5 sacks in the strike-shortened 1982 season led the league. He followed that up with 13 sacks in 1983. Sack-wise those were the best of his 10 years in Minnesota. He had a couple nine-sack years later in the decade. Mullaney’s career was a little less productive but he was a strong contributor on the defensive line for all of his 11-year career.

Lance Johnstone edged out Al Noga and Ray Edwards for #10. I decided that Johnstone had a greater impact despite playing fewer snaps. Johnstone is one of the Vikings most underrated free agent signings. He played in Minnesota from 2001-05. His only season as a full-time starter was 2002. He was the definition of a designated pass rusher. He collected 41 sacks over those five years. He had 10 sacks in 2003 and 11 in 2004. He was an impact pass rusher for the Vikings. 

Top 10 Minnesota Vikings Centers

The receiver and defensive line traditions of the Minnesota Vikings are among the NFL’s best. The Vikings also have a strong center tradition. It helps that the tradition started with a Hall of Fame player that didn’t miss a game for 17 years. 

Top Ten Minnesota Vikings Centers

1.   Mick Tingelhoff

Mick Tingelhoff was a remarkable football player. From 1962-78, Tingelhoff started every game that the Vikings played. It was an unbelievable streak. His best years were the mid 1960s. He was All-Pro for six consecutive seasons. He should’ve made it to Canton long before he finally did. Tingelhoff kicked off the Vikings strong center tradition. 

2.   Matt Birk

3.   Jeff Christy

4.   John Sullivan

5.   Dennis Swilley

6.   Kirk Lowdermilk

7.   Garrett Bradbury

8.   Joe Berger

9.   Pat Elflein

10. Bill Lapham

10. Adam Schreiber 

From 1962-2014, the fulcrum of the offensive line was in steady hands. Mick Tingelhoff to Dennis Swilley to Kirk Lowdermilk to Jeff Christy to Matt Birk to John Sullivan. While Christy and Birk were the only centers after Tingelhoff to receive post-season honors, all of them were solid to better football players. Then we get to the offensive line issues of the past decade. Joe Berger was a nice fill-in during the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Pat Elflein was selected in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft to be the next great center. He showed promise as a rookie but then things started to fade. Garrett Bradbury was selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He was definitely drafted to be the next great center. While he showed unique quickness traits and had some strong moments he never could quite overcome his relatively small stature. Bigger, stronger defensive linemen often overwhelmed him. Unfortunately for Bradbury and the Vikings, the NFL has been filled with bigger, stronger, and talented defensive tackles. The Vikings had two centers that held the job for a single season. Bill Lapham was the first Vikings center in 1961. Adam Schreiber was the starter in 1993 as the Vikings transitioned from Lowdermilk to Christy. 

Perhaps it’s because he’s never played the position before but current Vikings center Blake Brandel feels more like Adam Schreiber than Mick Tingelhoff. 

Top 10 Minnesota Vikings Guards

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

As with the offensive tackles, the best guards in the franchise history of the Vikings are topped by two Hall Famers. 

Top Ten Minnesota Vikings Guards

1.   Randall McDaniel

2.   Steve Hutchinson

With apologies to John Hannah and Larry Allen, Randall McDaniel is the best guard I’ve ever watched. From that funky stance to his unreal speed, he was fun to watch from snap to whistle. Thanks to the genius “poison pill,” Steve Hutchinson is the Vikings best free agent signing. McDaniel and Hutchinson were great but very different guards. McDaniel was freakishly athletic and strong. Nothing he did seemed normal for an offensive lineman. Hutchinson was a big, strong monster of a football player. He looked like a guard and played like one of the best guards of any era. 

3.   Ed White

It’s easy to look past a guard on an offensive line that had a couple of players with busts in Canton. Ed White played between Mick Tingelhoff and Ron Yary. If anyone on the offensive line got a bit of attention it was one, or both, of the eventual Hall of Famers. Yary and Tingelhoff were great. So was White. He was the bully of that offensive line. A defensive lineman at Cal, White played guard with the aggressiveness of a defensive lineman. It was a damn shame that he was shipped to the San Diego Chargers while he was still in his prime. He has a Hall of Fame argument that’s yet to be heard. 

4.   David Dixon

5.   Anthony Herrera

6.   Milt Sunde

7.   Charles Goodrum

8.   Wes Hamilton

9.   Terry Tausch

10. Brandon Fusco

After McDaniel, Hutchinson, and White, the best remaining guards in Vikings franchise history can be presented in almost any order. I like David Dixon and Anthony Herrera next. Each played guard opposite one of the Vikings Hall of Famers. Dixon played his best years opposite McDaniel. Herrera played his best years opposite Hutchinson. Huge Dixon and aggressive Herrera were very good players on the right side. Milt Sunde was the Vikings first solid guard. He formed a nice left side with tackle Grady Alderman from 1964-67. Sunde flipped sides and formed a nice right-side with tackle Ron Yary until White took over. In the 1970s, Charles Goodrum was a solid left guard on the Vikings first great offensive line. As the Vikings transitioned from their great 1970s offensive line, Wes Hamilton and Terry Tausch had solid stints as starting guards in the 1980s. Just as Brandon Fusco looked to be on a trajectory that would put him on the top half of this ranking, injuries slowed and ultimately ended his promising career in Minnesota. 

The Vikings overhauled the interior of the offensive line last offseason. They spent heavily in free agency for Will Fries. They spent their first round pick on Donovan Jackson. Fries plays on the right. Jackson plays on the left. They are easily the most talented pair of Vikings guards since Hutchinson and Herrera. Hopefully, both soar up this list. 

Top 10 Minnesota Vikings Offensive Tackles

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

The list of the best offensive tackles in Vikings franchise history is topped by a couple Hall of Famers. After that, it’s a bunch of solid football players. When their careers are done, the current tackles could challenge those near the top. 

Top Ten Minnesota Vikings Tackles

1.   Ron Yary

2.   Gary Zimmerman

Ron Yary was arguably the league’s best offensive tackle for the duration of his 14 years in Minnesota. He was All-Pro from 1971-76. He has a bust in Canton. Yary was a great football player. Due to a Super Bowl title in his final season, some think of Gary Zimmerman more for his Denver Broncos days. His seven years in Minnesota were, by far, his best. When I think back to the play of Yary and Zimmerman, the game just seemed easy for both of them. The never looked stressed by the players they were tasked with blocking. 

3.   Grady Alderman

Grady Alderman is one of the most underrated players in Vikings history. He was the Vikings left tackle from 1961-74. He went to six Pro Bowls. In my opinion, he should get more attention for the Vikings Ring of Honor. He was a franchise cornerstone through the team’s first decade and into the Super Bowl years. He’s certainly been waiting the longest. 

4.   Todd Steussie

Todd Steussie was a very good offensive tackle. He was also dependable. He started all but one game in his seven seasons with the Vikings. He formed an excellent left side with guard Randall McDaniel. And he went to Cal.

5.   Brian O’Neill

6.   Christian Darrisaw

Brian O’Neill is the current right tackle. Christian Darrisaw is the current left tackle. The two arguably form the best tackle duo in Vikings franchise history. O’Neill will probably end his career right behind Zimmerman on this list. Darrisaw has Hall of Fame potential and could end his career challenging Yary. 

7.   Tim Irwin

Tim Irwin was a solid, reliable tackle for over a decade. From 1983-93, he started every game. Irwin is one of the most underrated players in Vikings franchise history. And he coached Harrison Smith’s youth football team. 

8.   Korey Stringer

Korey Stringer’s shocking death during the 2001 training camp will always top his legacy. He was a very good football player and an even better person. 

