When it comes to the cream of the crop of Vikings free agents, nothing can really beat how the franchise took a chance on an undersized defensive lineman named John Randle after he wasn’t selected in the 1990 NFL Draft.
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At 6-foot-1 and 244 pounds, the Vikings took him on as a project player, but it didn’t take long for Minnesota to realize the talent they had found.
He played in all 16 games as a rookie but didn’t get a start until his second season. After that, he never looked back.
His presence on the defensive line was a game changer. Randle is still Minnesota’s all-time leader when it comes to quarterback sacks.
He notched 114 in his career, with the closest being 96.5 from Chris Doleman. He also forced 25 fumbles in his career with the Vikings and recovered nine fumbles.
Randle is in the Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was also named to the Pro Bowl seven times and made the All-Pro team six times. Not only was he a dominant defender, but the story of his rise to success is one all dreamers should know.
Who do you think is the best free agent signing in the history of the Vikings? Did this list miss any players you feel should be included? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section!