Minnesota Vikings: 10 Biggest Mistakes in Draft History

With the No. 3 pick in the 2012 NFL draft, the Minnesota Vikings have a big selection. At 3-13 in 2011 and very few grand acquisitions made this offseason, the Vikings have to get it right in this draft.

I'd like to take the opportunity to see where the franchise messed up in the past. The Vikings haven't had the best history in making the best selections.

This is my list of the top 10 worst selections in Viking history. The premise is that they must either be first-round selections, Minnesota's first selection in the draft or a first-day selection Minnesota traded up to acquire (too many exceptions?).

Let the horror begin.

10. Safety Tyrell Johnson, No. 43 Pick 2008

In 2008, the Minnesota Vikings acquired Jared Allen but in the process Minnesota gave up its first- and third-round pick to acquire the All-Pro defensive end.

Sitting at pick No. 47 Minnesota had its man. But it felt the need to move up to acquire him. Giving up the No. 48 pick and a fourth-round pick to move up to No. 43, Minnesota selected Arkansas State's Tyrell Johnson.

In four years and 49 games as a Viking Johnson, a 6'0" and 207-pound safety, recorded 123 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles and has moved on to the Miami Dolphins this offseason.

Serving as Minnesota's first-round pick, this was where Minnesota needed to build its future. It's a pick that, had it gone right, could have resulted in wide receiver DeSean Jackson, running back Matt Forte or running back Ray Rice (all three of which have been named to a Pro Bowl in their career).

9. Defensive End Erasmus James, No. 18 Pick 2005

To put it lightly, this may have been the worst draft in Minnesota Vikings history. The year 2005 was a terrible year for Minnesota.

With two first-round picks, Minnesota selected two players which are no longer in the NFL. And it's just five years later.

The first player mentioned in this list is Erasmus James (the other will come later, don't you worry). The defensive end from Wisconsin was supposed to be a ferocious play-making defensive end. SI.com called James, "A disruptive force who opponents game-plan around, James combines athletic skills with intensity to force the action up the field."

James was supposed to provide Minnesota's pressure for the next 10 years. He didn't even make it five years.

During his time as a Viking, James showed limited potential while his athleticism was always apparent. But he rarely got to the quarterback and wasn't a force anywhere else on the field.

In three seasons as a Viking, James had 37 tackles and five sacks—not quite what Minnesota wanted.

Then, after the 2007 season Minnesota waived James because of multiple knee surgeries and locker-room concerns.

8. Defensive End Derrick Alexander, No. 14 Pick 1995

There's one name that stands out above the rest when second-guessing Minnesota on this draft selection: Warren Sapp.

The future Hall of Fame defensive tackle could have been a Viking on this day. Instead, he tormented the franchise as a member of the then-division rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

But instead of drafting Sapp, Minnesota selected defensive end Derrick Alexander. Alexander spent four seasons in Minnesota and never reached double-digit sacks—a must for a defensive end taken in the first round.

After Minnesota Alexander spent one season in Cleveland and then called it a career.

The dictionary will soon have a picture of Alexander when it defines "successful."

7. Quaterback Tarvaris Jackson, No. 64 Pick 2006

When the Minnesota Vikings (or should I say Brad Childress) traded back into the second round of the 2006 NFL draft to select Tarvaris Jackson they thought they had their new franchise quarterback.

Minnesota became the laughingstock of the league. No one expected Jackson to be a first-day selection, let alone a second-round pick. Prior to the draft, SI.com assessed that he was, "A developmental prospect who could be stashed on a practice squad, Jackson still needs a season or two to complete his game.

But Minnesota was desperate—even for a "practice squad" type quarterback.

The franchise had just traded its former franchise quarterback, Daunte Culpepper, to the Miami Dolphins that offseason for a second-round pick. With an aging Brad Johnson at the helm, the team was in dire need of a long-term solution.

Minnesota and Childress couldn't have been more wrong. During Jackson's five seasons in Minnesota, he appeared in 36 games, threw for 3,984 yards, 24 touchdowns, 22 interceptions and completed 58.7 percent of his passes.

He had games where he looked like a future franchise quarterback (on Dec. 14, 2008, he threw for 167 yards, four touchdown passes and completed 64.7 percent of his passes) and even "quarterbacked" Minnesota to the playoffs in 2008. But Minnesota will remember Jackson for the bad.

And his bad has been proven outside of Minnesota too. The Seattle Seahawks, who signed Jackson to be their quarterback last offseason, acquired former Packer Matt Flynn to replace Jackson.

The worst part of Jackson's signing was that Minnesota traded up to acquire him, and his place on the roster made the franchise believe the future of the quarterback position was solidified. It forced Minnesota to reach for Christian Ponder in 2012 and is partly why Minnesota is a bottom-feeder entering the 2012 NFL season.

6 Running Back. D.J. Dozier, No. 14 Pick 1987

D.J. Dozier represents the first of three running backs who will appear on this list.

Minnesota drafted Dozier because its selection of another running back who'll appear on this list didn't pan out.

Dozier's best season in Minnesota was his rookie season: 257 yards rushing, five rushing touchdowns, two receiving touchdowns and 89 receiving yards.

