The Best Vikings Draft Classes - According to AI
So in the doldrums of spring/summer I was poking in my AI and asked, what are the best Vikings draft classes of all time, and here are the results...according to AI:
🟣 Summary Table — Best Vikings Draft Classes
Rank | Draft Class | Hall of Famers | Why It’s Great |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1967 | Page, Eller | Built the Purple People Eaters |
2 | 1998 | Moss | Transformed the offense |
3 | 2007 | Peterson | Franchise cornerstone |
4 | 2015 | (future HOFers likely) | Hunter, Kendricks, Diggs |
5 | 1961 | Tarkenton | First franchise QB |
6 | 2012 | Smith | Defensive foundation |
7 | 1985 | Doleman | Elite pass rusher |
I grabbed the top 3 descriptions:
🟣 1. The 1967 Draft — The Purple People Eaters Core
This is the gold standard.
Minnesota didn’t just draft good players — they drafted identity.
Key Picks
Alan Page (Round 1) — Hall of Famer, NFL MVP (as a defensive tackle!)
Carl Eller (Round 1) — Hall of Famer, 6× Pro Bowler
Bob Grim (Round 2) — Solid WR, long NFL career
Why it’s legendary
This class formed the backbone of the Purple People Eaters, the most iconic defense in franchise history. Page and Eller alone make this a top‑tier class.
🟣 2. The 1998 Draft — The Randy Moss Draft
Key Picks
Randy Moss (Round 1) — Hall of Famer, changed the NFL
Matt Birk (Round 6) — 6× Pro Bowler, long‑term anchor at center
Why it’s legendary
Drafting Moss at 21 overall was highway robbery.
He instantly turned the Vikings into the most explosive offense in the league and helped produce the 15–1 season. Birk in the sixth round is one of the best value picks in team history.
🟣 3. The 2007 Draft — The Adrian Peterson Draft
Key Picks
Adrian Peterson (Round 1) — Hall of Fame lock, MVP, face of the franchise
Sidney Rice (Round 2) — Pro Bowl WR
Brian Robison (Round 4) — 11‑year starter, fan favorite
Why it’s legendary
AP alone makes this class elite. Add Rice and Robison, and you’ve got a foundational offensive and defensive group for nearly a decade.
Rigby wrote:
Eller was drafted in 1964.
Good point I missed that in the AI, I think the 2nd pick in 67 was Gene Washington and they had 3 picks that year in the 1st round maybe? It was before my time...AI letting us down already.
So did AI really send the following picture results:
AP's mug shot - probably not the image you would want to showcase when talking about best drafts of all time
McCarthy - isn't it a little early to group McCarthy into this discussion?
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