Top 10 Minnesota Vikings QB Draft Picks of All-Time
The Minnesota Vikings have been in existence since 1961. During their storied (non-Super Bowl) history, they’ve drafted countless quarterbacks, including several in the first round, though never in the top 10… yet.
Out of all those QBs, who stands out as the best quarterback the Vikings have ever drafted? That’s a wonderful question, and one we are about to answer for you. Warning though… this list may not make you smile.
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10. Steve Bono – 1985 (UCLA) | 6th Round – Pick 142
No. There’s no relation to the famous U2 singer Bono. This is the 142nd overall pick in the 1985 NFL Draft, who only ever attempted 11 passes as a Viking in his two seasons in Minnesota. Bono didn’t do anything in purple and gold, but he did become a one-time Pro Bowl QB with the Chiefs in 1995.
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9. Christian Ponder – 2011 (Florida State) | 1st Rd – Pick 12
This is not a drill or some sick joke, Vikings fans. Yes, Christian Ponder really does crack the top ten best Minnesota Vikings quarterback draft picks of all time. But as you’ll soon find out, it’s a low bar. While Ponder only played in 38 games during his NFL career (all with the Vikings), he did still lead a 10-6 season while having 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 2012.
9. Bob Lee – 1968 (UCLA) | 17th Round – Pick 441
It’s okay if you’ve never heard of Vikings QB Bob Lee. He was a 17th-round draft pick in 1968, but he did spend eight seasons with the team. He only started 11 games, but Lee boasted a 9-2 record in that short stretch, even starting and winning a Divisional Round playoff game in 1977. For the 441st overall pick, that’s one heck of an NFL career.
7. Tarvaris Jackson – 2006 (Alabama State) | 2nd Round – Pick 64
The late Tarvaris Jackson became a surprise selection as the 64th overall pick, the final spot in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. By just his second season, Jackson already ascended to QB1 status and led the team to an 8-4 record. Jackson ended his Vikings career with a 10-10 record as a starter, scoring a total of 28 touchdowns with 22 interceptions.
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6. Wade Wilson – 1981 (Texas A&M Commerce) | 8th Round – Pick 210
As an eighth-round pick in 1981, it’s safe to say Wade Wilson is one of the best Vikings quarterback draft picks in team history. Not only did he spend 10 seasons in Minnesota, where he started 48 games, he also became a Pro Bowl selection in 1988. Finishing his Vikings career with a 27-21 record, Wilson was an excellent draft pick for Bud Grant’s team.
5. Teddy Bridgewater – 2014 (Louisville) | 1st Round – Pick 32
Teddy B! The final pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Teddy Bridgewater instantly became a fan favorite in Minnesota. A devastating knee injury undoubtedly impacted his Vikings career, but ‘Teddy Two Gloves’ did have one magnificent season, leading the 2015 Vikes to an 11-5 record, reaching Pro Bowl status. He finished his Vikings career with a 17-11 record, with 32 total touchdowns and 22 interceptions.
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4. Brad Johnson – 1992 (Florida State) | 9th Round – Pick 227
Amazingly, Brad Johnson was a ninth-round pick in the 1992 NFL Draft. A total of 226 players were selected ahead of him, making him the equivalent of roughly an early seventh-round pick today. Johnson later won a Super Bowl and was named to two Pro Bowl teams, but he didn’t accomplish any of that in a Vikings jersey. Johnson did however lead a 28-18 record as a starter in Minnesota, passing for 65 touchdowns and 48 interceptions. He’s one of the best Vikings QB draft picks in team history.
3. Tommy Kramer – 1977 (Rice) | 1st Round – Pick 27
Tommy Kramer is the first quarterback the Vikings ever selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, doing so in 1977. The 27th pick more than lived up to his draft status, playing 13 of his 14 NFL seasons in Minnesota, where he had a 54-56 season. With a career TD:INT ratio of 167:158, Kramer did quite well with the Vikings, becoming a Pro Bowl player, and a second-team All-Pro selection in 1986.
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2. Daunte Culpepper – 1999 (UCF) | 1st Round – Pick 11
The Vikings have never drafted a quarterback higher than Daunte Culpepper, the 11th pick in the 1999 NFL Draft. Culpepper sat for a season, but by year two, he was already leading the fifth-highest scoring offense in the NFL while leading an 11-5 record. Like Bridgewater, Culpepper also suffered a season-ending knee injury that greatly impacted his career. Still, Culpepper had a 38-42 record, had 135 passing touchdowns and 86 interceptions. He also became a three-time Pro Bowl QB and finished second in Offensive Player of the Year voting in 2004 after leading the NFL with 4,717 passing yards.
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1. Fran Tarkenton – 1961 (Georgia) | 3rd Round – Pick 29
There isn’t a better Vikings QB draft pick than scramblin’ Fran Tarkenton. The 29th overall selection in the 1961 NFL Draft was technically a third-round pick, but Fran is easily the greatest quarterback in franchise history, leading them to three Super Bowl appearances, a 91-73-6 record and a 261 touchdown to 194 interceptions ratio.
Tarkenton made four Pro Bowls, and had he not been traded away for five of his prime years (played from age 27 to 31 with the New York Giants), there’s probably no Super Bowl curse to break in 2024. Tarkenton is the only quarterback the Vikings have drafted, who has gone on to win MVP. In 1986, Fran was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame as one of the greatest QBs in league history, to that time.
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