Griffith was named to the Pro Bowl after the 2000 season and was an All-Pro selection in 1998 and 1999. "I don't want to . The report cards polled 1,300 players, who provided information about their current teams. Bryant always excelled in coverage, and his tape shows his incredible knack for reading the eyes of the quarterback, even while matching receivers step for step. These lists are filled with players who epitomize what it means to be a Viking. The Vikings could lose their top punt gunner in Kris Boyd, which would be a tough loss for a team that created plenty of mishaps on special teams the past few years. Studwell showed an elite football mind, dissecting offenses by diagnosing plays early. As Meirov noted, the team can save roughly $50 million in cap space by moving running back Dalvin . Listed below are the top ten best Minnesota Vikings players of all time. On other plays, they need to display elite coverage skills to stop the pass. The eight categories included: treatment of families, nutrition, weight room, strength staff, training room, locker room,andtravel. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. EAGAN, Minn. Led by Harrison Smith, the Vikings safeties made an impact throughout the 2018 season. After his retirement in 1981, Page began a career in law and was elected to the Minnesota Supreme Court. Copyright 2017-2023 Rookie Road Inc. All rights reserved. Knud's North Sea Empire, including Denmark . Most of all, these three linebackers work well together because of their game intelligence. Part one of the Greatest Minnesota Vikings of All Time focuses on the offense. 11 on all-time list), 57 pass deflections and 31 forced fumbles Scott Boehm/Associated Press 3 / 31 29. Ray Lewis was the star of the great Ravens defense. Its early in his career, but its worth keeping an eye on current Vikings safety Harrison Smith. NFL teams were graded on eight categories with a grading range of F to A+. While he managed 19 interceptions over his career, his ferocious tackling made him a vital component of one of the greatest defenses in NFL history. Known for his strength and endurance, Yary is widely considered the Vikings greatest defensive tackle of all time. Table of Contents Who are the Best NFL Safeties of All Time? Became the first defensive player to receive the NFL's MVP award. He also recovered 10 fumbles and returned two of them for touchdowns. Browner was later named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Team of the '80s. Who are the best Minnesota Vikings football players of all time? The Vikings ended up falling just short in the Week 9 contest, but Bynum's big play helped give them a chance. Some have been ball hawks, while others have been huge hitters. (Photo By JUDY GRIESEDIECK/Star Tribune via Getty Images) Orlando Thomas and Robert Griffith, (Photo By Jerry Holt/Star Tribune via Getty Images) Harrison Smith and Andrew Sendejo. Bush could be a solid replacement on the market. Despite his questionable judgment off the field, Petersons skill as a running back is undeniable. The Minnesota Vikings were the valedictorians of the survey, finishing first among all 32 NFL franchises. Bynum filled in admirably when Smith who disclosed earlier in the year he was unvaccinated tested positive for coronavirus. Those are true Vikings. According to On3 Sports' Matt Zenitz, the Vikings are hiring Colorado's defensive tackles coach Patrick Hill to be their new assistant defensive line coach. Not going with the Purple People Eaters as a whole felt wrong. 3 spot on this list of greatest Vikings safeties. The report card mentioned that all players felt like owner . Bush has 17 tackles over the last two seasons on special teams. But, this time Im ranking best safety duos in Vikings history. For years, the Purple People Eaters, the nickname for the Vikings defensive line, were one of the most intimidating in the league. Please rank the players based only on their time with the Vikings, The Best Quarterbacks to Never Win a Super Bowl, The Best Notre Dame Football Players of All Time. The Minnesota Vikings' defense could be different at all levels in 2023, depending on how radical they decide to be when it comes to personnel changes. NFL Best Safeties in the NFL 2022: Derwin James, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Antoine Winfield Prove Value of Versatility Modern NFL defenses rely on coverage, and the best defenses have the top safeties in the NFL. By the time his nine seasons in purple were over, he had racked up some serious statistics. The crash left him paralyzed from the waist down, ending a stellar career. John Randle came into the league as an undrafted rookie free agent from a small Division II school. Sammy Baugh 2. He rose to the occasion with grace, demonstrating determination and discipline over his 12 seasons. To shed light on his all-around game, Browner led the Vikings in nine defensive categories during his career. Brian Bahr/Allsport. In the words of Vikings' head coaching legend Bud Grant, "Paul personified the term free safety.". In 1997 he led the NFL with 15.5 sacks, and a year later signed a $32.5 million dollar contract with the Vikings, the largest contract for a defensive lineman up to that point. Ed Reed 2. Francisco Bustamante carom off three rails to hide, against Thorsten Hohmann [8:00]: https://youtu.be/uJ-ixqSywDc?t=6148. The Vikings weight room was built in 2018 and received glowing reviews. The goal: assemble the scariest, most talented roster from Vikings historya group that promises to make the crowd roar without allowing a score. The safety is the last line of your team's defense, but elite talents are capable of making big plays on pass rush duties, too. The team's first-round draft choice in 1983, he came from USC to the NFL and quickly established. View the best safety photos from the 2021 season shot by Vikings photographers. Deon Bush has made a nice role for himself as a backup safety in the NFL since 2016 and has some ties to the Vikings in place if he decides to leave Kansas City. 4) Larry Wilson He revolutionized the "safety blitz" that we see in every game today and finished his career with a whopping 52 interceptions. While individual stats don't hold as much weight if the Vikings didn't accomplish a team win, it's tough to deny the performance Woods had against the Cowboys in Week 8. 