The Minnesota Vikings, an iconic team in the NFL, have seen some of the league's finest wide receivers in their ranks. This article showcases the standout wide receivers who have worn the purple and gold jersey, leaving their mark with remarkable catches, touchdowns, and unforgettable moments.

Cris Carter

Cris Carter stands as a legendary figure in Vikings lore. Over a career spanning 188 games from 1990 to 2001, Carter hauled in 1004 receptions from 1498 targets, amassing 12383 yards and 110 touchdowns. His consistency and ability to perform in clutch situations earned him a prominent place in NFL history.

Randy Moss

Randy Moss, known for his explosive playmaking ability, transformed the Vikings' offense during his tenure. Moss played 113 games, capturing 587 receptions on 1012 targets, totaling 9316 yards. His 92 touchdowns and a remarkable average of 15.9 yards per reception reflect his game-changing capabilities.

Anthony Carter

Anthony Carter contributed significantly to the Vikings during the late 80s and early 90s. In 133 games, he made 478 receptions for 7636 yards and 52 touchdowns, providing reliable hands and deep-threat ability.

Adam Thielen

Adam Thielen, a former Vikings and now Panthers star, has continued the legacy of excellent Vikings receivers. From 2014 to 2022, Thielen caught 534 passes on 776 targets, racking up 6682 yards and 55 touchdowns. His catch percentage of 68.8% illustrates his reliability as a receiver.

Jake Reed

Another key player, Jake Reed, played 134 games for the Vikings between 1991 and 2001. He managed 413 receptions for 6433 yards and 33 touchdowns. He is known for his steady performance and catching ability.

Sammy White

Sammy White shone during the late 70s and mid-80s, with 393 receptions for 6400 yards and 50 touchdowns in 128 games. His average of 16.3 yards per reception highlights his effectiveness in gaining substantial yardage.

Steve Jordan

Although primarily a tight end, Steve Jordan's receiving skills warrant inclusion. Over 176 games, Jordan caught 498 passes for 6307 yards and 28 touchdowns, showcasing versatility and consistent performance.

Justin Jefferson

Justin Jefferson, the latest and current star for the Vikings, has made a significant impact since 2020. In just 60 games, he has 392 receptions for 5899 yards and 30 touchdowns. His explosive play and ability to make big catches have quickly made him a fan favorite.

Ahmad Rashad

Ahmad Rashad, who played from 1976 to 1982, made 400 receptions for 5489 yards and 34 touchdowns in 98 games. His reliable hands and route-running skills made him a key component of the Vikings' offense.

Stefon Diggs

Stefon Diggs, known for his sharp route running and agility, played 70 games with the Vikings from 2015 to 2019. He caught 365 passes for 4623 yards and 30 touchdowns, leaving a lasting mark with his dynamic play.

Conclusion

The Minnesota Vikings have had the privilege of featuring some of the NFL's most skilled wide receivers. These athletes have not only made a significant impact on the team but have also delivered memorable performances that have shaped careers and seasons. Their achievements continue to inspire future players and fans, cementing the Vikings' legacy as a franchise with a storied history of exceptional wide receivers.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the top 50 of each major North American sports team. That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists and consistently look to update them when necessary and based on necessity. As such, we are delighted to present our post-2023 revision of our top 50 Minnesota Vikings.

As for all of our top 50 players in football, we look at the following:

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in the National Football League.

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

4.  Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles that are not reflected in a stat sheet.

Last year, Minnesota had a losing record (7-10) but still saw some fluctuation in our Top 50 with one new entrant and three elevations.

As always, we present our top five, which saw no changes:

1. Alan Page
2. Fran Tarkenton
3. Randall McDaniel
4. Carl Eller
5. Mick Tinglehoff

You can find the entire list here.

Safety Harrison Smith inched up one spot to #28.

Defensive End Danielle Hunter, now with the Houston Texans, moved to #30 from #36.

Now, with the Atlanta Falcons, Quarterback Kirk Cousins has moved from #38 to #43.

The lone new entrant is former Offensive Player of the Year, Wide Receiver Justin Jefferson.  He debuts at #46.

We thank you for your continued support of our lists on Notinhalloffame.com.

