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The Minnesota Vikings’ 5 Worst Draft Picks in the Last 10 Years
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- The Minnesota Vikings’ 5 Worst Draft Picks in the Last 10 Years
Drafting is an inexact science. Even the best of the best miss for any number of reasons—injuries, poor scheme fit, off-the-field issues, lack of development, and so on. With the 2026 NFL Draft now in the rearview mirror, things should be quiet on the personnel side until training camps open in July.
With that in mind, it seems like the perfect time to go back over the last 10 drafts to identify picks which didn't pan out for each of the 32 clubs. Before we begin, let's set the ground rules: We're starting with the 2016 draft, so no players from the 2026 draft are eligible.
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Now that we've established the parameters, here are the Minnesota Vikings ' five worst draft picks of the past decade:
Dishonorable Mentions
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TE Irv Smith Jr. (50th Overall, 2019)
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CB Cameron Dantzler (89th Overall, 2020)
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LB Chazz Surratt (78th Overall, 2021)
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OG Wyatt Davis (86th Overall, 2021)
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CB Andrew Booth (42nd Overall, 2022)
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LB Brian Asamoah (66th Overall, 2022)
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5) CB Mike Hughes , 30th Overall (2018)
Injuries were certainly part of the problem for Hughes as he sustained a torn ACL as a rookie, a broken vertebra in Year 2, and then more neck problems in his third season—he finished each of those seasons on Injured Reserve. Hughes, who was traded along with a seventh-rounder to the Chiefs for a 2022 sixth-round pick, would eventually develop into a starting cornerback for Atlanta , but his time in Minnesota was a flop.
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4) QB Kellen Mond , 66th Overall (2021)
Mond's (brief) time in the NFL is best summed up by a quote from his head coach Mike Zimmer. When asked if he wanted to get Mond some snaps in the regular-season finale, Zimmer replied, "Not particularly." Asked why, Zimmer responded, "I see him every day." Mond was released after just one season with the club.
3) WR Laquon Treadwell , 23rd Overall (2016)
With names like Randy Moss, Cris Carter, and Justin Jefferson , the Vikings have employed some of the game's elite wideouts. They whiffed on Treadwell, though, ignoring concerns about his speed and athleticism to use a first-round pick. He did little in three years with the club, which cut him in 2019 before ultimately re-signing for one more unimpactful campaign.
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2) QB J.J. McCarthy , 10th Overall (2024)
A year from now, McCarthy could easily sit atop this list. It feels a bit early for that, though, despite the team signing Kyler Murray based on how poorly McCarthy played last season—he missed his entire rookie year after tearing his meniscus in camp. The clock is ticking loudly on McCarthy, and the decision to select him ahead of Bo Nix already looks like a poor one.
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1) DB Lewis Cine , 32nd Overall (2022)
Cine would appear in 10 games for the Vikings, recording a single tackle. He was cut after two years with the club. Among the next 10 players selected were Breece Hall , Christian Watson , and reigning Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III .
Related: The Miami Dolphins' 5 Worst Draft Picks in the Last 10 Years
This story was originally published by Lindys Sports on Jun 29, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Lindys Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
