Ranking every Vikings wide receiver drafted in the first round
By Tim Arcand
2. Percy Harvin (2009)
A dynamic playmaker from the University of Florida, the Vikings selected Percy Harvin with the 22nd pick in the 2009 draft. As a rookie, Harvin started eight games and finished with 60 receptions for 790 yards and six touchdowns. Playing alongside Sidney Rice and Bernard Berrian, Harvin mainly lined up at the slot receiver. That season Harvin was also the main kick returner for the Vikings. He tied the team record with two returns for a touchdown.
During his career with the Vikings, Harvin set the franchise record with five kickoff returns for a touchdown. His average of 27.9 yards per kickoff return is second-most in team history behind Cordarrelle Patterson (30.4).
Over the next three seasons, Harvin led the Vikings in receptions as the main weapon at wide receiver as the Vikings struggled to add another weapon to compliment him at receiver. From 2010 to 2012, the Vikings had a revolving door at wide receiver that included Greg Camarillo, Devin Aromashodu, Michael Jenkins, Jerome Simpson, and a failed return to Minnesota by Randy Moss. During Harvin’s time with the Vikings, their passing game was anemic with no receiver, including Harvin, topped 1,000 receiving yards in a season.
Harvin was an effective player no matter where the Vikings used him on the field. In 2011, the Vikings found themselves in need of a running back and Harvin filled in with 54 rushes for 345 yards and two touchdowns. He led the Vikings in total yards from scrimmage with 1,312 yards.
Following the 2011 season, the Vikings traded Harvin to Seattle for a first and seventh-round pick in the 2013 draft. With that first-round pick, they selected cornerback Xavier Rhodes.
In his four seasons with the Vikings, Harvin caught 280 passes for 3,302 yards and 20 touchdowns. He added 683 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 107 attempts.