Which 50 players have been the best to suit up for the Minnesota Vikings since 2010?
The last 10 seasons have featured some of the most memorable Minnesota Vikings moments in franchise history.
Since 2010, the Vikings have had three different head coaches, eight quarterbacks start at least five games, four appearances in the playoffs, two division titles, and one Minneapolis Miracle.
There have also been many forgettable moments for Minnesota during the last 10 years. Some Vikings fans are still trying to erase Teddy Bridgewater‘s freak knee injury, Adrian Peterson’s suspension, and the collapse of the Metrodome roof out of their memory.
During the last decade, however, there have been several great players to suit up for Minnesota. Some might even be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame one day.
So now that the Vikings are heading into another decade to make a bunch of new memories, which players should be regarded as the 50 greatest to suit up for the franchise during the 2010s?
50: Joe Webb – QB/WR
Webb spent four seasons with the Vikings, three as a quarterback and one as a wide receiver. His most memorable moment came during the 2010 season when he led Minnesota to a win in a Tuesday night showdown (yes, Tuesday) with the Philadelphia Eagles.
49: Brian O’Neill – OT
O’Neill has only been a member of the Vikings for two years, but he seems like he’s on track to remain with the team for a long time. In just his second season with Minnesota in 2019, he emerged as the clear-cut choice as the team’s top offensive lineman.
48: Jasper Brinkley – LB
Brinkley got his shot to be a part of the Vikings’ starting defense back in 2012. He responded by racking up more than 100 tackles and forcing three fumbles. That, however, would end up being the most impressive year of his NFL career.
47: Matt Kalil – OT
After Kalil’s first season in Minnesota ended with a trip to the Pro Bowl, the team likely felt they had landed their next franchise left tackle. But he was never the same player after his rookie campaign and he left the Vikings after the 2016 season.
46: C.J. Ham – FB
In just three years, Ham has quickly emerged as one of the top fullbacks in the NFL. In addition to his blocking abilities, he has displayed the skill to be a reliable receiving target out of the backfield during his time with the Vikings.
45: Brett Favre – QB
Favre only spent one year with Minnesota during the last decade and it’s probably a year he would like to forget. However, he did manage to throw for 446 passing yards while leading the Vikings to a Week 9 win over the Arizona Cardinals during what would end up being his final season in the NFL.
44: Blair Walsh – K
Like Matt Kalil, Walsh’s career with Minnesota got off to such a hot start. Unfortunately, he was never able to match his rookie performance, and he will forever be known as the guy who missed a 27-yard chip shot that cost the Vikings a playoff win over the Seattle Seahawks in 2015.
43: Matt Asiata – RB
For someone who seemed like he only gained a yard or two every time he touched the football, Asiata ended up playing a significant amount of time during his tenure with Minnesota. His 18 rushing touchdowns were the second-most of any Vikings player during the last decade.
43: Shamar Stephen – DT
Stephen has never put up monster numbers with the Vikings, but he’s made his presence felt in the middle of the team’s defensive line. As someone who was a seventh-round draft pick, the fact that he’s started 35 games for Minnesota since 2014 should be viewed as an accomplishment.
41: Mackensie Alexander – CB
It took a little while for Alexander to get some serious playing time for the Vikings. But during his last two seasons, he proved why Minnesota spent a second-round pick on him in the 2016 NFL Draft.
40: Sam Bradford – QB
The Vikings gave up a first-round draft selection to acquire Bradford and it didn’t result in the outcome they were hoping for. However, his 71.76 completion percentage is the highest of any Minnesota quarterback with at least 100 pass attempts during the last 10 years.
39: Toby Gerhart – RB
The Vikings felt Gerhart was worth using a second-round pick on in 2010 and it resulted in him only starting six games in his four years with the team. Behind only Adrian Peterson, he did have the second-highest yards per carry average of any Minnesota running back in the last decade though.
38: Jarius Wright – WR
Wright was never one to blow up the stat sheet, but he always seemed to get open when the Vikings needed him the most. Of his 153 catches in a Minnesota uniform, 67 percent of them resulted in a first down.
37: Captain Munnerlyn – CB
One of the first notable free-agent signings of the Mike Zimmer era, Munnerlyn manned the slot for three seasons with the Vikings. He played a large part in the turnaround of the Minnesota pass defense after Zimmer took over as the head coach.
36: Sharrif Floyd – DT
What seemed like a promising career was unfortunately cut short in 2016 thanks to a bad surgical procedure. Floyd was able to generate a ton of pressure on opposing quarterbacks as the Vikings three-technique and the team still hasn’t really been able to find a permanent replacement for him since he last stepped on the field.
35: Greg Jennings – WR
One of Rick Spielman’s first big free-agent signings after being promoted to Vikings general manager in 2012, Jennings did what he could despite being forced to catch passes from a wide range of quarterback talent. In his 31 appearances with Minnesota, he managed to finish with at least 100 receiving yards in a single game just once.