RIP Big K. 

9.   Matt Kalil

After his rookie season, it felt like Matt Kalil was on the verge of a career destined for a bust in Canton. He made the Pro Bowl in his first season but never returned to that level of play. Nagging injuries kept him from reaching the potential he showed in that first season. 

10. Bryant McKinnie

Bryant McKinnie is probably the most frustrating player in all my years following the team. He had the talent to top this list. Unfortunately, he never showed the desire to do so. He finally made the Pro Bowl in his eighth season. He was kicked out of the game before it was even played. An indication of his ridiculous talents is that he was able to skate through 12 years in the NFL and look back on a respectable career. He could’ve been so much more. 

Minnesota Vikings New Front Office

New Minnesota Vikings general manager Nolan Teasley has been on the job for a few weeks. He’s spent that time catching up on the roster and crafting his front office. Regarding the latter, the Vikings announced some changes.

Hires:

Andrew Healy - Assistant General Manager

Trent Kirchner - Assistant General Manager

Tyer Hamblin - Director of Football Strategy

Ryan Pace - Football Adviser

Azzaam Kapadia - Assistant Director of Pro Scouting

At his introductory press conference, Nolan Teasley said that he was “guided by evaluation and anchored by data.”  In Andrew Healy and Trent Kirchner, he has his data and evaluation bookends. With a Bachelor of Science in applied mathematics and a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Yale and a Ph.D in economics from MIT, Healy is undoubtedly committed to data. Kirchner has been scouting and evaluating football players for 26 years. Teasley brought Healy over from the Cleveland Browns and he brought Kirchner with him from the Seattle Seahawks. Azzaam Kapadia also comes from the Seahawks and is a rising scouting, film-watching machine. He was an undergrad at Virginia only three years ago. Now, he has a prominent talent evaluation role in the Vikings front office. Tyler Hamblin is returning to the NFL after spending nearly two years as Senior Product Success Manager at Teamworks. Prior to that intriguing job he worked for nearly eight seasons with the Browns. My guess is that he’s as much a Healy hire as a Teasley hire. Ryan Pace brings strong scouting experience and a failed GM run with the Chicago Bears. Despite the questionable decisions with the Bears, he did a lot of good things to get the job. He’ll be a strong resource in the Vikings front office. 

In addition to the five hires, the Vikings announced five promotions.

Dabness Atkins - Scouting Assistant

Chris French - Director of Football Quantitative Methods

Claire Morrison - Football Quantitative Methods

Jack Murphy - College Area Scout

Brian Schnorr - College Scout/BLESTO

The adjustments of the past few weeks resulted in the following front office. 

Minnesota Vikings New Front Office

General Manager: Nolan Teasley 

Assistant General Manager: Andrew Healy

Assistant General Manager: Trent Kirchner

Director of Football Strategy: Tyler Hamblin

Football Adviser: Ryan Pace

Director of Player Personnel: Ryan Monnens

Assistant Director of Player Personnel: Chisom Opara

Director of Pro Personnel: Sam DeLuca

Assistant Director of Pro Personnel: Azzaam Kapadia

Director of College Scouting: Mike Sholiton

National Scout: Sean Gustus

National Scout: David Williams

College Area Scout: Jake Essler

College Area Scout: Blaine Gramer

College Area Scout: Matt Kelly

College Area Scout: Steve Sabo

College Area Scout: Jack Murphy

College Area Scout: Michelle Mankoff

Pro Scout: Alex Dale

Scouting Coordinator: Taylor Brooks

Senior Football Operations Manager: Kaitlin Zarecki

Senior Manager of Football Administration: Emily Badis

Senior Manager of Family Engagement: Quinn Gjersvig

Director of Football Quantitative Methods: Chris French

Football Quantitative Methods Analyst: Cole Bransford

Senior Director of Football Information Systems: Luke Burson

Senior Database Administrator: Mike Desplenter

Football Information Systems Developer: Anthony Caron

Football Information Systems Developer: Derek McCormick

Scouting Assistant: Dabness Atkins

College Scout/BLESTO: Brian Schnorr

SQL Database Associate: Roman Hauch

Football Quantitative Methods Associate: Claire Morrison

Top 10 Minnesota Vikings Tight Ends

The ranking of the Top Ten Minnesota Vikings players at each position continues with the tight ends. It’s probably safe to say that the Vikings have had a good but not great tight end tradition.

Top Ten Minnesota Vikings Tight Ends

1.   Steve Jordan

2.   Kyle Rudolph

3.   Jim Kleinsasser

The first three are easy. Steve Jordan played during an era in which tight ends were emerging as offensive weapons. He rivaled the likes of Ozzie Newsome, Todd Christensen, Keith Jackson, Mark Bavaro, and Shannon Sharpe. Jordan played 13 seasons for the Vikings. He was tapped for the Pro Bowl six of those seasons. Perhaps if the Vikings were contenders for more than a handful of those 13 seasons, Jordan would have a bust next to Newsome and Sharpe. Kyle Rudolph was a terrific tight end for all of his 10 seasons in Minnesota. Injuries forced a stuttering start to his career. When he was on the field, he was great. He made the Pro Bowl in his second season and was MVP of the game. He earned his second Pro Bowl in his seventh season. Throughout his Vikings career, it never really felt like he was as much a part of the offense as he should’ve been. During his last few seasons, he was often more blocker than receiver. Jim Kleinsasser was an awesome football player. Unfortunately, his awesomeness was as a blocker. Among fantasy football maniacs, that doesn’t get much attention. Kleinsasser, and Rudolph, should one day join Jordan in the Vikings Ring of Honor. 

4.   T.J. Hockenson

T.J. Hockenson is arguably the most gifted tight end in Vikings franchise history. The knee injury as a result of a cheap shot from a Detroit Lions safety ended his 2023 season. That was his best season and things haven’t been quite the same since. It looks like this could be his last season in Minnesota. 

5.   Joe Senser

One of the great “What ifs” in Vikings franchise history is Joe Senser. As a rookie in 1980, he showed a lot of promise with 42 catches, 447 yards, and 7 touchdowns. In his second season, he was brilliant. 79 catches, 1004 yards, and 8 touchdowns. It was the most productive season by a Vikings tight end. The strike-shortened 1982 season was a wash for Senser, the Vikings, and the league. A knee injury in 1983 wiped out his fourth season. Senser’s career was over after his fifth season. Joe Senser had the talent to be one of the game’s great tight ends. 

6.   Visanthe Shiancoe

7.   Josh Oliver

8.   Jermaine Wiggins

9.   Stu Voigt

10. Byron Chamberlain

Visanthe Shiancoe had a solid five years with the Vikings. In particular, he really seemed to fit in well with the Brett Favre-led 2009 offense. Josh Oliver is right behind Jim Kleinsasser as a blocker. I appreciate tight ends that haven’t forgotten about the blocking responsibilities of the position. Oliver also provides a giant target in the passing game. Jermaine Wiggins provided Daunte Culpepper a reliable target when he joined the Vikings as a free agent in 2004. Wiggins had 71 and 69 catches in his first two seasons. His third, and final, season in Minnesota was less productive with Brad Johnson throwing the ball. Stu Voigt was the Vikings tight end of my youth. There’s fondness for him for that reason. I remember being very annoyed when a preseason magazine described him as a mediocre player. His receiving production was respectable for his era. His blocking was always a strength. Voigt was much better than mediocre. Byron Chamberlain rounds out the Vikings Top Ten Tight Ends. He only played two seasons in Minnesota. His first season ended with an invitation to the Pro Bowl. 

