10 biggest NFL Draft steals for the Vikings over the past 10 years
By Matt Falk
5. David Morgan – TE
Sixth Round, 2016
How much did the Vikings want Morgan? Enough to trade up in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL Draft to get the big blocking tight end from UTSA.
Leading up to the draft, Morgan was looked at as a guy who could go anywhere from round five to round seven. Like many others on this list, he was a late riser in the draft season. He was the first ever player from UTSA to be invited to the NFL Scouting Combine and then be selected in the draft.
Minnesota has used Morgan as a blocking tight end more than anything during his time with the team. So while his stat line won’t wow anyone, what he does on the field is vital to the Vikings’ offense. His ability to help block along a Minnesota offensive line that has been suspect at best for the past few years has been extremely important.
It’s not that Morgan can’t excel at catching the ball, but when the Vikings have guys like Kyle Rudolph, Adam Thielen, Stefon Diggs, and Dalvin Cook, it is tough for the young tight end to see the ball come his way.
Morgan has proven that when the ball is tossed his way, he has good hands and he can get himself some yards after the catch. So while he might not have been the sexiest pick in the draft, he has proven to be a steal when it comes to being a round six player.
4. Brandon Fusco – OG
Sixth Round, 2011
Fusco was a little known small schooler from Slippery Rock, that is until he was drafted in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Vikings. He started to make a name for himself with a solid performance at the Senior Bowl, followed up by a good showing at the Scouting Combine.
In his rookie year with Minnesota, Fusco managed to see some limited action. But it only took until year two before he became the real deal.
Fusco went on to start 64 games at guard during his six years in a Vikings uniform. During that time he helped plow the way for Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson and help keep a large assortment of quarterbacks on their feet.
Fusco’s big play landed him a five-year, $25 million contract extension in 2012 and he continued to pave the way until his release in February of 2017.
Even though Fusco’s time with the Vikings has come to an end, he is still bouncing around the league and making an impact. He started all 16 games for the San Francisco 49ers in 2017 and he had seven starts for the Atlanta Falcons in 2018 before a season-ending injury.