The 3 biggest draft busts in Minnesota Vikings history

GREEN BAY – OCTOBER 02: Minnesota Vikings v Green Bay Packers (Photo by Tom Dahlin/Getty Images)

It’s a franchise that has its share of Hall of Fame players. The Minnesota Vikings have had their share of first round flops.

The first NFL franchise in the Twin Cities took the field in 1961. The Minnesota Vikings have a proud history, the team won the NFL title in 1969 and advanced to Super Bowl IV. However, the AFL’s Kansas City Chiefs walloped Bud Grant’s club 23-7 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans. So still no Lombardi trophy.

During an eight-year stretch from 1969-76, the Vikings appeared in four Super Bowls. None of that went well for the club. In fact, in each of those losses to the Chiefs (IV), Dolphins (VIII), Steelers (IX) and Raiders (XK), Minnesota failed to score a point in the first half.

It is noteworthy that the franchise played a total of 31 regular season games. Including in 2022. Only four teams are better, and that figure is even more impressive considering they weren’t part of the NFL in the early 1930s. Then again, no franchise. They have lost more playoff games than the Vikings.

There were many great players, including several Pro Football Hall of Famers who won the Purple and Gold. Of course, as with every franchise, there were some disappointments when it came to draft picks.

Biggest NFL Draft Showdown in Minnesota Vikings History:

3. QB Christian thought

It was a year in which four quarterbacks were selected in the first 12 picks. The Carolina Panthers made Auburn’s Cam Newton the first overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. Finally, the Tennessee Titans selected Jake Locker with the seventh pick and the Jacksonville Jaguars took Blaine Gabbert with the 10th pick.

After two picks, the Minnesota Vikings surprised some by selecting Florida State’s Christian Ponder. Patriots Brett Favre’s final NFL season came in 2010 and the team was looking for a replacement. However, the former Seminole had his struggles.

Talk about ridiculous. In four seasons with the Vikings (2011-14), Ponder played in 38 games and made 36 tackles. He finished with 38 TD passes and 36 interceptions. He also fumbled the ball 11 times 20 times. In the year He started all 16 games in 2012 and the team reached the playoffs, but that was it. Dealing with elbow issues And Joe Webb starts with the Packers in the wild-card round.