Top 10 Minnesota VIkings Receivers

The ranking of the Top 10 Minnesota Vikings players at each continues with the receivers. The receiver tradition of the Vikings can rival that of any team in the NFL. Two Vikings receivers have busts in Canton and the sculpting of a bust for the third can probably begin. Receiver has always been my favorite position. Following the Vikings receivers for the past 50+ years have been an amazing treat. 

Top Ten Minnesota Vikings Receivers

1. Cris Carter

2. Randy Moss

3. Justin Jefferson

There isn’t a team in the league that can challenge the Vikings top three receivers. Most people would probably have Randy Moss over Cris Carter. I get it. Moss is the most physically gifted receiver to ever play. I have Carter #1 simply because he and Alan Page are my favorite Vikings. It’s a personal thing. As a fan of receivers, I never thought I’d ever see a Vikings receiver could rival Carter and Moss. Along came Justin Jefferson. Just as I thought I’d never see a receiver challenge Carter and Moss. I never thought I’d ever see a player challenge Carter and Page. Jefferson is doing both. He’s done so much already, it’s unbelievable that he’s only played six seasons. He’s a brilliant, fun receiver and football player. And person. 

4. Anthony Carter

It’s hard to believe that Cris Carter was once the second Carter to Anthony Carter. If Anthony Carter had come straight to the Vikings rather than slumming it in the USFL for three years, he’d have a better Hall of Fame argument. His destruction of the San Francisco 49ers in the 1987 Divisional Playoffs will always be remembered. 

5. Ahmad Rashad

Another receiver that should’ve gotten to the Vikings sooner was Ahmad Rashad. If he’d played his entire career with Fran Tarkenton and Tommy Kramer, he’d be in the Hall of Fame. For all of his seven years in Minnesota, he was one of the best receivers in the league. 

6. Percy Harvin

It’s a shame that Percy Harvin spent only four seasons with the Vikings. He’s at #6 on this list mostly for his unreal athleticism. Harvin was one of the most fun, most explosive Vikings players I’ve ever seen. In terms of pure explosive talent, he’s right there with Randy Moss and Adrian Peterson. I hated to see Harvin leave Minnesota. I really hated to see him leave for Seattle. 

7. Adam Thielen

Adam Thielen is a great Minnesota story. His is also a great football story. He was also an excellent receiver. From the blocked punt and touchdown return against the Carolina Panthers as an anonymous special teams player to all of his brilliant catches, Thielen was a fun football player. My favorite Adam Thielen moment will always be his complete dismantling of New Orleans Saints corner Marshon Lattimore in the game that ended with the Minneapolis Colts. Thielen forced Lattimore into holding and pass interference penalties on the same play. And he still made the catch over the stunned and beaten corner. 

8. Stefon Diggs

Stefon Diggs’ time in Minnesota is interesting. Highlighted by the Minneapolis Miracle, his play was often outstanding. Quickness, route-running, hands. He had fun receiving traits. On and off the field, he was also quite unpredictable. That unpredictability eventually sent him to the Buffalo Bills and brought Justin Jefferson to Minnesota. 

9. Sammy White

Sammy White exploded on the NFL scene as a rookie. He was the second of four Vikings receivers to earn the league’s Offensive Rookie of the Year. Sammy White and Ahmad Rashad were the first great Vikings receiver tandem. 

10. Jake Reed

Cris Carter and Jake Reed were one of the league’s best receiving duos for much of the 1990s. For four seasons, both gained over 1,000 yards. Playing in Carter’s shadow and then pushed to #3 when Randy Moss was drafted, Reed will always be an underrated receiver 

10. John Gilliam

It’s easy to get lost in the Vikings great receiver tradition. John Gilliam shouldn’t be forgotten. He came to Minnesota the same year Fran Tarkenton returned (1972). They immediately had a big play connection. From 1972-74, Gilliam averaged 22.0, 21.6, and 22.2 yards per reception. That’s ridiculous during any era. It was especially ridiculous during an era in which the league’s rules didn’t do much to aid the passing game.

Top 10 Minnesota Vikings Running Backs

The ranking at the Top 10 Minnesota Vikings players at each position continues with the running backs. The top four are pretty straightforward. 

Top 10 Minnesota Vikings Running Backs

1. Adrian Peterson

Nothing is certain with the current collection of Pro Football Hall of Fame voters but Adrian Peterson should be honored in the Canton sun next summer. Simply put, he’s one of the best running backs ever to play football and an easy pick as the best back in Vikings franchise history. 

2. Chuck Foreman

Adrian Peterson should be joining Chuck Foreman next summer as Vikings running backs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Peterson will get into Canton in his first of eligibility. Foreman should’ve been inducted long ago and somehow he hasn’t. From his 1973 rookie year through 1977, he was one of the best running backs in the league. More significantly, he was the league’s most versatile running back. He caught passes in the 1970s like scattered backs are doing today. In that sense, Foreman was way ahead of his time. It’s way past time to finally see Chuck Foreman inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

3. Dalvin Cook

4. Robert Smith 

I feel that the top two running backs in Vikings franchise history are easy. #3 and #4 are easy as well. The order is difficult. One day, Robert Smith is #3 and Dalvin Cook is #4. The next day, Dalvin Cook is #3 and Robert Smith is #4. Today, it’s the second one. Both had stuttering starts to their careers due to injuries. After a terrific start, Cook’s rookie season ended in Week 4 with a knee injury. Smith had a run of puzzling maladies that kept him from really breaking out until his fifth season. Once both got rolling, they were explosive, game-breaking runners. Both ended up having four terrific seasons with the Vikings. If injuries hadn’t gotten in the way, both easily could’ve had twice that. 

5. Bill Brown

Bill Brown’s great Vikings career was winding down as I was a youngster discovering football and this team. He’s one of the Vikings greats that I most wish that I’d seen in his prime. He was among the league’s best fullbacks at a time when fullbacks were often a team’s top runner.

6. Tommy Mason

The Vikings first ever draft pick was the team’s top playmaker over the franchise’s first five seasons. He was All-Pro once and made the Pro Bowl three times in those five seasons. 

7. Darrin Nelson

Because he wasn’t Marcus Allen, I don’t think Darrin Nelson ever got proper respect from Vikings fans. Nelson was the seventh pick of the 1982 NFL Draft. Allen was still available but the Vikings opted for the little, versatile back out of Stanford. Nelson fit the Vikings offense of that era. While he wasn’t Marcus Allen-great, for ten years, Nelson was a very good football player for the Vikings. 

8. Dave Osborn

Dave Osborn was a solid backfield partner to Bill Brown. While the Vikings of the late-1960s very much relied on a running back-by-committe, Osborn and Brown were the headliners. Osborn’s 972 yards in 1967 was the team’s single-season record until Chuck Foreman topped 1,000 in 1975. 

9. Terry Allen

It’s a real shame that Terry Allen left the Vikings in the early days of free agency after only four years and three seasons. After a breakout 1,200 yard season in his second year, Allen had his third season erased with a knee injury. He returned with a 1,000 season and then bolted to Washington in free agency. 

10. Chester Taylor

Chester Taylor joined the Vikings in 2006 as a free agent. He left Baltimore for Minnesota for the opportunity to finally be RB1. With 1,200 yards, he was an immediate hit. The Vikings run game was in good shape with the versatile Taylor. Then Adrian Peterson was selected in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft. Taylor was suddenly RB2 for the team that signed him to be RB1. For the next three seasons, he was a tremendous team player and of the best RB2s in the league. 

Top 10 Minnesota Vikings Quarterbacks

If there’s a down time in the NFL, it’s the weeks between the end of offseason workouts and training camp. To pass some of that time, I’m ranking the ten best players at each position in the franchise history of the Minnesota Vikings. Up first is the quarterbacks. Everything in football starts with the quarterbacks.

