The Vikings have drafted only four quarterbacks in the first round in 62 years, and none higher that the 11th overall pick. They have the No. 11 pick again this year and are in need of a quarterback. Will they select one there, or trade up and make franchise history?
Here’s a look at the four quarterbacks the Vikings have taken in the first round.

1977: Tommy Kramer, Rice
Pick: 27th overall. Running backs Ricky Bell (Buccaneers) and Tony Dorsett (Cowboys) went 1-2. Kramer was the second quarterback selected after the St. Louis Cardinals chose Missouri’s Steve Pisarkiewicz 19th overall. Fourteen quarterbacks were drafted over 12 rounds. Kramer was the only one to make a Pro Bowl.
Why Tommy? Fran Tarkenton was league MVP in 1975 and led the NFL in completions for a second consecutive year in 1976, when the Vikings reached the Super Bowl for the fourth time in eight years. But “The Scrambler” also turned 37 two months before the 1977 draft. Kramer was MVP of the Senior Bowl and broke every major passing record in Rice history. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2012.
As a Viking: Backed up Tarkenton for two years before becoming the starter for 11 seasons. Posted a 56-58 career record, including 2-2 in four trips to the postseason. A 55.1% passer with 159 touchdowns, 158 interceptions and a 72.8 rating. Missed 60 starts because of injuries. Won the 1986 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award while earning his lone Pro Bowl nod and second-team All-Pro honors. Nicknamed “Two-Minute Tommy”; engineered a league-high four of his 19 career game-winning drives in 1980, including his “Miracle at the Met” Hail Mary to Ahmad Rashad. Signed with Saints in 1990.
1999: Daunte Culpepper, Central Florida
Pick: 11th overall. He was the fourth of five quarterbacks selected in the top 12 after Tim Couch (Browns), Donovan McNabb (Eagles) and Akili Smith (Bengals) went 1-3. Cade McNown went 12th (Bears). Only McNabb and Culpepper made a Pro Bowl.
Why Daunte? Randall Cunningham, who ignited rookie phenom Randy Moss and the Vikings’ record-setting offense en route to the 1998 NFC Championship Game, was turning 36 in 1999. Culpepper was built like a tight end (6-4, 260), moved like a running back and set virtually every UCF passing record, including the NCAA single-season completion percentage mark (.736) as a senior. The Vikings took Culpepper with an eye on 2000, signing 32-year-old Jeff George to back up Cunningham.
As a Viking: Zero passing attempts as the No. 3 QB in 1999. Went 11-5 with a league-high 33 touchdowns as the Vikings reached the NFC Championship Game in 2000. Went 38-42 in the regular season and 2-2 in the postseason, including a brilliant four-touchdown performance in a 34-31 loss to the Packers and Brett Favre at Lambeau Field during the 2004 season. One of the league’s top offensive weapons in 2004, leading the NFL with franchise records for passing yards (4,717), touchdown passes (39), passer rating (110.9) and combined yards passing and rushing (5,123). His future was so bright, the Vikings had no reason to draft Aaron Rodgers in 2005, selecting receiver Troy Williamson seventh and defensive end Erasmus James 18th instead. Three-time Pro Bowler who completed 64.4% of his passes with 135 touchdowns, 86 interceptions and a 91.5 passer rating. Ran for 2,476 yards and 29 touchdowns. Started 80 of 87 games from 2000 to Week 7 of the 2005 season before suffering a devastating knee injury at Carolina on what would be his final snap as a Viking. Traded to Miami for a second-round draft pick in 2006.