15 greatest Minnesota Vikings draft picks of all-time
By Adam Patrick
Randall McDaniel – OG
Draft Year: 1988
Draft Selection: Pick No. 19 (First Round)
Some of the younger Vikings fans of today might find this hard to believe, but the franchise has actually been home to some of the best offensive linemen in NFL history.
Randall McDaniel is certainly part of this group, and he’s not just one of the best offensive linemen in Minnesota’s history as a franchise, he’s one of the best overall players to ever take the field in a purple and gold jersey.
Selected in the opening round of the 1988 NFL Draft by the Vikings out of Arizona State, McDaniel was thrown into the fire immediately as a rookie, and he never looked back. From 1988 to 1999, he started in a total of 188 games for Minnesota as their starting left guard.
Others around the NFL clearly recognized how talented of an offensive lineman McDaniel was as he was voted to the Pro Bowl 11 times and selected as a First-Team All-Pro seven times in his 12 seasons with the Vikings.
In 2009, he was recognized for his excellence out on the field when he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.