We're just one year removed, but the Vikings' 2014 draft is shaping up to be one of the best in franchise history. It's obviously way too early to jump to such a conclusion, but the trajectories of Teddy Bridgewater and Anthony Barr are awfully promising. It got me wondering… exactly what is the best draft the Vikings have ever had?

I thought it might be easy to decide this one. I figured if I looked back through the years of picks that one or two drafts would jump off the page at me. Given all the Vikings greats over the past 50-something years I assumed there had to be a draft that produced two Hall of Famers or one HOFer and one near-miss. It didn't work out that way, so I'm enlisting the help of Vikings Journal readers to determine a winner.

It should go without saying that this endeavor is highly subjective – much like my attempt last week at determining the best draft values in Vikings history. Nevertheless, it's a fun topic to muse. Thus, I combed through all the Vikings drafts and surfaced my top contenders below, arranged by year, for the title of "Best Vikings Draft Ever."

2007
This will be forever known as the Adrian Peterson draft. Having a generational talent of that magnitude slip to the Vikings at the seventh pick altered the course of the franchise. Peterson has lost some of that luster the past seven months for all the obvious reasons, but one can't deny the impact he's had on the Vikings. Strip away the controversy, drama, frustration (call it what you will) of 2014 and we were looking at a player who was on pace to go down as (one of) the best in team history. That alone makes the 2007 draft worthy of considering among the best in Vikings history. However, the Vikings also grabbed Sidney Rice in the second round and Brian Robison in the fourth round in 2007.

2003
Traveling backwards in time, I had to stop at 2003. This draft will be remembered as the one in which the Vikings were forced to pass on the seventh overall pick because time ran out on them as they were allegedly talking trade with the Baltimore Ravens. The Jaguars and Panthers quickly made their picks (Byron Leftwich and Jordan Gross) while the NFL world pointed and laughed at the bumbling Vikings. Then the Vikings selected Kevin Williams at nine, silencing the critics. All would soon be forgiven as Williams turned into one of the best defensive tackles in the game, making six Pro Bowls and five All-Pro teams. You can bet he will garner Hall of Fame consideration when his playing days are over. The Vikings followed up the Williams pick with EJ Henderson and Nate Burleson in the second and third rounds respectively – both of whom went on to successful NFL careers. To cap it off they came away with the self-proclaimed "Steal of the Draft" in round four when they pilfered Onterrio Smith. Okay, maybe that last pick didn't work out so well. #Whizzinater

1998
This was the Randy Moss draft. First round, 21st overall. Not much more needs to be said. He was a paradigm-shifting lightning rod of ability – the most talented wide receiver I have ever seen. (Note: I said "talented," not "best"). H/t Jerry Rice. However, adding Matt Birk in the sixth round makes the case for this being the best draft in Vikings history even stronger. As I noted in my piece on all-time draft day values for the Vikings, Birk ranks at or near the top of the best bargain list. It's possible that this could someday be the first draft in Vikings history that produced two Hall of Famers.

1985
Speaking of Hall of Famers, the Vikings selected Chris Doleman with the fourth-overall pick in 1985 and he went on to appear in eight Pro Bowls and be enshrined in Canton. The Vikings followed up their Hall of Fame first-rounder with Isaac Holt in the second round, Kirk Lowdermilk with one of their three third-round picks and Tim Newton in the sixth round. Lowdermilk was a starting NFL center for a decade between Minnesota and Indianapolis, Holt went on to a nine-year career and had 23 interceptions for the Vikings and Cowboys and Newton wound up playing in 108 NFL games with the Vikings, Buccaneers and Chiefs. This is also the draft that produced Buster Rhymes, whose legacy would be to influence Chuck D of Public Enemy to bestow Trevor Tahiem Smith Jr. with the moniker "Busta Rhymes." #TheMoreYouKnow

1977
This is the draft that produced "Two-Minute" Tommy Kramer in the first round out of perennial college football powerhouse Rice. The second round gave the Vikings their starting center for the better part of a decade in the form of Dennis Swilley. What really put this particular draft over the top, however, was landing the player who would go on to be the team's all-time leading tackler in the ninth round: Scott Studwell. Two seven-year starters and a member of the Vikings Ring of Honor in one draft class. Not too shabby.

1967
The 1967 draft is tied with the next draft on this list (1963) in producing seven All-Pro honors and 14 Pro Bowl appearances – that's the second-most of each in franchise history. This of course is the draft that gave the Vikings Alan Page as the third of three first-round picks. Page was a starter for 15 years, was the first defensive player to be named MVP and was named All-Pro six times. He's an "inner-circle" Hall of Famer – maybe the best player to ever wear a Vikings uniform. Like the Moss and Peterson drafts listed above, one player alone was enough to make this draft one of the team's best-ever; however, the Vikings didn't stop there. Gene Washington, Bob Grim and Bobby Bryant were also selected in 1967 and the three would go on to combine for five Pro Bowl appearances. This draft has to be strongly considered as one of the Vikings' best.

1963
As mentioned above, this particular draft resulted in 14 Pro Bowls and seven All-Pro honors. However, linebacker Bobby Bell accounted for nine of those Pro Bowls and six of those All-Pros. He played his entire career with the Chiefs, which kind of sabotages any case for this being the best Vikings draft. Nonetheless, it's a draft worth highlighting as it also included Jim Dunaway and Paul Flatley.

1961
I'm including 1961 on this list for a few reasons. It was the first draft in Vikings history so that makes it important. It was also the draft that gave Vikings Fran Tarkenton, which is undeniably huge, and the players in this draft combined to appear in 21 Pro Bowls – more than any other Vikings draft. Of course, not all those Pro Bowls were as members of the Vikings. Furthermore, the Vikings had a team-record 20 picks in 1961 (tied with 1965 for most in team history) so they wound up selecting five players who never played in the NFL.


So those are the candidates. Which of these drafts was the best draft in Vikings history? Or would you go off the board and nominate one that I didn't include above? Perhaps the 1983 draft with Joey Browner and Carl Lee? The 1982 draft with Darrin Nelson and Steve Jordan? The 1974 draft with Fred McNeil and Matt Blair? There are many draft classes worthy of your consideration.

Go to VikingsJournal.com for all kinds of NFL Draft Coverage as well as early fantasy football rankings.

Bo Mitchell is the Vice President of Content at SportsData, head writer at VikingsJournal.com, co-host of the Fantasy Football Pants Party at 1500ESPN.com and a member of the Pro Football Writers of America.

You can follow Bo on Twitter at @Bo_Mitchell