The 2025 NFL Draft is less than two weeks away and fans of the Minnesota Vikings are starting to wonder who the next top college prospect to join the team and become a superstar will be in the first round.
The Vikings have enjoyed having some amazing players taken in the draft. Massive names like Randy Moss, Adrian Peterson, Carl Eller, Ron Yary, Chuck Foreman, Chris Doleman, Randall McDaniel, and Justin Jefferson are some examples of fantastic picks made in the first round.
However, not all first-round picks have worked out well for Minnesota. In fact, there are some top picks in a draft that didn't work out well at all. This makes the conversation about the biggest draft bust in franchise history even more interesting.
Who is the biggest draft bust in Minnesota Vikings history?
Modern fans will point to players like Lewis Cine, Laquon Treadwell, Christian Ponder or Troy Williamson as the biggest busts they remember. But none of those Minnesota Vikings first-round picks were chosen for that dishonor by Sports Illustrated's Matt Verderame in an article published on Friday.
D.J. Dozier, running back - No. 14 overall in 1987
"There were some other contenders, but Dozier made it because he set off a chain of events. The Vikings wanted a star back to pair with their solid passing attack and great defense. However, Dozier never became that guy, rushing for 643 yards in four years with the Vikings. As a result, they traded a bushel of draft picks to the Cowboys in 1989 for Herschel Walker, turning Dallas into a dynasty while Minnesota floundered. "Matt Verderame
The Herschel Walker trade set the Vikings' franchise back for many years, but that entire trade shouldn't fall on the struggling shoulders of Penn State running back D.J. Dozier. Although he was a massive disappointment, his individual impact wasn't as sour as some other players.
Defensive lineman Dimitrius Underwood is a common response for Minnesota's biggest draft bust. After being drafted at No. 29 overall 1999, he failed to play a single snap for the Vikings. He cited a conflict between his faith and football for his release.
My choice for the biggest Minnesota Vikings draft bust of all time goes to running back Leo Hayden. The Ohio State prospect was taken at No. 24 overall in 1971 but didn't make a single rushing attempt for the purple and gold. Although he did play some special teams, he was released due to his disruptive drug use after just one season. After a short stint with the Cardinals, he ended up in the World Football League but was arrested during training camp for a bad check warrant.