34: Terence Newman – CB
One of Mike Zimmer’s old friends decided to come and help him in Minnesota in 2015 and he remained with a team for three seasons. Newman was able to line up in the slot or on the outside for the Vikings, and in 2015, he led the defense in pass breakups with 12.
33: Latavius Murray – RB
Originally believed to be the guy who would replace Adrian Peterson in Minnesota’s offensive backfield in 2017, but then the team went and drafted Dalvin Cook. Still, Murray proved to be useful in his time with the team, and his 14 touchdowns were the fourth-most of any Vikings running back in the last decade.
32: Andrew Sendejo – S
After spending a bunch of time playing snaps on Minnesota’s special teams, Sendejo was eventually able to earn a spot on the team’s starting defense in 2015. While it got him in trouble sometimes, his aggressiveness on the field added an edge to the Vikings’ defense when he was in the starting lineup.
31: Case Keenum – QB
Keenum’s one-year run in Minnesota will forever be looked back on fondly with the team’s fan base. It appears his success in 2017 was just a one-time occurrence, but he certainly provided the Vikings with a number of memorable moments during his lone season with the franchise.
30: Steve Hutchinson – OG
One of the newest members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame (scheduled to be inducted in 2021 now due to the current pandemic), Hutchinson’s final two seasons with the Vikings came during the early part of the last decade. While his career was nearing the end, he was still easily one of the best offensive linemen to suit up for Minnesota since 2010.
29: Marcus Sherels – PR/CB
The ultimate underdog of the decade, Sherels somehow managed to fight his way onto the Vikings’ roster in 2010 and remain with the team for a total of 10 seasons. He was at his best when returning punts and he currently holds the Minnesota franchise records for career punt return yards and career punt return touchdowns.
28: Teddy Bridgewater – QB
After helping lead the Vikings to the playoffs in his first full season as a starter in 2015, Bridgewater’s career appeared to be heading in the right direction. However, a severe knee injury in 2016 altered his plans in Minnesota, and the team decided to part ways with the quarterback in 2018.
27: Anthony Harris – S
Harris patiently waited for his opportunity to get a chance as a starting safety for the Vikings and he certainly hasn’t disappointed since the decision was made. During his first full season as a member of Minnesota’s starting defense in 2019, all he did was end the year tied for the NFL-lead in interceptions.
26: Joe Berger – OL
Probably one of the most underappreciated Vikings of the decade, Berger was willing to do just about anything to help the team out. The best years of his NFL career were with Minnesota where he spent time as both their starting center and their starting right guard.
25: Trae Waynes – CB
Selected in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, Waynes took a little while with his adjustment from college to the pros. Once he figured it out, he ended up being a solid part of the Vikings defense for multiple years. Did he live up to his first-round pick status though? That’s up for debate.
24: John Sullivan – C
A sixth-round pick out of Notre Dame in 2008, Sullivan quickly emerged as an important part of Minnesota’s offensive line. He started every game for the Vikings from 2012 to 2014 before missing the entire 2015 season due to issues with his back.
23: E.J. Henderson – LB
After breaking his leg near the end of the 2009 season, Henderson somehow managed to recover in time for Minnesota’s first game in 2010. The veteran linebacker looked great in his return as he accumulated more than 100 total tackles in both of his 2010 and 2011 campaigns with the Vikings.
22: Cordarrelle Patterson – KR/WR
Drafted with a first-round pick by the Vikings in 2013 with the hope that he could just come right in and replace the recently departed Percy Harvin, Patterson could never really figure out a concrete role in Minnesota. Despite his struggles as a wide receiver, he still easily broke the franchise records for career kick return yards and kick return average.
21: Jerick McKinnon – RB
Unexpectedly, McKinnon was thrust into the fire as a rookie after Adrian Peterson was forced to miss 15 games in 2014. It ended up proving to be helpful for the 2017 season when he had to help make up for the Vikings losing Dalvin Cook to a torn ACL. Thanks to McKinnon’s help, Minnesota still finished 2017 with the seventh-most rushing yards in the NFL.
20: Phil Loadholt – OT
Loadholt is the highest-ranking offensive lineman on this list and that should say a lot about the talent of the blockers the Vikings had at their disposal during the last decade. He ended up remaining a starter for his entire Minnesota career before injuries got the best of him in 2015.
19: Antoine Winfield – CB
The last decade certainly didn’t feature the best performances of Winfield’s NFL career. However, he still managed to finish with 101 tackles, 13 pass breakups, and three interceptions in 2011 at the age of 35.
18: Dalvin Cook – RB
If his next few years are anything like his performance in 2019, Cook should end up as one of the top two or three Vikings players during the upcoming decade. After his first two seasons were hampered by injuries, he rebounded last year and proved why he deserves to be regarded as one of the top running backs in the entire NFL.
17: Kirk Cousins – QB
The top quarterback on this list, but Cousins‘ ranking shouldn’t be a discredit to his accomplishments since signing with Minnesota in 2018. After a rough first year with the Vikings, the quarterback came back in 2019 and led the team to a winning season that included an impressive playoff victory on the road over the heavily favored New Orleans Saints.
16: Kevin Williams – DT
One of the best defensive lineman to ever suit up for Minnesota, the last decade is where Williams saw his time in the Twin Cities come to an end. After earning his sixth career trip to the Pro Bowl in 2010, he went on to remain a starter with the Vikings for another three years before exiting in 2014.
15: Percy Harvin – WR
Despite only spending three seasons with Minnesota during the last decade, Harvin’s constant playmaking ability made it seem like his tenure in purple was much longer. Since 2010, few players have been able to step on the field for the Vikings and have the potential like him to score every time the ball got in their hands.
14: Brian Robison – DL
Robison wasn’t the most talented member of the Vikings defense during his time with the team, but he was certainly one of the most important. He was able to rack up 48.5 sacks during the last decade, which ranks as the fourth-most of any Minnesota defender.
13: Kyle Rudolph – TE
Through the ups and downs of the Vikings during the last 10 years, Rudolph has been able to keep his role as the team’s top tight end. Believe it or not, no Minnesota player had more touchdown catches in the last decade than the 47 Rudolph managed to haul in.
12: Anthony Barr – LB
As Mike Zimmer’s first-ever draft pick after becoming the head coach of the Vikings, Barr had a lot of expectations to live up to as soon as he put on his purple and gold jersey. He might have not turned into the player some had envisioned when he was drafted, but he still played a vital part in Minnesota’s defense evolving into one of the best in the NFL during the last decade.
11: Linval Joseph – DT
A bit of an under-the-radar free-agent signing when he arrived in 2014, Joseph took his game to another level once he joined the Vikings. No Minnesota defensive tackle accumulated more tackles or tackles for a loss than Joseph did during the last decade.
10: Adam Thielen – WR
It took a few years for Thielen to get his shot as a starter, but he certainly made sure the Vikings didn’t regret their decision to give him more playing time. Minnesota’s hometown hero earned himself a pair of trips to the Pro Bowl in both 2017 and 2018 thanks to him finishing with at least 90 catches, 1,275 receiving yards, and four touchdowns during each season.
9: Stefon Diggs – WR
Diggs didn’t appear in a game for the Vikings until Week 4 of his rookie season in 2015, but he never looked back once he was given his first opportunity to play. During the last decade, he had more catches, receiving yards, and touchdowns than any other wide receiver to suit up for Minnesota.
8: Xavier Rhodes – CB
While the end of the decade won’t be remembered fondly for Rhodes in a Vikings uniform, the first few years after Mike Zimmer arrived is really when the talented cornerback came into his own. In addition to shutting down numerous No. 1 receivers around the NFL, he was one of only four Minnesota defensive players to earn a First-Team All-Pro selection during the last decade.
7: Eric Kendricks – LB
Speaking of First-Team All-Pro selections, Kendricks is coming off a 2019 season that resulted in this very thing. Leading the team in tackles in each of his five years with Minnesota is a good reason to rank him high on this list as well.
6: Danielle Hunter – DE
Even though Hunter was only able to rack up 4.5 sacks during his college career at LSU, the Vikings decided he was still worth using a third-round pick on in the 2015 NFL Draft. All that’s happened since is the 25-year-old pass rusher accumulating more sacks (54.5) than any Minnesota defender since he entered the league five years ago.
5: Chad Greenway – LB
The Vikings used a first-round pick to add Greenway to their roster and he proved to be worth the selection during his career with the team. In addition to finishing with at least 130 tackles during every season from 2010 to 2013, he also racked up more tackles than any other Minnesota player in the last decade.
4: Everson Griffen – DE
In 2014, the Vikings took a chance on Griffen when they gave him a lucrative extension and converted him to a starting defensive end after years of being a backup. He didn’t disappoint and he ended the decade with more sacks (74.5) than any player who put on the purple and gold in the last 10 years.
3: Jared Allen – DE
While the rest of the team struggled during the majority of Allen’s tenure with the Vikings during the last decade, he kept on being one of the best pass rushers in the entire NFL. Of the four years he spent with Minnesota during the decade, his 2011 campaign that saw him finish with 22 sacks is one of the best single-season performances by a Vikings defensive end in team history (if not the best).
2: Harrison Smith – S
With all of his accomplishments, it’s hard to believe that Smith is still one of the most underrated players in the NFL today. He’s been a starter for the Vikings since he was drafted in the first round by them in 2012 and he’s evolved into one of the best safeties to ever suit up in purple.
In addition to his five Pro Bowl trips and his 2017 First-Team All-Pro selection, Smith led all Minnesota defenders during the last decade in interceptions, interception return yards, and defensive touchdowns.
1: Adrian Peterson – RB
Was there really any other choice for the top slot? Peterson is a lock for the Hall of Fame and he left the Vikings in 2017 as the franchise’s all-time leader in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, among other things.
His MVP season in 2012 was not only unlike anything Minnesota has ever seen from a running back, but the fact that he was the only non-quarterback to win the award during the last decade speaks volumes about how impressive his performance actually was.