Choosing the Minnesota Vikings’ greatest draft class in the past 20 years was a look back in time at some good and not-so-good moments for the Vikings’ franchise. Certainly, any draft class that included an Adrian Peterson or a Justin Jefferson had to be considered a pretty great draft.

Minnesota Vikings: Greatest Draft Class in the Last 20 Years

Vikings WR Justin Jefferson (18) – Brad Rempel/USA TODAY Sports

Then on the other side of the coin, there was the 2005 draft whose results will always make Vikings fans groan. This seven-player class, led by wide receiver Troy Williamson and defensive end Erasmus James started a grand total of 56 games for the team. To this day, whenever I hear Williamson’s name mentioned, it sends shivers down my spine.

But back to the task at hand. The greatest draft class that I picked for the Purple was a group that featured two long-time defensive starters and two other players who made significant contributions to the team in a shorter time span. With that, I present the 2015 Minnesota Vikings Best Draft Class.

Greatest Draft Class

With the number 11 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings chose cornerback Trae Waynes from Michigan State University. The general consensus from draft experts that year was that Waynes and Marcus Peters were the top two cornerback prospects in the draft. Some even projected Waynes as a Top 10 pick.

Waynes played five years with the Vikings and became a reliable starter in coach Mike Zimmer’s formidable defenses. Torched earlier in his career, his coverage skills matured, and he also became an effective open-field tackler. Waynes left Minnesota after the 2019 season and signed a hefty contract with the Cincinnati Bengals. Unfortunately, injuries marred his time in Cincinnati and he is now out of football.

Minnesota Vikings: Greatest Draft Class in the Last 20 Years

Vikings LB Eric Kendricks (54) – Eric Hartline/USA TODAY Sports

Two Outstanding Picks

With their second pick in this draft, the Vikings selected Eric Kendricks, a middle linebacker out the UCLA. With the Vikings, Kendricks’ was reunited with his college running mate, outside linebacker Anthony Barr. For seven seasons, Kendricks and Barr formed a solid core for Minnesota’s highly-ranked defense.

Kendricks exhibited great lateral movement, and he was equally effective in the Vikings’ zone pass defense. Although he was only selected for one Pro Bowl, Kendricks was consistently rated as one of the top middle linebackers in the game for several seasons. In a salary cap move, Kendricks was released by the Vikings after the 2022-23 season. He signed a contract with the San Diego Chargers shortly after his release.

With pick number 88 in their greatest draft class, the Minnesota Vikings selected defensive end Danielle Hunter from LSU. When Hunter entered the league, he was the youngest player in the league and was considered a raw talent. But Hunter caught on quickly and ended his rookie season with six sacks. In recognition of his play, he was named to the Pro Football Writers of America’s 2015 NFL All-Rookie team.

Hunter terrorized league quarterbacks over the first five years of his career and was frequently double-teamed. By the time he had completed the 2019 season, he was already the youngest player in NFL history to reach 50 sacks.

Injuries limited him to just seven games played over the next two years, and some thought his career might be over. But after a slow start to the season, Hunter finished the 2022-23 season with 10.5 sacks, sending a notice to the league that he was back, and he was anxious to continue his reign of terror on league quarterbacks.

Minnesota Vikings: Greatest Draft Class in the Last 20 Years

Former Vikings WR Stephon Diggs (14) – Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

Greatest Draft Class Sleeper

You could not have the greatest draft class list without a sleeper gem. This next selection in the fifth round of the 2015 draft might have been the pick that cemented my decision that this was the greatest draft class in Vikings history. With the 146th selection in the draft, the Minnesota Vikings chose wide receiver Stefon Diggs who played college football at the University of Maryland.

Diggs was the steal of that year’s draft and one of the best draft selections the Vikings have ever made. Diggs had five highly productive years with the Vikings, including the 2018 season, where he racked up 102 receptions and nine touchdowns.

He is famously remembered as the recipient of the famous “Minneapolis Miracle” catch. That was the play where Diggs caught an incredible 61-yard pass from Case Keenum to defeat the New Orleans Saints with no time remaining in the 2018 NFC Divisional Round game.

Diggs is now the favorite target of Josh Allen in Buffalo and is considered one of the premier wide receivers in the NFL. And he was rumored to be the subject of Lizzo’s 2019 hit “Truth Hurts.” The lyric that led to this speculation was “New Man on the Minnesota Vikings.” Diggs has denied the rumor.

And the Rest

The remainder of the Minnesota Vikings’ greatest draft class in 2015 was not so great. A fourth-round pick, tackle T.J. Clemmings out of Pittsburgh, was rushed into a starting role and flamed out of the league after four seasons. Tight end MyCole Pruitt, taken in the fifth round, is still in the league with the Atlanta Falcons, but he is a career backup.

Both sixth-round picks, guard Tyrus Thompson and defensive end B.J. Dubose never played a down in the league. And seventh-round selections, tackle Austin Shepherd and linebacker Edmond Robinson both had short, unremarkable careers in the NFL.

There you have it. The greatest draft class in Minnesota Vikings history. This might spark some debate, which I think is healthy. I hope you enjoyed the article.