The greatest Minnesota Vikings pass-catching trios from every decade

Greatest Minnesota Vikings pass-catching trios from every decade

1990s:

• Cris Carter
• Randy Moss
• Jake Reed

Years spent together:

• 1998-1999, 2001

Best year together:

• 1999

Cris Carter is considered the elder statesman of this trio, having come to Minnesota in 1990. The Vikings got the receiver from the Philadelphia Eagles for exactly $100 after then-Eagles coach Buddy Ryan complained that all Carter did was catch touchdowns. That was fine by Minnesota as Carter eventually led the NFL in touchdown receptions with 17 in 1995.

Jake Reed was added to the roster in 1991 and worked hard at his craft until he was routinely catching 70+ passes a year between 1994-1996.

Then, in 1998, Randy Moss slid to the Vikings' 21st overall pick due to high school and college conduct issues. All Moss did as a rookie was lead the NFL with 17 touchdowns (which also set a league rookie record).

The Vikings finished 1998 at 15-1 and set the NFL record for most points scored during a regular season. Unfortunately, the team’s bid for a Super Bowl berth was upended by the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship game.

As great as the 1998 season was, the trio’s best year together was in 1999, when they caught a combined 214 passes. Carter led the way that season with 90 catches, followed by Moss’s 80, and Reed’s 44.

Reed left Minnesota for New Orleans in 2000 before returning for another year as a Viking in 2001. Moss and Carter were teammates through the 2001 season.