EAGAN, Minn. — Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman and the rest of Minnesota's front office currently have eight selections in the 2019 NFL Draft, which begins tonight in Nashville.
The Vikings will look to bolster their roster over a three-day period as they look to fill both short and long-term needs.
Minnesota's first pick is currently slated to be the 18th overall pick in the first round, a spot the Vikings have been in twice before. The Vikings chose a defensive player both times … will they do the same this time around?
This is a look at what the Vikings have done in franchise history with their current stock of draft picks.
There is a current player included in this group, along with a host of players who made notable contributions in their time in Purple, headlined by Ring of Honor linebacker Scott Studwell.
Studwell, who played from 1977-90, has been in the Vikings personnel department since 1991. He is working his **final draft** before retiring, which added a **heaping dose of sentimentality** to the week.
Here are the 14 players that have been selected from spots that correspond with Minnesota's 2019 slots:
Round 1, No. 18 Overall
Previous selections: CB Dewayne Washington in 1994 (Round 1); DE Erasmus James in 2005 (Round 1)
Washington spent four seasons in Minnesota and recorded 10 of his 31 career interceptions. He later played for Pittsburgh, Jacksonville and Kansas City. James recorded 5.0 sacks in three seasons with the Vikings, but was traded in 2008. He played just four total seasons in the NFL.
Round 2, No. 50 Overall
Previous selection: RB Ed Marinaro in 1972 (Round 2)
Marinaro, the only player drafted by Minnesota out of Cornell, rushed 306 times for 1,007 yards and four touchdowns and caught 125 passes for 1,008 yards and seven scores in four seasons with the Vikings.
Round 3, No. 81 Overall
Previous selection: None
The Vikings have never selected a player with the 81st overall pick in any draft.
Round 4, No. 120 Overall
Previous selections: T Frank McClendon in 1965 (Round 9), DB Jim Ferguson in 1974 (Round 5), WR Hassan Jones in 1986 (Round 5); CB Kenny Wright in 1999 (Round 4); LB Gerald Hodges in 2013 (Round 4); LB Ben Gedeon in 2017 (Round 4)
Jones' best season came in 1990 when he had 51 catches for 810 yards and seven touchdowns. He played seven seasons in Purple and caught all 24 career touchdowns with Minnesota. Wright started 27 games for the Vikings and eventually played for five teams in nine seasons. Hodges made 10 starts and appeared in 29 games for Minnesota, but the Vikings traded him in October of 2016. Gedeon has started 17 games in two seasons in Minnesota's base defense and is known as a strong special teams asset. McClendon and Ferguson did not make the team.
Round 6, No. 190 Overall
Previous selection: LB Mike Nattiel in 2003 (Round 6)
Nattiel played just two seasons in his NFL career, both with the Vikings. His career highlight was an 80-yard interception return against the Seahawks in Week 14 of the 2003 season.
Round 6, No. 209 Overall
Previous selection: WR Howard Twilley in 1966 (Round 14)
Twilley was also selected by the Miami Dolphins in the 12th round of the American Football League's final draft. He opted for South Beach instead of the North Shore and totaled 212 receptions for 3,064 yards and 23 touchdowns in 11 seasons with the Dolphins.
Round 7, No. 247 Overall
Previous selection: TE Rich Kotite in 1965 (Round 18)
Kotite didn't make the Vikings roster, but he did play for the Giants in 1967 and the Steelers in 1968 before returning to New York and playing another three seasons for the Giants. He totaled 17 receptions for 213 yards and five touchdowns. Kotite eventually became head coach of the Eagles (1991-94) and Jets (1995-96).
Round 7, No. 250 Overall
Previous selections: DB Tom Sakal in 1968 (Round 10); LB Scott Studwell in 1977 (Round 9)
Sakal, a Gophers alum and captain of the 1967 Big Ten Champions, did not play for the Vikings. Instead, he was drafted by the Army and sent to Vietnam in 1969 as a combat soldier. Studwell is one of five Vikings to appear in more than 200 regular-season games (201). He set franchise records for tackles in a game (24 against Detroit in 1985), season (230 in 1981) and career (1,981 on defense and special teams).
