EAGAN, Minn. — The 2020 NFL Draft could present the Vikings with the chance to select from the 253rd overall spot for the third time in franchise history.
Minnesota hasn't picked at No. 253 since the 1969 NFL Draft, when the team grabbed defensive back Tom McCauley in the 10th of 17 rounds. The defensive back out of Wisconsin never played a game for the Vikings. He instead spent three seasons with the Falcons.
The Vikings also had the 253rd selection in the franchise's inaugural draft in 1961. They picked Presbyterian fullback Bill Hall, but he never appeared in an NFL game.
Thanks to an expansion of the NFL to 32 teams and a truncation of the draft, the 253rd spot is now in seventh round near the event's conclusion.
View every Vikings first round draft pick through the years.
RB Tommy Mason (1961, Tulane)
DE Carl Eller (1964, Minnesota)
DT Alan Page (1967, Notre Dame)
OL Ron Yary (1968, USC)
RB Chuck Foreman (1973, Miami)
QB Tommy Kramer (1977, Rice)
DB Joey Browner (1983, USC)
DL/LB Chris Doleman (1985, Pittsburgh)
OL Randall McDaniel (1988, Arizona State)
RB Robert Smith (1993, Ohio State)
OL Korey Stringer (1995, Ohio State)
WR Randy Moss (1998, Marshall)
QB Daunte Culpepper (1999, Central Florida)
DT Kevin Williams (2003, Oklahoma State)
LB Chad Greenway (2006, Iowa)
RB Adrian Peterson (2007, Oklahoma)
WR Percy Harvin (2009, Florida)
LT Matt Kalil (2012, USC)
S Harrison Smith (2012, Notre Dame)
DT Sharrif Floyd (2013, Florida)
CB Xavier Rhodes (2013, Florida State)
WR Cordarrelle Patterson (2013, Tennessee)
LB Anthony Barr (2014, UCLA)
QB Teddy Bridgewater (2014, Louisville)
CB Trae Waynes (2015, Michigan State)
WR Laquon Treadwell (2016, Mississippi)
WR Justin Jefferson (2020, LSU)
CB Jeff Gladney (2020, TCU)
T Christian Darrisaw (2021, Virginia Tech)
S Lewis Cine (2022, Georgia)
WR Jordan Addison (2023, USC)
What type of player might be within reach this time around when they go on the clock at No. 253 (if Minnesota keeps the pick)?
Vikings.com is taking a look at players drafted at corresponding spots that Minnesota is scheduled to pick from between April 23-25. Earlier in the series, we covered picks No. 22, No. 25, No. 58, No. 89, No. 105, No. 132, No. 155, No. 201, No. 205, No. 219 and No. 249.
In addition to players selected 253rd overall since 2015, we're taking a look at the players who were selected a pick before and after No. 253 in each draft. We'll also mention a couple of notable names that landed with other teams.
Stats are from pro-football-reference.com.
2015
252. Josh Furman, DB, DEN – has not played in an NFL game
253. Xzavier Dickson, LB, NE – has not played in an NFL game
254. Rory Anderson, TE, SF – has not played in an NFL game
2016
252. Beau Sandland, TE, CAR – spent time on practice squads for Carolina, Green Bay and Arizona from 2016-18 but has not played in an NFL game
253. Kalan Reed, CB, TEN – played in seven games for the Titans in two seasons
254. The 2016 NFL Draft did not have a 254thpick.
2017
252. Matthew Dayes, RB, CLE – returned 18 kickoffs for 437 yards for Cleveland as a rookie; played just seven games for the 49ers in 2018 and returned one kickoff for 17 yards
253. Chad Kelly, QB, DEN – the nephew of Pro Football Hall of Fame QB Jim Kelly; played in one game for the Broncos in 2018 as the backup to Case Keenum but was released in October; currently on the Colts roster
254. The 2017 NFL Draft did not have a 254thpick.
2018
252. Rod Taylor, G, CIN – placed on Injured Reserve by the Bengals in August 2018; has not played in an NFL game
253. Auden Tate, WR, CIN – started 10 games in 2019 and totaled 40 catches for 575 yards and a touchdown
254. Korey Cunningham, T, ARI – has played seven games for the Cardinals and the Patriots
2019
252. Ken Webster, CB, NE – started five of eight games played as a rookie; totaled 19 tackles (17 solo) and a pass defensed
253. Jordan Brailford, DE, WAS – was placed on Injured Reserve by Washington in September
254. Caleb Wilson, TE, ARI – the 2019 Mr. Irrelevant selection spent time with the Cardinals and Redskins last season; currently on Washington's roster
View photos of players who NFL expects believe the Vikings could select in the 2020 NFL Draft.
WR Justin Jefferson, LSU
WR Justin Jefferson, LSU
WR Justin Jefferson, LSU
WR Justin Jefferson, LSU
WR Denzel Mims, Baylor
WR Denzel Mims, Baylor
WR Denzel Mims, Baylor
WR Denzel Mims, Baylor
WR Tee Higgins, Clemson
WR Tee Higgins, Clemson
WR Tee Higgins, Clemson
WR Tee Higgins, Clemson
CB Jeff Gladney, TCU
CB Jeff Gladney, TCU
CB Jeff Gladney, TCU
CB Jeff Gladney, TCU
CB A.J. Terrell, Clemson
CB A.J. Terrell, Clemson
CB A.J. Terrell, Clemson
CB A.J. Terrell, Clemson
CB Kristian Fulton, LSU
CB Kristian Fulton, LSU
CB Kristian Fulton, LSU
CB Kristian Fulton, LSU
CB Jaylon Johnson, Utah
CB Jaylon Johnson, Utah
CB Jaylon Johnson, Utah
CB Jaylon Johnson, Utah
OL Austin Jackson USC
OL Austin Jackson USC
OL Austin Jackson USC
OL Austin Jackson USC
DE Yetur Gross-Matos, Penn State
DE Yetur Gross-Matos, Penn State
DE Yetur Gross-Matos, Penn State
DE Yetur Gross-Matos, Penn State
Others of Interest at 253
2010: Tampa Bay Buccaneers – DE Erik Lorig, Stanford
Lorig transitioned from defensive end to fullback/tight end in the NFL and started 30 of 66 games played for the Bucs and Saints from 2010-14. In 2012, he helped block for Doug Martin's 1,454 yards and 11 touchdowns. Lorig scored his first career touchdown at Minnesota in October 2012.
2007: Cincinnati Bengals – DB Nedu Ndukwe, Notre Dame
Ndukwe played in 14 games (two starts) as a rookie for the Bengals and snagged a career-high three interceptions. He played under Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer, who served as Cincinnati's defensive coordinator, from 2008-10, during which he started 29 of 39 games and totaled 213 tackles, three interceptions, 5.5 sacks, 12 passes defensed and two fumble recoveries, one of which he returned for a touchdown.
2000: Detroit Lions – DT Alfonso Boone, Mount San Antonio Junior College
Boone was drafted by the Lions but ended up with a division rival, playing the majority of his 10-season NFL career with the Bears (2001-06). The JUCO product played 129 total games (41 starts) and recorded 194 career tackles and 15.5 sacks. In 2007, he started all 15 games he played for the Chiefs.
1987: Indianapolis Colts – DB Chris Goode, Alabama
Goode built a respectable NFL career, starting 66 of 96 games played for the Colts from 1987-93. The Alabama native recorded seven interceptions and six fumble recoveries.