When you are a franchise that once had Randy Moss in his prime, you never expect to get a Wide Receiver of that caliber again.  They might have done that with Justin Jefferson.

Jefferson played for LSU on their 2019 National Championship Team, and he impressed the Tigers enough that Minnesota used their 2020 1st Round Pick (22nd Overall) to grab him. He showed immediately why he belonged in the NFL.  Jefferson’s elite speed, superb route-running, and exceptional hands made him a Defensive Back’s nightmare.  Unafraid of contact, Jefferson had 1,400 Yards as a rookie and 1,616 as a sophomore, and in 2022, he led the league in Receptions (128) and Receiving Yards (1,809) and was the Offensive Player of the Year.

2023 gave Jefferson his first test of adversity, facing a hamstring injury that cost him seven games, but he begins 2024 looking to reclaim the WR1 of the National Football League.

Vastly underappreciated throughout his 14-year career in the NFL, Henry Thomas is best known for the first half of his career with the Minnesota Vikings, the team that drafted him in 1987.

Thomas was an All-Rookie at Defensive Tackle, and was equally adept at stopping the run as well as rushing the passer.  Thomas was the league leader in Forced Fumbles (4) in 1988 and had back-to-back Pro Bowls in 1991 & 1992 with a Second Team All-Pro in 1993.

Thomas signed with Detroit in 1995 where he had his first double-digit year in Sacks (10.5).  After another year in Detroit, Thomas closed his career with four seasons in New England.  Statistically, Thomas compiled 1,006 Tackles and 93.5 Sacks, a numerical showcase of his versatility and balanced defensive skills.

Ed White was a consensus All-American at the University of California and split his 17-year professional career in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings and San Diego Chargers.

White was a part of many successful Vikings teams that competed for their multiple Super Bowl attempts, and he was a large part of the protection of Fran Tarkenton and other offensive weapons.  The Guard was traded to San Diego, and helped protect another Hall of Fame Quarterback in Dan Fouts, and overall was rewarded with four Pro Bowls.

White played in 241 Games, and is one of the most tenured Offensive Lineman in NFL history.

One of the most successful Cornerbacks in Ohio State history, Antoine Winfield was an All-American who won both the Jim Thorpe Award and Jack Tatum Trophy in 1998, which propelled him to a First Round Pick where he landed in nearby Buffalo.

The Bills used him as the third Corner as a rookie, but he was a starter thereafter and showcased his elite tackling and man-to-man coverage skills over the next four seasons.  Winfield started as a Bill, but it was in Minnesota purple that he became a star.  He signed with the Vikings in 2004, where he his versatility shone through.

Winfield was a Viking from 2004 to 2012, where he had 21 of his 27 Interceptions.  He also had a three-year run of Pro Bowls (2008-10), which included a Second-Team All-Pro in 2008. He had always been a physical player, but in the late 2000s, he finally got his due.

Winfield retired after the 2012 Season with 1,054 Tackles and an imprint on everyone he delivered them to.

A Second Round Pick from Notre Dame in 2011, Tight End, Kyle Rudolph was one of the most consistent figures for the Minnesota Vikings through the 2010s.

An All-Rookie Selection, Rudolph went to his first Pro Bowl as a sophomore with career highs in Touchdowns (9) with 493 Yards; though injuries held him to only half seasons over the next two years, he was healthy afterward, delivering his best statistical year in 2016 with career-highs in (Yards (840) and First Downs (50) while reaching the end zone seven times.  Rudolph went to his second Pro Bowl in 2017 (532 Yards and 8 TDs) but slowed down after the season in terms of Yards.  He remained with the Vikings until 2020 and would pay two more years in the NFL, one with the New York Giants and one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Over his career, Rudolph compiled 50 Touchdowns with 4,773 Yards.

Everson Griffen joined the Minnesota Vikings in 2010 as the 100th overall draft pick. It took him some time to establish himself in the NFL. Initially, he was mostly utilized on special teams. However, he eventually became a pass-rushing specialist and then the starting defensive end in 2014. Griffen's career with the Vikings lasted for ten years, during which he was selected for four Pro Bowls over a five-year period. He also recorded three seasons with 10+ sacks.

