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.

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.

2023 Pre-Season #75, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #112. Peak Period: 2018-22

Matt Judon’s four-year streak of Pro Bowl appearances ended last season, when the then-New England Patriot suffered a torn bicep.  Judon had four Sacks in four Games in 2023 and 15 the year before, but if he returns to double-digit Sacks in 2024, it will be his third team, the Atlanta Falcons.

2023 Pre-Season Rank #87, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #102 2021 Pre-Season Rank #102, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #90.  Peak Period: 2017-19/2022-23

We said a couple of years ago that “Hunter is a pick for a lot of people to have a breakout defensive campaign, and he is coming off of back-to-back Pro Bowl and 14.5 Sack years”.  That didn’t happen, as he missed the entire 2020 season with a neck injury and was not great in 2021.  Healthy in 2022, Hunter responded with two straight Pro Bowl years and is coming off his highest Sack number (16) and a league-leading 23 Tackles for Loss.

After eight years in Minnesota, Hunter is now a Houston Texan, and if he can build off of his 2023 campaign, Hunter could make a Hall of Fame run.