Top 10 Minnesota Vikings Quarterbacks

1. Fran Tarkenton

Even though Norm Van Brocklin was reluctant to start him, Fran Tarkenton was the first quarterback in Minnesota Vikings franchise history. He’s also, easily, the best quarterback in franchise history. The Vikings have been trying to find their next franchise quarterback since his 1978 retirement. Tarkenton has a bust in Canton. At the time of his retirement, he held every career passing record. He held those records longer than any quarterback ever has. 

2. Tommy Kramer

3. Daunte Culpepper

4. Kirk Cousins

While the #1 quarterback in Vikings franchise history is easy. #2 isn’t easy. In my opinion, there are three contenders. Tommy Kramer was selected in the first round of the 1977 NFL Draft to be the next franchise quarterback. He had the talent to be the next one. There were many moments during his 13 years in Minnesota in which he looked the part. Unfortunately, his career was peppered with a variety of injuries. He played every game in a season only twice in those 13 years. One of those was the strike-shortened 1982 season. He made one Pro Bowl. Daunte Culpepper and Kirk Cousins each played for the Vikings half as long as Kramer but had more productive seasons. Culpepper edges Cousins in this ranking mostly for his MVP-level 2004 season. Both Culpepper and Cousins ended their Vikings career with season-ending injuries. Culpepper’s injury essentially ended his career. 

5. Joe Kapp

Joe Kapp only played three seasons for the Vikings but he was the quarterback and fiery leader as the team moved from hapless expansion team to one of the best teams in the league. He guided the Vikings to their first Super Bowl. To get to Super Bowl IV, the Vikings won the 1969 NFL Championship. That’s something.

6. Warren Moon

Warren Moon only played 2.5 seasons for the Vikings. They were his age 38 - 40 seasons. He may have been at the end of his brilliant Hall of Fame career but he was excellent in those 2.5 seasons. He and Cris Carter were a blast to watch together. Few quarterbacks have ever thrown a prettier pass.

7. Brett Favre

Brett Favre holds the seventh spot of this ranking for his terrific 2009 season. It was arguably the best year of his long Hall of Fame career. That season should’ve ended with a Super Bowl win. 

8. Randall Cunningham 

As with Brett Favre, Randall Cunningham makes this ranking for his outstanding 1998 season. Also like Favre, that season also should’ve ended with a Super Bowl win.

9. Brad Johnson

Brad Johnson was supposed to be the Vikings starter in 1998. An injury opened the door for Randall Cunningham. Johnson’s Vikings story is one of what might’ve been. It’s difficult to imagine the season going better with Johnson rather than Cunningham but the former had the starting quarterback job entering the season for a reason. With Cris Carter, Randy Moss, and Jake Reed catching passes and Robert Smith and Leroy Hoard running, nearly any quarterback would shine. 

10. Teddy Bridgewater

What if Tommy Kramer’s career hadn’t been taken apart by injuries? What if the Vikings had been able to draft Bernie Kosar? What if the Vikings hadn’t bailed on Rich Gannon so early? What if Daunte Culpepper’s career hadn’t been ruined by that knee injury? There are a lot of “what if’s” regarding the quarterback position in Vikings franchise history. Teddy Bridgewater is another. The Vikings and Bridgewater were on the rise when his knee exploded just before the start of the 2016 season. Ultimately, the injury didn’t end his career but it was the beginning of the end of his Vikings career. We’ll never know if Bridgewater would’ve hit the high hopes that I had for him. 

Up Next: The Running Backs. 

Top Vikings Training Camp Topics

My top Minnesota Vikings training camp topics will probably change often over the next six-plus weeks. The following are my current top topics.

Top Minnesota Vikings Training Camp Topics

1. The Quarterback Competition

Of course, it starts with the quarterback competition between J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray. Personally, I don’t really care who wins the starting job. When the Vikings have even average quarterback play they can win with the playmakers that surround that average quarterback. Few teams in the league can match this playmaking group.

Receivers:

Justin Jefferson

Jordan Addison

Jauan Jennings

T.J. Hockenson

Josh Oliver

Runners:

Aaron Jones

Jordan Mason

Demond Claiborne

Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jauan Jennings are the best receiving trio in the league. T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver are a nice tight end duo. With an improved run scheme, a solid offensive line, and a diverse running back committee, the Vikings pass game and run game might finally complement each other well.  

It really doesn’t matter whether the Vikings quarterback is J.J. McCarthy or Kyler Murray. Either will flourish in this offense. I have two hopes for this Vikings quarterback training camp competition. The first hope is that the coverage of the competition doesn’t focus on the drama bullshit between the two quarterbacks. The second hope is that the quarterback that is named QB2 isn’t a baby about it. If two of the last three seasons has shown anything, there’s a chance that all three quarterbacks on the active roster will be needed. 

2. The Offensive Line

The starting offensive line projects as a strong group. The question of that group is center Blake Brandel. Through five years with the Vikings, he’s pretty much covered every offensive line position but center. He’s had 31 starts. 17 of those starts were at left guard in 2024. Injuries forced Brandel to play center for the first time in his football life last season. He did alright. He did alright enough that it’s believed by all those that matter that he can hand handle the full-time center job this season. Despite playing his college days at Oregon State, Brandel is a bright guy. I believe that he’ll be at least as good as Garrett Bradbury-good. My hope is that he’s much better. He is the biggest question on what could be a very good offensive line. 

3. The Defensive Line

Before the 2026 NFL Draft, I felt the Vikings had a very curious defensive line group with intriguing potential. It was a curious group because all of the returning players were late-round or no-round picks. 

Jalen Redmond

Levi Drake Rodriguez 

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins

Elijah Williams

Taki Taimani

Jalen Redmond broke out last season as an emerging star. As a 2025 fifth-round pick, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins is the highest drafted of the group. He’s spent some offseason time with the outside linebackers. He might spend his hopefully long Vikings career spending time both on the line and on the edge. I believe that Elijah Williams has the talent to break out this season like Redmond did last season. That’s the pre-draft group. The Vikings had a clear defensive line focus in the draft. Caleb Banks was selected in the first round. Domonique Orange was selected in the third round. The Vikings have the makings of a deep and dominant defensive front. For three seasons, defensive coordinator Brian Flores has manufactured pressure through scheme. He might finally have a Vikings defensive line group that can pressure with dominating talent. I can not wait to see this group on the field. 

4. Outside Linebackers

I wasn’t a fan of trading Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles during the draft. I didn’t like it but I get it. Dallas Turner is ready for a full-time role. He and Andrew Van Ginkel will be a terrific edge duo. Behind the two, there’s no proven depth. Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins is working with the outside linebackers. He’s an intriguing edge option. Jake Golday may have been selected in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft as an eventual heir to Van Ginkel’s versatile role. Golday is learning both on- and off-ball linebacker roles. In a Brian Flores defense, that’s a lot to learn. Other than the potential supplemental involvement of Ingram-Dawkins and Golday, Van Ginkel and Turner are backed up by undrafted Tyler Batty, Bo Richter, Chaz Chambliss, Cam’Ron Stewart, and Arden Walker. Outside linebacker is probably the position most in need of a veteran addition between now and training camp. 

5. Cornerback

Other than Kyler Murray, it’s always about the quarterback, the biggest Vikings free agent addition is James Pierre. He might be one of the best under-the-radar additions across the league. I can’t wait to see the cornerback trio of Pierre with Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers. I’ve often wondered if Brian Flores played three safeties as a nickel preference or if he did so because he didn’t have three corners he trusted. With Pierre, we might finally see the Vikings defense that Flores has in his head. Not only is the group topped by a nice trio, Chuck Demmings was added in the draft. I have a feeling that Demmings is taking the first steps toward a brilliant Vikings career. 