After leaving the Vikings as a free agent, he signed with the Dallas Cowboys before returning to Minnesota in 2021 for one more season, after which he retired. Griffen finished his career with 85.5 sacks.

Adrian Peterson quickly proved to be a complete package as a running back. He was an All-American in his first season at Oklahoma and made history as the first freshman to be the runner-up for the Heisman. Peterson played two more seasons with the Sooners, but ankle issues prevented him from having the same impact in those years. Despite scouts' concerns about his past injuries, Peterson was highly regarded. Minnesota drafted him with their seventh overall pick, and his injuries did not hamper him as some had expected.

Peterson proved that he possessed all the skills the scouts had predicted he would. He was a speedy athlete with a strong frame who could outperform you in outrunning, overpowering, and outmaneuvering you. The Running Back confidently claimed that he would win the Offensive Rookie of the Year title, and he successfully did so by rushing for 1,341 Yards, scoring 12 Touchdowns, and setting a record for the most rushing yards in a single game (296). Even though Peterson had achieved similar results in his freshman year in college, doubters still wondered if he could remain durable over the next few seasons. Nevertheless, Peterson proved them wrong yet again.

Peterson won his first Rushing Title (1,760) as a sophomore and his first Rushing Touchdown Title (18) in his third season. He was a First Team All-Pro in both of those years. As a result, Peterson was the top Running Back in the National Football League at the start of the 2010s.

Peterson remained a top player over the next two seasons, scoring a dozen touchdowns each year. However, in 2011, he suffered a significant injury that was a major setback for his career. Peterson tore his ACL and MCL and was unlikely to return to the field until Game 1 in 2012. Despite this challenge, Peterson approached his recovery with the same determination he showed on the field against defenders.

Peterson's 2012 season was truly remarkable, especially considering the challenges he faced during the off-season. Despite this, he managed to stay healthy and had the best performance of his career. He won two titles that season - the Rushing Title (with 2,097 yards) and the Yards From Scrimmage Title (with 2,314 yards), both career-highs. Peterson was also awarded the AP MVP and Offensive Player of the Year Awards. It was a season that will go down in history and is arguably the most outstanding offensive year in the history of the Minnesota Vikings.

Adrian Peterson rushed for 1,266 yards in the 2013 season, which was an emotional year for him due to the tragic loss of his two-year-old son at the hands of his mother's live-in boyfriend. The following season, Peterson faced child abuse allegations and was only able to play in one game. As a result, he was suspended for the entire season.

However, Peterson returned in the 2015 season with a vengeance, gaining 1,485 yards and scoring 11 touchdowns. This performance was a significant achievement for him, as he topped the NFL in both categories for the first time. Although he had better performances earlier in his career, this season was Peterson's last All-Pro year. In the six years that followed, he struggled with injuries and moved from team to team.

Despite these challenges, Peterson still had moments of greatness, such as in the 2018 season when he played for the Washington Redskins and gained close to 2,000 yards in his two years there. He also had brief runs with Arizona, New Orleans, Detroit, Tennessee, and Seattle. Throughout his career, he amassed 14,918 rushing yards, 17,808 all-purpose yards, and 126 touchdowns, along with numerous individual awards.

Despite the off-field controversies, Peterson is regarded as one of the greatest running backs in history and has the statistics and awards to back it up.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team. That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists out and we always consistently look to update them when we can and based on necessity. As such, we are very happy to present our post 2022 revision of our top 50 Minnesota Vikings.

As for all of our top 50 players in football we look at the following:

1. Advanced Statistics.

2. Traditional statistics and how they finished in the National Football League.

3. Playoff accomplishments.

4. Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

Last year, the Vikings had an excellent regular season, but were unable to go deep into the playoffs. There were three new elevations and one new entrant based on the 2022 Season.

As always, we present our top five, which was not affected by the last season:

1. Alan Page

2. Fran Tarkenton

3. Randall McDaniel

4. Carl Eller

5. Mick Tingelhoff

You can find the entire list here.

Safety, Harrison Smith, inched up one rung to #29.

Running Back, and (as of this writing) Free Agent, Dalvin Cook, advanced nine spots to #32.

Defensive End, Danielle Hunter climbed up four spots to #36.

