6 former Vikings draft picks who might be done in the NFL

There are some players who were significant draft picks for the Minnesota Vikings who might not play another snap in the NFL.

Early-round draft picks can be a major gamble in the NFL. Sometimes players just don’t work out when adjusting to the pros while others struggle with injuries or have long, fruitful careers with teams like the Minnesota Vikings.

2022 could be the year that several former first or second-round draft picks for the purple and gold might not take the football field. While it is always sad to see players who fans were excited about when they joined the team call it a quits in the league, that is part of the business.

Let’s take a look at six such players who could be done in the league.

Kyle Rudolph, TE – Second round in 2011

It doesn’t feel like that long ago since the big tight end was catching passes with his incredible leaping ability and size but he hasn’t seemed like the player he used to be and is still sitting in the pool of free agents hoping for a team to scoop him up.

When he left Minnesota after the 2020 season, he was a two-time Pro Bowl player with 453 catches for 4,488 yards and 48 touchdowns. His 2021 campaign with the Giants was a disappointing one that saw him struggle with injury while catching only 26 passes for 257 yards and one touchdown.

There is a chance a team could scoop the 6’6 tight end up before the season kicks off or in the event of an injury, but at this moment, things aren’t looking too good for the former second-round pick.