The Minnesota Vikings‘ history of first-round NFL Draft picks is a track record that touches both extremes. At one point, the Vikings traded three first-round picks for a running back who’d play less than three years with the team. But Minnesota’s scores of high-quality picks help compensate for the team’s less inspiring moments.

Minnesota Vikings First-Round Draft Picks Throughout History

As it stands, the Vikings have used six first-round picks on players who’ve gone on to become Hall of Famers. Within the franchise’s first nine drafts, the team selected Hall of Famers Carl Eller, Alan Page, and Ron Yary. Later on, Minnesota would add Chris Doleman, Randall McDaniel, and Randy Moss to that esteemed group.

Even in modern history, the Vikings have sustained their level of success in the NFL Draft. First-round picks such as Kevin Williams, Adrian Peterson, Harrison Smith, and Cordarrelle Patterson (as a return specialist) could all field Hall of Fame consideration in the future. Minnesota’s also drafted high-level talents like Xavier Rhodes and Anthony Barr, and early in his career, Justin Jefferson is already on a Hall of Fame trajectory.

2023

• Jordan Addison | Pick 23
  WR, USC

2022

• Lewis Cine | Pick 32
  S, Georgia

2021

• Christian Darrisaw | Pick 23
  OT, Virginia Tech

2020

• Justin Jefferson | Pick 22
  WR, LSU
• Jeff Gladney | Pick 31
  CB, TCU

2019

• Garrett Bradbury | Pick 18
  C, North Carolina State

2018

• Mike Hughes | Pick 30
  CB, Central Florida

2017

The Vikings traded the 14th pick to the Philadelphia Eagles.

2016

• Laquon Treadwell | Pick 23
  WR, Mississippi

2015

• Trae Waynes | Pick 11
  CB, Michigan State

2014

• Anthony Barr | Pick 9
  LB, UCLA
• Teddy Bridgewater | Pick 32
  QB, Louisville

2013

• Sharrif Floyd | Pick 23
  DT, Florida
• Xavier Rhodes | Pick 25
  DB, Florida State
• Cordarrelle Patterson | Pick 29
  WR, Tennessee

2012

• Matt Kalil | Pick 4
  OT, USC
• Harrison Smith | Pick 29
  DB, Notre Dame

2011

• Christian Ponder | Pick 12
  QB, Florida State

2010

The Vikings traded the 30th pick to the Detroit Lions.

2009

• Percy Harvin | Pick 22
  WR, Florida

2008

The Vikings traded the 17th pick to the Kansas City Chiefs.

2007

• Adrian Peterson | Pick 7
  RB, Oklahoma

2006

• Chad Greenway | Pick 17
  LB, Iowa

2005

• Troy Williamson | Pick 7
  WR, South Carolina
• Erasmus James | Pick 18
  DE, Wisconsin

2004

• Kenechi Udeze | Pick 20
  DE, USC

2003

• Kevin Williams | Pick 9
  DT, Oklahoma State

2002

• Bryant McKinnie | Pick 7
  OT, Miami (FL)

2001

• Michael Bennett | Pick 27
  RB, Wisconsin

2000

• Chris Hovan | Pick 25
  DT, Boston College

1999

• Daunte Culpepper | Pick 11
  QB, Central Florida
• Dimitrius Underwood | Pick 29
  DT, Michigan State

1998

• Randy Moss* | Pick 21
  WR, Marshall

1997

• Dwayne Rudd | Pick 20
  LB, Alabama

1996

• Duane Clemons | Pick 16
  DE, California

1995

• Derrick Alexander | Pick 11
  DE, Florida State
• Korey Stringer | Pick 24
  OT, Ohio State

1994

• Dewayne Washington | Pick 18
  DB, North Carolina State
• Todd Steussie | Pick 19
  OT, California

1993

• Robert Smith | Pick 21
  RB, Ohio State

1992

The Vikings traded the 13th pick to the Dallas Cowboys as part of the Herschel Walker trade.

1991

The Vikings traded the 11th pick to the Cowboys as part of the Walker trade.

1990

The Vikings traded the 21st pick to the Cowboys as part of the Walker trade.

1989

The Vikings traded the 24th pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

1988

• Randall McDaniel* | Pick 19
  G, Arizona State

1987

• D.J. Dozier | Pick 14
  RB, Penn State

1986

• Gerald Robinson | Pick 14
  DE, Auburn

1985

• Chris Doleman* | Pick 4
  DE, Pittsburgh

1984

• Keith Millard | Pick 13
  DT, Washington State

1983

• Joey Browner | Pick 19
  DB, USC

1982

• Darrin Nelson | Pick 7
  RB, Stanford

1981

The Vikings traded the 18th pick to the Baltimore Colts.

1980

• Doug Martin | Pick 9
  DE, Washington

1979

• Ted Brown | Pick 16
  RB, North Carolina State

1978

• Randy Holloway | Pick 21
  DE, Pittsburgh

1977

• Tommy Kramer | Pick 27
  QB, Rice

1976

• James White | Pick 25
  DT, Oklahoma State

1975

• Mark Mullaney | Pick 25
  DE, Colorado State

1974

• Fred McNeill | Pick 17
  LB, UCLA
• Steve Riley | Pick 25
  OT, USC

1973

• Chuck Foreman | Pick 12
  RB, Miami (FL)

1972

• Jeff Siemon | Pick 10
  LB, Stanford

1971

• Leo Hayden | Pick 24
  RB, Ohio State

1970

• John Ward | Pick 25
  G, Oklahoma State

1969

The Vikings traded the 17th pick to the New Orleans Saints.

1968

• Ron Yary* | Pick 1
  OT, USC

1967

• Clint Jones | Pick 2
  RB, Michigan State
• Gene Washington | Pick 8
  WR, Michigan State
• Alan Page* | Pick 15
  DT, Notre Dame

1966

• Jerry Shay | Pick 7
  DT, Purdue

1965

• Jack Snow | Pick 8
  WR, Notre Dame

1964

• Carl Eller* | Pick 6
  DE, Minnesota

1963

• Jim Dunaway | Pick 3
  DT, Mississippi

1962

The Vikings traded the second pick to the New York Giants.

1961

• Tommy Mason | Pick 1
  RB, Tulane

*Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame