Let’s Debate! Again
By:Ross Blilie
04-09-2023
Happy Easter to all my readers! I hope you are enjoying spending the day with your family and or friends. Today we are supposed to celebrate Jesus Christ coming back from death to serve as the ultimate one who judges us in the afterlife.
In recent years we have spent the day with my family, but this year we are spending it with my in-laws. I digress. With that in mind, let's talk about pro football. Today, I was thinking about the worst choices that GM's have made in Minnesota Vikings franchise history.
One of the worst choices I believe a GM has made in recent years is selecting Christian Ponder. He was supposed to be the next one to take the Vikings to the playoffs, but he was terrible. If Adrian Peterson wasn't there, there would be no way the Vikings would have had a shot at winning double digit games Ponder's first season. Also, I believe it was the team's defense that helped out the terrible offense.
Another terrible choice that was made by a recent GM was Jeff Gladney. He was drafted out of TCU in 2020 and was supposed to be a starting corner. However, he was arrested on felony domestic violence charges and ultimately released.
A quick search on google reveals from bleacherreport.com that there are at least ten players that have been considered the worst choices in franchise history. Let's see if you agree with their list.
Dimitrius Underwood-Defensive End-1999-pick 29.
According to Mike Nelson's article from April 11, 2012, Underwood was THE worst Vikings draftee in team history because before he was drafted he sat out his senior year at Michigan State. No one knew why he sat out, but the Vikings only looked at his physical attributes: 6'6" and 275 lbs. He attended the first day of training camp then walked off the field, and didn't tell anybody. Personally, I don't remember that, but I certainly can see why he is one of the worst, if not the worst in Vikings franchise history.
Clint Jones-Running Back-1967-pick number 2.
According to Nelson, Jones' career stats include 2,008 rushing yards and twenty-seven starts in seventy-five games. He was a terrible choice for a top five pick in the late 60's. Nelson says the Vikings could have picked Floyd Little who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but opted for Jones instead.
Troy Williamson-Wide Receiver-2007-pick 7.
Troy Williamson out of South Carolina was supposed to replace Randy Moss. He was super fast, but he couldn't catch the football. In three seasons with the Vikings, he had seventy-nine catches for 1,064 yards and three touchdowns; terrible. He was traded to Jacksonville, but never amounted to anything.
Darrin Nelson-Running back-1982-pick 7.
Nelson wrote that Darrin Nelson made his list in this spot because the Vikings had a shot at taking Marcus Allen in the same spot in the same draft. Marcus Allen, as you know, was drafted by the Raiders and went on to not only make it to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but have stellar career statistics. 12,000 yards rushing, 123 rushing touchdowns, 21 receiving touchdowns and 5,000 receiving yards. Darrin Nelson was not even close to Marcus Allen's numbers. That's why he's listed at the fourth worst draft choice in Vikings franchise history.
Gerald Robinson-Defensive End-1986-pick number 14.
Robinson was drafted in 1986 in order to generate a better pass rush. However, he didn't amount to much on the team. He only played in sixteen games and had one tackle; that's pretty bad. There isn't much else to elaborate on with that.
DJ Dozier-Running back-1987-pick number 14.
Tavaris Jackson-2006-pick number 64
Derrick Alexander-1995-pick number 14
Erasmus JamesDefensive End-2005-pick number 18
Tyrell Johnson-Safety-2008-pick 43.
This is the top ten list according to Mike Nelson in 2012. Do you agree with his list? Do you agree with the players that I added too? Let me know in the comments.
Ross Blilie is an avid NFL fan of the Minnesota Vikings since the 1990’s. He loves to talk about the NFL and the Vikings every chance he gets. His hobbies also include bowling with his wife and friends, narrating audiobooks, fishing, and even sitting by a campfire with family at Lake Blackduck in Minnesota. You can find Ross on twitter & Instagram @Rossthenarrator.
