3 biggest draft busts in Minnesota Vikings history
It’s a franchise that has had its share of Hall of Fame players. The Minnesota Vikings have also had their share of first-round flops.
The NFL franchise in the Twin Cities that resides in the Twin Cities first took the field in 1961. The Minnesota Vikings have had a proud history, the team won an 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. Hence, still no Lombardi Trophy.
In an eight-year span from 1969-76, the Vikings appeared in four Super Bowls. None of them 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’s also interesting to note that the franchise has made a total of 31 postseason appearances, including in 2022. Only four teams have done better and that figure is made even more impressive considering they were not part of the NFL in the early 1930s. Then again, no franchise has lost more playoff games than the Vikings.
There have been many great players including numerous Pro Football Hall of Famers, who have won worn the Purple and Gold. Of course, there have also been some disappointments when it comes to draft picks, as is the case with every franchise.
Biggest NFL Draft busts in Minnesota Vikings history:
3. QB Christian Ponder
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 choice in the 2011 NFL Draft. Eventually, the Tennessee Titans opted for Jake Locker with the seventh pick and the Jacksonville Jaguars grabbed Blaine Gabbert at No. 10.
Two selections later, the Minnesota Vikings surprised some by opting for Florida State’s Christian Ponder. Veteran Brett Favre’s final NFL season came in 2010 and the team was looking for his successor. However, the former Seminole had his struggles.
Talk about irony. In four seasons with the Vikings (2011-14), Ponder played in 38 games and made 36 starts. He finished with 38 TD passes and 36 interceptions. He also fumbled 20 times and lost the ball 11 times. In 2012, he started all 16 games and the team reached the playoffs, however, he was dealing with an elbow issue and Joe Webb started vs. the Packers in the wild-card round.