6. Safeties

When does Harrison Smith announce his return for a 15th season. 

I like this potential safety group.

Joshua Metellus

Theo Jackson

Jay Ward

Jakobe Thomas

Tavierre Thomas

I like this one even more.

Harrison Smith

Joshua Metellus

Theo Jackson

Jay Ward

Jakobe Thomas

Like Chuck Demmings, I believe that Jakobe Thomas is going to be an impact player. The pair could soon be franchise cornerstones in the Vikings secondary. 

For now, those are my top Minnesota Vikings training camp topics. 

Some Of The Best Remaining Free Agents

The time between offseason workouts and training camp can be time for teams to make roster tweaks. Perhaps those offseason workouts revealed some positions that could use a veteran upgrade. Here are some of the best free agents that are still available about a month before teams start reporting for the start of training camp.

1.   Taylor Decker, OT

2.   Deebo Samuel, WR

3.   Joey Bosa, Edge

4.   Jadeveon Clowney, Edge

5.   Jonah Williams, OT

6.   Haason Reddick, Edge

7.   Kenny Moore, CB

8.   Stefon Diggs, WR

9.   Jack Conklin, OT

10. Jonnu Smith, TE

11. Mekhi Becton, OL

12. Leonard Floyd, Edge

13. Darren Waller, TE

14. Trevon Diggs, CB

15. Tyreek Hill, WR

16. James Daniels, G

17. Kevin Zeitler, G

18. David Onyemata, DL

19. Marshon Lattimore

20. Yetur Gross-Matos, DL

21. Larry Ogunjobi, DL

22. Graham Glasgow, C

23. Matt Milano, LB

24. Ethan Pocic, C

25. Daniel Carlson, K

This list of some of the best remaining free agents is made up mostly of players nearing the end of their careers. Five or so years ago, most would be targets during the tampering window. They certainly wouldn’t be unsigned in June. Now they are and they could be a nice addition for some team. 

The player on this list I’ve been eyeing for the Minnesota Vikings is Jadeveon Clowney. When Jonathan Greenard was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles during the draft, it opened up a need for a veteran edge player. Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner are a strong starting duo but the depth is suspect. Second-round pick Jake Golday has a lot on his plate as he’s learning off-ball linebacker as well as edge. Expecting heavy edge minutes as a rookie might be a bit much. Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins played on the interior as a rookie last season. He’s been working with the edge this spring. He’s an intriguing option. After that, the depth is mostly a collection of undrafted players in Tyler Batty, Bo Richter, and Chaz Chambliss. Clowney could be a nice addition to the Vikings edge room. 

Unsigned Draft Picks: By Round

The signing of the players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft is zipping along. The two quarterbacks continue to be the only unsigned players from the first round. The puzzle of this year’s draft pick signing process is the top of the third round. 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

2.   Denver Broncos: Tyler Onyedim, DT, Texas A&M

3.   Las Vegas Raiders: Keyron Crawford, Edge, Auburn

4.   Philadelphia Eagles: Markel Bell, OT, Miami

5.   Chicago Bears: Sam Roush, TE, Stanford

6.   San Francisco 49ers: Romello Height, Edge, Texas Tech

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

7/36 players are unsigned. 

Fourth Round

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

4.   Arizona Cardinals: Kaleb Proctor, DL, Southeastern Louisiana

6.   Houston Texans: Febechi Nwaiwu, G, Oklahoma

7.   San Francisco 49ers: Gracen Halton, DT, Oklahoma

4/40 players are unsigned.

Fifth Round

0/41 players are unsigned.

Sixth Round

0/35 players are unsigned. 

Seventh Round

0/41 players are unsigned. 

14/257 players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft are unsigned. 

Half of the unsigned players were selected at the top of the third round. 

Minnesota Vikings 91-Man Roster

The Minnesota Vikings made a couple more tweaks to the roster. 

Signed:

Marshall Lang, TE

Jahvaree Ritzie, DL

Waived:

Caleb Etienne, OT

Monkell Goodwine, DL

Once again, new Vikings general manager Nolan Teasley has added a player familiar to him. He was the assistant general manager in Seattle when the Seahawks signed Marshall Lang after he went undrafted in the 2025 NFL Draft. He had practice squad stints with the Seahawks and New England Patriots last season. After the season, Lang signed a futures contract with the Patriots in February and was released in April. 

Jahvaree Ritzie also went undrafted in the 2025 NFL Draft. He signed with New England Patriots after the draft. He was released from the practice squad in September. He signed a futures contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers in January and was released in May. 

The Vikings currently have 91 players on the roster. Undrafted rookie punter Brett Thorson is one of those players. He’s from Australia and is part of International Pathways Program. As such, he doesn’t count towards the 90 - man roster limit. So, when Harrison Smith returns for his 15th season, the Vikings will have to make another tweak to the roster. 

Minnesota Vikings Post-Draft Roster (91)

Offense (45)

Quarterbacks (4)

Kyler Murray

J.J. McCarthy

Carson Wentz

Max Brosmer

Running Backs (6)

Aaron Jones

Jordan Mason

Zavier Scott

Demond Claiborne

Max Bredeson - fullback

Kejon Owens

Receivers (13)

Justin Jefferson

Jordan Addison

Jauan Jennings

Tai Felton

Myles Price

Jeshaun Jones

Dontae Fleming

Dillon Bell

Marcus Sanders Jr.

Luke Wysong 

Terrill Davis

Michael Briscoe

Trayvon Rudolph

Tight Ends (6)

T.J. Hockenson

Josh Oliver

Gavin Bartholomew

Ben Yurosek

Bryson Nesbit

Marshall Lang

Tackles (6)

Christian Darrisaw

Brian O’Neill

Ryan Van Demark

Walter Rouse

Caleb Tiernan

Triston Leigh

Guards (5)

Donovan Jackson

Will Fries

Joe Huber

Henry Byrd

Tomas Rimac

Centers (5)

Blake Brandel

Michael Jurgens

Vershon Lee

Gavin Gerhardt

Delby Lemieux

Defense (42)

Defensive Line (11)

Jalen Redmond

Levi Drake Rodriguez

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins

Elijah Williams

Taki Taimani

Caleb Banks

Domonique Orange

Eric Johnson II

Isaiahh Loudermilk

Smith Vilbert

Jahrvee Ritzie

Outside Linebackers (7)

Andrew Van Ginkel

Dallas Turner

Bo Richter

Tyler Batty

Chaz Chambliss

Cam’Ron Stewart

Arden Walker 

Inside Linebackers (8)

Blake Cashman

Eric Wilson

Ivan Pace Jr.

Josh Ross

Jacob Roberts

Jake Golday

Keli Lawson

Bangally Kamara

Cornerbacks (9)

Byron Murphy Jr.