From there, it went downhill. In four years as a Viking, his line stood—643 yards rushing, seven rushing touchdowns, two receiving touchdowns and 298 yards receiving.

The man just never got it together as an NFL running back.

5. Defensive End Gerald Robinson, No. 14 Pick 1986

The Gerald Robinson era in Minnesota wouldn't be defined as long or special. The defensive end drafted out of Auburn appeared in 16 games over two seasons and recorded one tackle in 1987.

Minnesota drafted Robinson to create a greater pass rush. In 1985, Minnesota had 33 sacks, 11 of which came from one player. To say the Vikings needed more pressure on the quarterback was an understatement.

At Auburn Robinson accumulated 26 sacks, which was then the school record. Minnesota hoped he could bring the rush to Minnesota. But it didn't happen.

Robinson went on to a very average NFL career, having his best season with the St. Louis Rams in 1992—five sacks and 45 tackles.

4. Running Back Darrin Nelson, No. 7 Pick 1982

Who is Marcus Allen?

Anyone ever heard of him?

Apparently, he had an OK career in the NFL. After 16 years, Allen accumulated 12,243 rushing yards, 123 rushing touchdowns, 21 touchdown receptions and 5,411 receiving yards.

Not too bad.

For his accomplishments, he was only inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2003—not a big deal.

That's all Minnesota missed out on when it selected Darrin Nelson with the No. 7 pick in the 1982 NFL draft. Allen was selected three picks later.

Nelson lasted in the NFL for 11 seasons, 10 of which he graced Minnesota with his presence.

As a Viking, Nelson rushed for 4,231 yards, 18 touchdowns, caught 251 passes, 2,202 yards and five touchdowns. He never rushed for more than 900 yards nor did he ever reach double-digit rushing touchdowns in a single season.

His career wasn't bad, but his average career combined with who Minnesota could have had earned him a place on this list.

3. Wide Receiver Troy Williamson, No. 7 Pick 2007

When Minnesota made this selection, the memory of Randy Moss was still fresh in its mind. It had just traded the future Hall of Fame receiver to the Oakland Raiders, and in exchange, it received this pick and other pieces.

I think the Vikings felt Troy Williamson from South Carolina could instantly replace what they lost in Randy Moss—a deep threat. Williamson was a speed freak at South Carolina. At the NFL combine he ran an impressive 4.32 40-yard dash.

But they ignored one thing: Williamson's history with drops. It was the one knock on him coming into the draft.

It never got better.

Minnesota fans will remember Williamson for his drops. His numerous, consistent drops. When he'd catch a football, for positive or negative yards, Minnesota fans probably stood and cheered—as they should.

In his career as a Viking, Williamson had 79 receptions for 1,064 yards and three touchdowns. Those aren't bad numbers for one season, but they were for THREE seasons.

After Minnesota Williamson caught on in Jacksonville and added eight receptions and a touchdown reception to his NFL resume. Since 2009, the NFL hasn't been fouled with 2009.

The league is better off without him.

2. Running Back Clint Jones, No. 2 Pick in 1967

I never had the "pleasure" to watch Clint Jones receive a hand off. I wasn't born yet. My parents hadn't even started dating yet.

But I know this must be Minnesota's worst pick in franchise history. Jones was a top-two selection. And what did Minnesota get with its top-two selection?

In six seasons Jones failed to post a double-digit season in rushing touchdowns and failed to ever rush for more than 700 yards in a 14-game season.

His career totals during his six years as a Viking: 2008 yards rushing yards (3.7 yards per carry), 19 rushing touchdowns, 38 receptions for 431 yards and 27 starts in 75 games played.

Instead of Jones, Minnesota could have had 2010 Hall of Fame inductee Floyd Little. In Little's nine-year career as a running back, he rushed for 6,323 yards, 43 touchdowns, caught 215 passes for 2,418 yards and had 10 receiving touchdowns.

As a top-five pick, Jones flunked. That can't happen when the stakes are that high, especially when Minnesota passed on a future Hall of Fame player at the same position.

1. Defensive End Dimitrius Underwood, No. 29 Pick in 1999

The man never even played a down in a Minnesota Vikings uniform.

Minnesota made Dimitrius Underwood the No. 29 pick in the 1999 NFL draft. And coming out of Michigan State at 6'6" and 275 pounds, Underwood looked ready to wreak havoc on the NFL.

Except Minnesota missed the warning signs: Underwood sat out his final season at Michigan State for no apparent reason, according to Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports. That alone should have kept the Vikings away from the defensive end.

But Minnesota didn't notice and made Underwood a Viking.

Underwood had other ideas though. He walked off the field during the first day of training camp that August and never returned.

He battled with his spirituality and later rejoined the NFL with the Miami Dolphins. While a member of the Dolphins, he tried to commit suicide, failed, entered rehab and reemerged in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys. He spent two seasons there. 

While a Cowboy, he again tried to commit suicide. He was diagnosed with bipolar disease.

This selection has a case to be the worst pick in NFL history.

This is a list of Minnesota's entire draft history. Check it out. Let me know what you think.