2. Randall McDaniel, guard
When talking about the greatest Minnesota Vikings players of all time, Randall McDaniel often gets overlooked due to him being an offensive lineman and not a “skill position” player or an accumulator of statistics.
McDaniel helped to revolutionize the guard position by shifting the expectation of an interior lineman from being a big man to take up space to him being athletically able to pull to the outside and make multiple blocks down the field.
In 12 seasons with the Vikings, McDaniel played in 190 games, starting 188 of those contests. Over that time, he made 11 Pro Bowls and was a seven-time All-Pro. Plus, he is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Offensive linemen like Randall McDaniel are generational athletes who make their team much better. It’s no coincidence the Minnesota Vikings were a significantly better team with him in the lineup. Sadly, it didn’t result in a Super Bowl win though.