Isaiah Rodgers

James Pierre

Zemaiah Vaughn

Dwight McGlothern

Chuck Demmings

Marcus Allen

Da’Veawn Armstead

Tyreek Chappell

Safeties (7)

Joshua Metellus

Theo Jackson

Jay Ward

Tavierre Thomas

Kahlef Hailassie 

Jakobe Thomas

Jacob Thomas

Special Teams (4)

Kicker

Will Reichard

Punter

Johnny Hekker

Brett Thorson

Long Snapper

Andrew DePaola

More Front Office Additions

New Minnesota Vikings general manager Nolan Teasley made a couple more additions to his front office. One addition is quite familiar as Ryan Pace is returning to the NFC North. He was the general manager of the Chicago Bears from 2015 to 2021. The reports have Pace joining the Vikings with the nebulous title of football adviser. We’ll have to see what that entails. The second addition is more intriguing as Teasley again reached into the Seattle Seahawks front office that he just left. Azzaam Kapadia was last listed with the Seahawks as a pro scout. He’d been with the team for three seasons so Teasley worked with him for three seasons. Kapadia’s football path stands out as remarkably brief, so far, and fascinating. Every person with a career in football has a story. For some, it just happens because the game was always there for them. For others, they have to bust their ass to force their way into an opportunity for a shot. If they get that shot, then they have to take advantage of it. Azzaam Kapadia is the latter. 

Purple Daily’s Thor Nystrom posted an intriguing timeline of Azzaam Kapadia’s path to the Vikings.

As a student at the University of Virginia, Azzaam Kapadia hounded the football office for a year to get a volunteer scout role. He persistence paid off as he earned a scouting role under head coach Bronco Mendenhall. He got the job by breaking down the high school film of receiver Dontayvion Wicks. When Mendenhall departed, Kapadia was the lone holdover. He earned a promotion when new head coach Tony Elliott discovered him watching film in an otherwise empty building. This was 2021, going into 2022. Kapadia was hired as a Seahawks scouting assistant after his graduation from Virginia in 2023. In just three years, he’s had a growing role in the Seattle draft and pro evaluation process. Kapadia is a film junky. He’s described as curious, and no-stone-left-unturned thorough. Just three years ago, he was making his way as a football slappy at the University of Virginia. Now, he’s assistant director of pro scouting for the Minnesota Vikings.

So, the Vikings are collecting former NFL GMs named Ryan. Former Indianapolis Colts general manager Ryan Grigson had been an assistant general manager for the Vikings since 2022. Reports have him staying with a different title and perhaps different responsibilities. If you ask Colts fans, they won’t have a lot of great things to say about Grigson, If asked, almost universally they’d rather see him employed by the Vikings than the Colts. Ryan Pace has a similar reputation with fans of the Chicago Bears. It can be a good thing to have former GMs on staff with a suspect history of decisions. Grigson and Pace are in Minnesota to assist Nolan Teasley. They aren’t in Minnesota to run things. We won’t know for a few years but Teasley is putting together an intriguing combination of evaluation and experience in his front office. 

There Will Be A Supplemental Draft

The too long, too stupid saga of Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby is finally over. Yesterday, it was reported that he plans to apply for the NFL’s Supplemental Draft. After placing over 9,000 bets on college and pro sports, some placed on his own teams, over four years, the NCAA had terminated his eligibility. He didn’t like that so he appealed the decision in federal court. Last week, somehow, an actual judge ignored all that was obvious and granted a preliminary injunction that prevented the NCAA from ending the eligibility of a player that had clearly broken the rules so many times. It was an astonishing decision that threw college football, common sense, and the law into chaos. Sorsby’s flip to entering the Supplemental Draft came on a day that included a flurry of legal activity. The Big 12 filed for a federal injunction for the right to potentially discipline Sorsby under its rules. The NCAA asked an appeals court for an expedited resolution to the local case, requesting a decision on Sorsby’s eligibility to be made by the start of the football season. All of that legal action faded away after the quarterback’s change of mind. This whole ordeal was so ludicrous. You can’t bet on the sport you play! He placed 9,000 bets! Sorsby broke a clearly stated rule so many times. It was unbelievable that he even tried to fight the much-deserved punishment. It’s over now. Entering the Supplemental Draft was always the best option. Realizing a lifelong dream of playing in the NFL is a cushy Plan B after losing your college eligibility. 

The Supplemental Draft. It’s a thing. 

For those that are a little rusty on some of the particulars of the NFL's Supplemental Draft here's some help from The Athletic:

What is the supplemental draft?

The supplemental draft, which is held each summer, was installed in 1977 as an option for draft-eligible players who did not declare for the regular NFL Draft. Normally, players who declare for the supplemental draft do so because of unexpected eligibility issues in college (academic or discipline).

The most noteworthy players who entered the NFL via the supplemental draft include Bernie Kosar (1985), Cris Carter (1987) and, most recently, Josh Gordon (2012). Since 1977, 45 players have been selected in the supplemental draft.

The draft order for the supplemental draft is determined via a lottery system based on last season’s win-loss records. The draft order is divided into three groups: 1) teams with six or fewer wins 2) the rest of the non-playoff teams and 3) the 12 playoff teams. The order of each group is randomly selected. If a team is interested in drafting a prospect, they place a bid on that player in a certain round. If multiple teams submit bids on a player in the same round, the team picking first in the order is awarded the player.

Once a team drafts a player in the supplemental draft, it must forfeit its pick in that round in the following NFL Draft.

It’s been a while since the Supplemental Draft included a player with legitimate NFL potential. Current Dallas Cowboys safety Jalen Thompson was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the fifth round of the 2019 Supplemental Draft. Before that, you’d have to go back to the Cleveland Browns selecting receiver Josh Gordon in the second round of the 2012 Supplemental Draft. Brendan Sorsby will be drafted. How high will he be drafted? Some talent evaluators have said that he would’ve challenged Ty Simpson for QB2 in last April’s “regular” draft. A strong season at Texas Tech this fall and Sorsby would’ve been in the first-round mix of a strong quarterback draft in next April’s regular draft. Even if his off-field issues knock him a bit, Sorsby should get claimed in the second round. I wouldn’t be all that surprised if a team positioned late in the first round throws in a claim. The Los Angeles Rams could easily have been that team if they hadn’t taken Simpson. Wait! Scratch that. They don’t have a 2027 first-round pick. Thanks to the Brendan Sorsby saga, the 2026 Supplemental Draft will be a thing. 

Minnesota Vikings Current Front Office

New Minnesota Vikings general manager Nolan Teasley has made his first additions to the front office he now leads. They are very big additions.

Andrew Healy

Trent Kirchner

Both have assistant general manager titles. Andrew Healy comes in as the Vikings top “analytics guy.” He has a math degree from Yale and an economics PhD from MIT on his resume. He’s the #2 football executive in the front office. Trent Kirchner has spent his football life on the scouting side. Over 27 years, he’s earned a reputation as one of the league’s best talent evaluators. They replace Ryan Grigson and Demitrius Washington. Grigson will remain with the team in a yet to be named role. Senior personnel executive Jamaal Stephenson, assistant director of college scouting Pat Roberts, and pro scout Salli Clavelle are also departing. 

With those adjustments in the books, here’s a look at Nolan Teasley’s current front office. 