Quarterback, Kirk Cousins, who added his third Pro Bowl in Minnesota went from #48 to #43.

The new entrant is Linebacker, Eric Kendricks, who is now with the Los Angeles Chargers. He enters at #50.

It is notable that Wide Receiver, Justin Jefferson, just missed out on a spot despite only playing three seasons.

We welcome your input and comments and as always, we thank you for your support.

Danielle Hunter arrived in Minnesota as a 2015 Third Round Pick who had to survive the SEC grind while playing at LSU. Hunter was not a starter in his first two years, but saw significant action in passing situations, so much so, that he was third in the NFL in Sacks in 2016 with 12.5.

Hunter entered 2017 as a starter, and in 2018, he had what was arguably his best year to date. He accrued 14.5 Sacks with 21 Tackles for Loss and was named a Second Team All-Pro and to the Pro Bowl. If 2018 was not his best, then it would be 2019, where he matched his 14.5 Sack total, and was fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting.

The momentum that he had was derailed when a herniated disc kept him out of the entire 2020 season. A torn pectoral muscle cost him over half of 2021, but he was back for 2022, collecting 10.5 Sacks and a third Pro Bowl.  In 2024, Hunter had what was argaubly his best season as a Viking with 16.5 Sacks and a league-leading 23 Tackles for Loss.  This would be his swan song in Minnesota as Hunter signed with the Houston Texans in 2024.  As a Viking, Hunter accumulated 87.5 Sacks, 108 Tackles for Loss and 134 Quarterback Hits.

 

Dalvin Cook had a very good college career at Florida State, and it landed him a Second Round Selection in the 2017 Draft. Cook got off to a great start wit the Vikings, but an early injury took him out by early October. He was healthier in 2018 (615 Yards in 11 Games), but it was in year three that Cook ascended the upper tier of Running Backs.

Cook broke out in 2019, rushing for 1,135 Yards and 13 Touchdowns and was awarded a trip to the Pro Bowl. He was even better in 2020, rushing for 1,527 Yards and 16 TDs, his best metrics as a Viking. The two years following were softer, but Cook still exceeded 1,100 Yards in both campaigns, and was a Pro Bowler annually from 2019 to 2022.

Despite his success, the Vikings released him in a cost-cutting move before 2023 training camp. With Minnesota, Cook compiled nearly 8,000 Yards from Scrimmage with 52 Touchdowns

We lost another legend in the world of Pro Football with the passing of former Vikings Head Coach, Bud Grant, who passed away at the age of 95.

Playing professionally in Philadelphia and Winnipeg in the CFL, Bud Grant went into coaching, first in Canada for the Blue Bombers where he won four Grey Cups.  That type of success will get you noticed, and the closest NFL team, the Minnesota Vikings signed him as their Head Coach in 1967.

Grant is still as of this writing the most successful Head Coach in Vikings history, winning the Coach of the Year in 1969, and leading Minnesota to four Super Bowl appearances.  The Vikings did not win any of them, but they would not have gotten there without Grant, whose innovations and vision made Minnesota one of the most recognized franchises in the NFL.

Grant, who is also in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, had an overall NFL record of 158-96-5.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to extend our condolences to the fans, friends and family of Bud Grant.

2023 Pre-Season Rank #101, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #130.  Peak Period: 2020-23*

Justin Jefferson has had an incredible career thus far.  His four seasons in the NFL (all with Minnesota) were punctuated by his consensus Offensive Player of the Year Award in 2022.  The wide receiver was considered the best at his position and could reclaim that in 2024, provided the injury bug does not bite him as it did last year.

Jefferson will have a downgrade at Quarterback in Sam Darnold but has the skills to make him look like a star.  Nobody has a better Receiving Yards per Game since Jefferson entered the NFL, and that could very well be the case next year.

*Jefferson has only played four years.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team.  That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists out and we always consistently look to update them when we can and based on necessity.  As such, we are very happy to present our post-2021 revision of our top 50 Minnesota Vikings.

As for all of our top 50 players in football we look at the following: 

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in the National Football League. 

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

4.  Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

Last year, the Vikings went 8-9 but did not make the playoffs.  Two new players made the top 50, and one elevation took place.