7. He was known as much for his consistency as his stature and grit. For his longevity and his record-breaking thievery, Paul Krause barely slips past Joey Browner as the best safety in Minnesota Vikings history. Smith, the Vikings' second first-round pick of the 2012 draft, helped turn an abysmal secondary into a respectable NFL unit in his first year. Williams is vastly underrated and is simply one of the NFL's top free safeties right now. Blitzers, nickel defenders, single-high, or the classic cover 2 shell Flores needs a diversity of skill sets and depth at safety to make his scheme work. Over the next several seasons, even as the Vikings struggled to find their footing, Tarkenton continued to prove his merit. Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onMinnesota Vikings and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. Eller is credited with the most sacks in Viking history, and, despite his 66 247 lb frame, possessed surprising speed and agility. Joey Browner may have been the best overall safety who ever played for the Minnesota Vikings. Yes, he has some big-time competition in both Paul Krause and Joey Browner, but the consistency and. All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. Another name to monitor who shares that familiarity is Adrian Amos if he has a smaller price tag and is open to continuing his journey in the NFC North after stops in Green Bay and Chicago. In this defense, based heavily off pass rush, intelligent corners with good press ability will wipe out quick passes and stop outside runsWinfield fits that description. Sean Taylor 6. He played this position immaculately but was also so versatile a player that he was utilized in unconventional ways. That won't be happening here. The Vikings enter March way over the salary cap. Albin Ouschan 3-rail bank hide, against China team [1:30]: https://youtu.be/xi2KtnHkp8k?t=613. Art Monk 5. Also among the position group were 2020 additions Josh Metellus (sixth round) and Myles Dorn (undrafted). For his intense field presence, his contributions to some of the best defenses in history and his longevity with the club, Karl Kassulke moves past Orlando Thomas into the No. Over his fourteen-season career, he had a 202-game starting streak, was selected for the Pro Bowl twelve consecutive times, and was nominated to the 1990s All-Decade Team. Tingelhoff passed away in 2021 at the age of 81, and his dedication, skill, leadership, and stellar function as a teammate are his legacy. EAGAN, Minn. The Vikings combined a mixture of veteran experience and youth at the safety position in 2021. Certain players, such as Mike Morris and Scott Studwell, would have fit perfectly in that era. He went on to snag 53 more as a member of the Vikings, setting an all-time NFL record of 81. After combing through Minnesotas starters for each year, here are the franchises top 10 safety duos of all-time. Of course there was a number of other players considered, but no one popped on the film quite like Barr. Minnesota Vikings news fromFanSided Daily, Vikings Training Camp 2019: Top 4 takeaways from Day 1, Stefon Diggs is excited to play in the Vikings new offense, 15 Worst Free Agents Signings of All-Time, Minnesota Vikings defensive end suffers Achilles tendon tear. He was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998. Cousins is a player who typically looks for a shorter deal in extension talks, favoring two to three year contracts with plenty of money guaranteed. The survey . Other players, particularlyAdrian Peterson, would have been fun in any era. He was named to the Pro Bowl six times in Minnesota and was a first-team All-Pro selection in 1975, when he picked off 12 passes. He was eventually cut from the Eagles after failing several drug tests. Few players wanted to continue playing after taking a Browner hit. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. Antoine Winfield Jr. wasted no time making a name for himself as one of the best young safeties in the league. Players felt the training staff went above and beyond to help them. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. For his physical and mental contributions to the Vikings during his rookie year, Harrison Smith receives Honorable Mention on the list of the greatest Vikings safeties of all time. A slight edge was given to those duos that played together the longest. Doleman is the perfect cap stone of this four-piece pass rushing nightmare. 1 / 100 Minnesota Vikings 2 / 100. Sendejos contract option was $5.4 million in 2019 and it ended up being a price too high for the Vikings as Harris looked more than capable in his nine starts last year. February 28, 2023. Just like part one, this roster will be both awesome and arguable, and I await your comments (@eddiechisham). The Vikings have drafted well over the years. 2023 Minnesota Vikings Football, LLC , All Rights Reserved. It also called Kevin OConnell one of the most player-friendly coaches., The overview finished saying that the Vikings are a shining example of what is possible when a concerted investment is made in both staffing and facilities.. 9. Paul Krause was the original ball hawk of the Minnesota Vikings. 5 spot on the list of greatest safeties in Minnesota Vikings history. Currently, the team is roughly $24 million over . At the time of his retirement, he ranked third and fourth in NFL history with 982 receptions for 15,292 yards and 156 touchdowns. When it comes to the greatest Vikings quarterback, Fran Tarkenton tops just about every list.He is considered the best quarterback the franchise has ever seen, and he led the team to three Super Bowls during his latter seven years with them. Following two stints and ten seasons with the Panthers, Julius Peppers is without question the franchise's best defensive player ever. The Vikings offer a steam room and sauna, which 100% of players said were big enough. Both types are represented on this list. Over the course of his tenure, Thomas intercepted 22 passes, which is good for seventh place on the team's all-time list. 22 firstmainly because of his longevity and his interception record. 2. Krause not only tops the Vikings franchise record for career interceptions with 53, but he also owns the NFL record with 81 career picks. Acquired by Minnesota prior to training camp, he stepped right in for the Vikings. He made the Pro Bowl following the 1970 season. All-Time list ), 57 pass deflections and 31 forced fumbles Scott Boehm/Associated Press 3 / 31.. Occasion with grace, demonstrating determination and discipline over his 12 seasons film quite like Barr such as Morris! 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