Minnesota Vikings Current Personnel Structure 

General Manager: Nolan Teasley 

Assistant General Manager: Andrew Healy

Assistant General Manager: Trent Kirchner

Yet To Be Named Role: Ryan Grigson

Director of Player Personnel: Ryan Monnens

Assistant Director of Player Personnel: Chisom Opara

Director of Pro Personnel: Sam DeLuca

Director of College Scouting: Mike Sholiton

National Scout: Sean Gustus

National Scout: David Williams

College Area Scout (Midwest): Jake Essler

College Scout: Blaine Gramer

College Scout: Matt Kelly

College Scout: Steve Sabo

College Area Scout (Northeast): Michelle Mankoff

College Scout/BLESTO: Jack Murphy

Pro Scout: Alex Dale

Pro Scout: Shane Normandeau

Senior Player Personnel Analyst: Taylor Brooks

Senior Football Operations Manager: Kaitlin Zarecki

Senior Manager of Football Administration: Emily Badis

Senior Manager of Family Engagement: Quinn Gjersvig

Football Quantitative Methods Senior Analyst: Chris French

Football Quantitative Methods Analyst: Cole Bransford

Director, Football Information Systems: Luke Burson

Database Administrator: Mike Desplenter

Football Information Systems Developer: Anthony Caron

Football Information Systems Developer: Derek McCormick

Football Administration Associate: Austin Lavitt 

Player Personnel Consultant: Paul Wiggin

Scouting Associate: Dabness Atkins

Scouting Associate: Brian Schnorr

Football Operations Associate: Jordyn Hall

Family Engagement Associate: Michela Brown-Mayfield

SQL Database Associate: Grace Liebi

Football Quantitative Methods Associate: Claire Morrison

Minnesota Vikings Quarterback Competition

What’s wrong with a little competition? It can only make all involved better. Right?  There’s a quarterback competition in Minnesota. When the Vikings intentionally added Kyler Murray to a roster that already had franchise quarterback candidate J.J. McCarthy, a competition began. Many talking heads saw it as a competition in name only. An accomplished quarterback like Murray is only signing to start. Right? Those same talking heads were many of the same impatient observers that had already tossed McCarthy in the bust bin. A single season dismantled by injuries to himself and the offensive line is apparently enough evidence to discard a young quarterback. Anyway, the Vikings 2026 quarterback story was surely written when Murray was signed. Of course, he was signed to start. All real evidence shows that story to be fiction. The only opinion that matters is that of Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell. He says there’s a quarterback competition. The offseason workouts revealed a legitimate competition as McCarthy and Murray split reps. Perhaps infuriating many, O’Connell said that the competition will extend into training camp. 

Even though Kevin O’Connell explained it clearly, I believe that many talking heads and fans had the Kyler Murray signing wrong from the start. The Vikings head coach said that they wanted the strongest possible quarterback room. Anyone paying attention would be very much aware that the Vikings had two of the past three seasons taken apart by quarterback injuries. In 2023, they were forced to start four quarterbacks, including a fifth-round rookie that wasn’t remotely ready for the NFL. In 2025, they were forced to start three quarterbacks, including an undrafted rookie that wasn’t remotely ready for the NFL. Wanting the strongest possible quarterback room shouldn’t be a puzzle. With the Arizona Cardinals paying nearly $40 million of his 2026 salary, Murray was available for a league minimum $1.3 million. It was a unique situation and the Vikings took advantage. Even more amazing than the knee-jerk reaction to signing Murray was the response to the Vikings bringing back Carson Wentz. If Wentz is on the roster, surely McCarthy is going to be traded. It’s mind-numbing that so many people forgot, or ignored, O’Connell saying that strengthening the quarterback room was an offseason priority. The Vikings had to go three deep at the quarterback position in two of the last three seasons. The only way to avoid a repeat of those two disastrous seasons is to have three competent quarterbacks on the roster. 

J.J. McCarthy

Kyler Murray

Carson Wentz

Bingo!

I believe that any of the three could lead the Vikings to the playoffs. That’s a good situation. Carson Wentz is at the point in his career where he’s a backup for any team that signs him. What difference does it make whether it’s #2 or #3? If recent times are any indication, there’s a good chance he’s playing for the Vikings this season as #3. Hopefully, that painful pattern stays in the past. J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray are with the Vikings to start. There’s a quarterback competition in Minnesota. I’m all for it. Competition is fun. Competition makes everyone better. 

I would imagine that Kyler Murray has the edge simply because of his experience. If J.J. McCarthy is to win the job, he has to be the unquestioned winner. A tie goes to the veteran. I just want to see the best possible team on the field. I also want to see and hear proper football coverage of the competition. I’ve already seen way too much of the grade school coverage of perceived drama. Is McCarthy stretching with the quarterbacks? Did they skip off the field together at the end of practice? Gimme a break. There really is no end to the bullshit that the media thinks interests the fans. I’m one of those fans and it’s the football, only the football, that’s important. 

Vikings Front Office Hiires

A day after the Minnesota Vikings fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, I put together a list of candidates to replace him. It was as if I was part of the process. The efforts were ignored by those with an actual say. Anyway, some of the potential candidates were easy as they’ve been targets in recent general manager searches. I went searching for others. That search included a thorough scan of the front offices across the league with proven team-building success. The Seattle Seahawks were one of those teams. Two from that front office stood out. Trent Kirchner and Nolan Teasley. I picked Kirchner for my list of candidates mostly for his 27 years of scouting and team-building experience. Teasley had about half that. I apparently missed the fact that he’d risen past Kirchner in half the time. Ignoring my list of potential candidates, the Vikings hired Nolan Teasley to be their next general manager. Good move by the Vikings. By all appearances, he looks like an outstanding hire. It got even better yesterday as Teasley hired Trent Kirchner to be one of his assistant general manager. The Vikings ultimately hired both of my favorites. 

One of the first tasks of a general manager is to make some adjustments to his new team’s front office. Nolan Teasley brought in Trent Kirchner from the Seattle Seahawks and Andrew Healy from the Cleveland Browns. Each will have the title of assistant general manager. For Kirchner, it’s a homecoming. He’s a native of Fulda, Minnesota and attended and played quarterback at St. John’s University. He got his NFL start as an intern with the Seahawks, splitting time between public relations and college scouting. He was hired as college scouting coordinator by the Washington Redskins. His eight years scouting for the Carolina Panthers really set him on his football path and led to his return to Seattle in 2010. From there he moved up the front office ladder and gained a reputation as one of the best talent evaluators in the league. His work and growing respect earned him general manager interviews with the Detroit Lions, New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts, San Francisco 49ers, and Houston Texans. It wouldn’t surprise if he continues to receive attention for future GM openings. That’s for another day. It’s silly to think of his potential departure from Minnesota before his actual arrival. Andrew Healy comes from the analytical side of football. He has a degree in math from Yale and a PhD in economics from MIT. He taught economics at Loyola Marymount University. He’s an analytics guy. For the last five years he’s been the Browns VP of research and strategy. In that role, Healy led the integration of data and advanced insights into all parts of football operations. Along with the reports of the hires came a report that Healy will be the Vikings #2 football executive. It may have taken that to pry him from the Browns. 

At his introductory press conference, Nolan Teasley said that he was “guided by evaluation and anchored by data.” In Trent Kirchner and Andrew Healy, Teasley has his evaluation and data assistants. It’s a dynamite team. 

First Round Signing Tracker

There’s been a recent run on team’s signing draft picks. Over the past couple days, several of the lingering first-round holdouts signed their rookie deals. Now, only the two quarterbacks selected in the first round remain unsigned. Leave it to the quarterbacks to muck up an easy process. Here’s a look at the signing status of the first round picks.

2026 NFL Draft - First Round Signing Tracker

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

30 of the 32 players selected in the first round have signed.

Players That Intrigue

Today, the Minnesota Vikings take the field for the last of their three days of mandatory minicamp. Next week brings the final offseason workouts. Then, it’s on to training camp in late July. Throughout the offseason, several “under-the-radar” players have emerged as players that intrigue. It can be tough to wade through the expected, but bizarre, coverage of the quarterback competition. At times, it would seem that J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray are the only players on the field. When training camp opens and full-contact football gets started, here are some of the players from several position groups that intrigue me the most. I’m not going to touch the quarterback position. It’s been touched enough.

Running Back

Demond Claiborne

This is too easy. Lightning-quick, sixth-round pick Demond Claiborne is one of the most intriguing players on the team. Aaron Jones said that the rookie reminds him of Jahmyr Gibbs. That’s a nice start. Claiborne likely enters the season as RB3 behind Jones and Jordan Mason. He should get on the field as a change-of-pace back as a rookie. I think the Vikings future at running back is Demond Claiborne. 