As always, we present our top five, though there were no changes in this elite group:

1. Alan Page

2. Fran Tarkenton

3. Randall McDaniel

4. Carl Eller

5. Mick Tinglehoff

You can find the entire list here.

Safety, Harrison Smith, advanced four spots to #30.

Debuting is four-time Pro Bowl Linebacker, Anthony Barr at #44, who is currently a Free Agent, and unlikely to return to the Vikes.  

Quarterback, Kirk Cousins, enters at #48.

We welcome your input and comments and as always, we thank you for your support.

After six seasons with Washington, Kirk Cousins signed what was then the highest guaranteed contract in franchise history with the Vikings before the 2018 Season.  There were many who wondered if Cousins was worth the money, but he has shown himself to be a far better Quarterback in Minnesota than he was as a Redskin.

Cousins, who threw for over 4,000 three times in Washington, has matched that in Minnesota, but with a far better TD-INT ratio (99-55 in WAS, 153-50 MIN) and had a three-year streak (2019-21) of having a Passer Rating over 103.  A Pro Bowl Selection in 2019, 2020 & 2021, Cousins had one more season with the Vikings, though that ended with an Achilles injury hakf-way through the year.  The Quarterback then used his free agency to sign with the Atlanta Falcons.

Cousins compiled 23,265 Passing Yards with a 171-55 TD-INT Ratio.

A First Round Pick (9^th Overall) and All-American from UCLA, Anthony Barr made the Minnesota Vikings starting lineup as a rookie at Right Linebacker, but it was the next four seasons that land him on this list.

Chosen for the Pro Bowl annually from 2015 to 2018, Barr might have worked the right side of the field, but was capable of plowing through the interior at any time.  A punishing tackler (ask Aaron Rodgers), Barr had been accused of taking his foot off the gas pedal on occasion but when he was on, there were few better.

Barr was not resigned after the 2021 Season and would leave Minnesota with 495 Tackles in 98 Games.

On the eve of the first Sunday of the 2021 NFL Season, the sport lost one of its great as former Minnesota Viking, Mick Tingelhoff, passed away at the age of 81.

Undrafted in 1962 from Nebraska, Tingelhoff took over as the starting Center for the Vikings, and he never missed a game in 240 contests, starting every one of them.  The former Cornhusker began a six-year streak of Pro Bowls in 1964, with five of them earning him a First Team All-Pro Selection.  

Minnesota retired his number 53, and named him to their Ring of Honor.  In our most recent list of the Top 50 Vikings of all-time, he was ranked at #5.

In 2015, Tingelhoff was finally inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to extend our condolences to the fans, friends and family of Mick Tingelhoff.

2023 Pre-Season Rank #115, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #122, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #127.  Peak Period: 2018-22

After seven seasons with Green Bay, Aaron Jones joined NFC North rival Minnesota, but the Vikings don’t have the same offensive horses from where he left off.  Jones’s peak run is likely over, but there are some statistical milestones in his sight on 10,000 Yards From Scrimmage (1.984 away) and is five Rushing Touchdowns away from an even 50.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team.  That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists out and we always consistently look to update them when we can and based on necessity. As such, we are very happy to present our pre-2021 revision of our top 50 Minnesota Vikings of all-time.

As for all of our top 50 players in football we look at the following: 

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in the NFL. 

3. Playoff accomplishments.

4. Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

This our first revision in two years, and it has yielded two new entries.  There are no changes in our top five, but as always, we present our top five.  They are:

1. Alan Page

2. FranTarkenton

3. Carl Eller

4. Randall McDaniel

5. Mick Tingelhoff

You can find the entire list here.

Free Safety, Harrison Smith, moved up seven spots to #34.

The two new entries are Tight End, Kyle Rudolph (#48) and Defensive Tackle, Linval Joseph (#49).

In the future, Running Back, Dalvin Cook will likely be on next year’s list if he repeats his 2020 Pro Bowl campaign.  

We also suspect that Quarterback, Kirk Cousins, who has only been a Viking for three years, but has been entrenched in the upper half of NFL pivots could crack the top 50 too.

We welcome your input and commentsand as always, we thank you for your support.