Receiver

Dillon Bell

Undrafted rookie Dillon Bell has already caught the attention of many. With his size and obvious natural talent, it’s surprising that he wasn’t selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. His lack of production at consistently stacked Georgia clearly topped his size and traits. With Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jauan Jennings at the top of the depth chart, competition for the final two, or three, receiver spots will be fierce. If Bell continues his progression through training camp, he’ll be real hard to cut. 

Offensive Line

Ryan Van Demark

Injuries at offensive line was a big reason for last season’s troubles and inconsistencies. The Vikings signed Ryan Van Demark as a restricted free agent from the Buffalo Bills. It isn’t often that a restricted free agent switches teams. The Vikings clearly targeted him. There’s a comfort in having a starting caliber tackle supporting Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill.

Defensive Line

Elijah Williams

With the selections of Caleb Banks in the first round and Domonique Orange in the third round, the Vikings have built a very intriguing defensive line group. Jalen Redmond, Banks, and Orange will surely get most of the attention. I believe that Elijah Williams will emerge as an impact player. Undrafted last year, he made the 53-man roster as a rookie. He started getting some opportunities late in the season. I was intrigued by him coming out of Morgan State and was surprised that he wasn’t drafted. He looks bigger this year and I expect an impact. 

Linebacker

Jake Golday

I just want to see where the Vikings intend to play Jake Golday. Off-the-ball linebacker, edge rusher, nickel defender? He seems to have the skills to do nearly everything. I’m hoping that he can somehow pick up the un-earthly anticipation traits of Andrew Van Ginkel. That might be too much to ask for his rookie season. But who knows?

Safety

Harrison Smith

I just want to see Harrison Smith return for his 15th season. I’m not ready for #22 to not be on the field. 

Cornerback 

Chuck Demmings

Chuck Demmings might be my #1 most intriguing player on the team. From his sparkling personality to his freaky athleticism, the fifth-round rookie looks like he’s taking the first steps to becoming a fan favorite. 

Unsigned Draft Picks: By Round

The 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement made the signing of draft picks a fairly breezy process. Even though it’s been 15 years, it’s still fun to track these easy draft pick signing days. Holdouts are so depressing. No one really wins when a rookie misses practice time. 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

2.   Denver Broncos: Tyler Onyedim, DT, Texas A&M

3.   Las Vegas Raiders: Keyron Crawford, Edge, Auburn

4.   Philadelphia Eagles: Markel Bell, OT, Miami

5.   Chicago Bears: Sam Roush, TE, Stanford

6.   San Francisco 49ers: Romello Height, Edge, Texas Tech

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

7/36 players are unsigned. 

Fourth Round

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

2.   Buffalo Bills: Jude Bowry, OT, Boston College

3.   New York Jets: Darrell Jackson Jr., DT, Florida State

4.   Arizona Cardinals: Kaleb Proctor, DL, Southeastern Louisiana

5.   Los Angeles Chargers: Brenen Thompson, WR, Mississippi State

6.   Houston Texans: Febechi Nwaiwu, G, Oklahoma

7.   San Francisco 49ers: Gracen Halton, DT, Oklahoma

7/40 players are unsigned.

Fifth Round

0/41 players are unsigned.

Sixth Round

0/35 players are unsigned. 

Seventh Round

0/41 players are unsigned. 

17/257 players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft are unsigned. 

Somehow, it’s the players selected at the top of the third and fourth rounds that make up the bulk of the unsigned picks. 

Minnesota Minicamp

The Minnesota Vikings will gather at spectacular TCO Performance for three days of mandatory minicamp. It remains to be seen whether it goes for the entire three days. What should be the on-field highlight of the offseason practices has recently become something of a trifle around the league. Teams often cut it short. Others, the San Francisco 49ers to name one, cancel the practices before they even start. Whether it goes the full three days, or not, the Vikings will be on those spectacular practice fields today. We’ll see what tomorrow brings tomorrow. For the last practices before the football gets real at training camp, here are some of the competitions and players that I’m most excited to see.

1. The Quarterbacks

It always starts with the quarterbacks. I wish the focus of the J.J. McCarthy-Kyler Murray competition was only on their respective play on the field. Instead of the football, the media is more focused on grade school gossip. Whether the two quarterbacks stretch together is apparently more important than their comfort in Kevin O’Connell’s offense. It’s pathetic. Football competition is fun. Whether the two quarterbacks share a table for lunch isn’t. This could be one of the most fun and intriguing position competitions in recent Vikings history and the members of the media are pushing for a soap opera. 

J.J. McCarthy vs Kyler Murray. I believe that either quarterback could lead the Vikings to the playoffs. I also believe that either could lead the Vikings to the long-sought playoff win, maybe a few playoff wins. Whoever wins the job will be surrounded by a load of playmaking talent. As much as I like McCarthy, I believe that Murray’s experience will be the difference in the competition. Even if McCarthy is the backup, he better keep ready. Murray has only played every game in two of his seven seasons in the league. 

2. Dillon Bell

The Vikings have often found production recently from undrafted players. They’ve had to as there hasn’t been near enough production from the drafted players. Hopefully, that’s a thing of the past. Dillon Bell is the undrafted player this year that intrigues me the most. He didn’t produce at Georgia to the level that his natural talent would suggest. Still, everything about him intrigues. He’s flashed so far this spring. He must build on that in this minicamp and through training camp. In Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, the Vikings have the best receiver duo in the league. When Jauan Jennings was signed after the draft, it turned the top duo in the league into the top trio. 2025 third-round pick Tai Felton would seem to have an edge for #4. Myles Price emerged as an effective returner as a rookie last season. His return ability boosts his roster chances. While Felton and Price are probably the leaders for the remaining receiver roster spots, neither has an unquestioned hold on those spots. Bell has a shot. 

3. Demond Claiborne

Among the Vikings nine drafted rookies, Demond Claiborne might be the one I’m most excited to see. If not for a shaky final season at Wake Forest, he might’ve been a Day 2 pick rather than a sixth-round pick. My excitement for Claiborne is a combination of his electric speed and the expected run schemes introduced by new assistant head coach Frank Smith. Those schemes helped De’Von Achane develop into one of the most exciting backs in the league. In size and speed, Claiborne is quite similar to Achane. Without contact, it’s tough to accurately judge the practice play of running backs. So, I’ll have to contain my excitement until training camp and the preseason games. 

4. Offensive Line

Just stay healthy. Please.

5. Defensive Line

The intrigue surrounding the defensive line in minicamp is more about the combinations of players than anything else. Those combinations unfortunately won’t include first-round pick Caleb Banks as he continues to rehab his broken foot. The Vikings defensive line is going to be a revelation this season.

6. Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins was selected in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft as an interior defensive lineman. After a promising rookie season, he became a player to watch on a young defensive line. After the Vikings traded edge Jonathan Greenard during the 2026 NFL Draft, Ingram-Dawkins was suddenly a player to watch on the edge. He’s been practicing there this spring. Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner are the starters. Depth is a question and Ingram-Dawkins might be the answer. 

7. Charles Demmings

Charles Demmings is chasing Demond Claiborne as the Vikings drafted player I’m most excited to see. At corner, Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers are the established starters. James Pierre was signed this offseason to form a solid top three. I believe that Demmings is the Vikings future at corner. I wouldn’t be surprised if he forced his way into some sort of playing rotation as a rookie. 

8. Will Reichard

I had to include the best kicker in the game.