Minnesota has produced 89 NFL draft picks since 1980, including 5 first-rounders — 54th all-time among college programs.
Big Ten · NFL draft picks 1980–2026 · 54th nationally
Minnesota College Draft History
Minnesota has produced 89 NFL draft picks since 1980, including 5 first-rounders — 54th all-time among college programs.
- Total picks
- 89
- First-rounders
- 5
- No. 1 overall
- 0
- Pro Bowlers
- 44% of picks
- Pro Bowl nods
- 10
- Hall of Famers
- 0
Notable Minnesota draft picks
Ranked by Hall of Fame status, Pro Bowls, and career value.
Karl Mecklenburg
Denver Broncos
3× All-Pro 6× Pro Bowl
180 games · 10 yrs as starter
Antoine Winfield Jr.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1× All-Pro 2× Pro Bowl
85 games · 6 yrs as starter
Marion Barber III
Dallas Cowboys
1× Pro Bowl
99 games · 3 yrs as starter
Chip Lohmiller
Washington Commanders
1× Pro Bowl
135 games
Ben Hamilton
Denver Broncos
118 games · 7 yrs as starter
De'Vondre Campbell
Atlanta Falcons
1× All-Pro
128 games · 9 yrs as starter
Eric Decker
Denver Broncos
111 games · 5 yrs as starter
Damien Wilson
Dallas Cowboys
127 games · 5 yrs as starter
Minnesota draft trends
Picks by class year, position group, and the NFL clubs that shop here most.
Picks by draft class
Earlier classes
Positions produced
- LB 16
- DB 13
- WR 8
- RB 7
- DT 6
- G 6
- T 6
- TE 5
- C 5
- CB 4
- DE 3
- S 2
NFL clubs that draft here
- MIN Minnesota Vikings 6
- TB Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6
- WAS Washington Commanders 6
- DEN Denver Broncos 5
- NYG New York Giants 5
- PIT Pittsburgh Steelers 5
- ATL Atlanta Falcons 4
- BAL Baltimore Ravens 4
Every Minnesota draft pick
89 selections, newest class first.
| Pick | Player | Pos | NFL team | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 |
Deven Eastern
Shakopee, MN
|
DT | SEA Seattle Seahawks | Awaiting debut |
| 2025 |
Aireontae Ersery
Kansas City, MO
|
OL | HOU Houston Texans | 16 games · 1 yrs as starter 7 career AV |
| 2025 |
Justin Walley
Diberville, MS
|
CB | IND Indianapolis Colts | Awaiting debut |
| 2025 |
Cody Lindenberg
Anoka, MN
|
LB | LV Las Vegas Raiders | 17 games 1 career AV |
| 2024 |
Tyler Nubin
Saint Charles, IL
|
DB | NYG New York Giants | 26 games · 2 yrs as starter 9 career AV |
| 2023 |
John Michael Schmitz
Flossmoor, IL
|
OL | NYG New York Giants | 41 games · 3 yrs as starter 14 career AV |
| 2023 |
Jordan Howden
Las Vegas, NV
|
DB | NO New Orleans Saints | 49 games 7 career AV |
| 2023 |
Terell Smith
Snellville, GA
|
DB | CHI Chicago Bears | 26 games 4 career AV |
| 2022 |
Boye Mafe
Golden Valley, MN
|
DE | SEA Seattle Seahawks | 65 games · 1 yrs as starter 16 career AV |
| 2022 |
Daniel Faalele
Melbourne, VIC
|
T | BAL Baltimore Ravens | 66 games · 2 yrs as starter 18 career AV |
| 2022 |
Esezi Otomewo
Indianapolis, IN
|
DT | MIN Minnesota Vikings | 21 games 2 career AV |
| 2022 |
Ko Kieft
Sioux Center, IA
|
TE | TB Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 53 games · 1 yrs as starter 1 career AV |
| 2021 |
Rashod Bateman
Tifton, GA
|
WR | BAL Baltimore Ravens | 64 games · 3 yrs as starter 20 career AV |
| 2021 |
Benjamin St-Juste
Rosemere, QC
|
DB | WAS Washington Commanders | 70 games · 3 yrs as starter 14 career AV |
| 2020 |
Antoine Winfield Jr.
1× All-Pro
2× Pro Bowl
|
S | TB Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 85 games · 6 yrs as starter 44 career AV |
| 2020 |
Tyler Johnson
Minneapolis, MN
|
WR | TB Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 61 games 9 career AV |
| 2020 |
Kamal Martin
Burnsville, MN
|
LB | GB Green Bay Packers | 16 games 4 career AV |
| 2020 |
Carter Coughlin
Eden Prairie, MN
|
LB | NYG New York Giants | 56 games 5 career AV |
| 2020 |
Chris Williamson
Gainesville, GA
|
CB | NYG New York Giants | 5 games |
| 2019 |
Blake Cashman
Eden Prairie, MN
|
LB | NYJ New York Jets | 71 games · 3 yrs as starter 25 career AV |
| 2017 |
Jalen Myrick
Bloomingdale, GA
|
CB | JAX Jacksonville Jaguars | 5 games |
| 2016 |
Eric Murray
Milwaukee, WI
|
CB | KC Kansas City Chiefs | 136 games · 5 yrs as starter 25 career AV |
| 2016 |
De'Vondre Campbell
1× All-Pro
|
OLB | ATL Atlanta Falcons | 128 games · 9 yrs as starter 51 career AV |
| 2015 |
Maxx Williams
Waconia, MN
|
TE | BAL Baltimore Ravens | 83 games · 2 yrs as starter 8 career AV |
| 2015 |
Damien Wilson
Gloster, MS
|
ILB | DAL Dallas Cowboys | 127 games · 5 yrs as starter 31 career AV |
| 2015 |
David Cobb
Killeen, TX
|
RB | TEN Tennessee Titans | 7 games 1 career AV |
| 2015 |
Cedric Thompson
|
S | MIA Miami Dolphins | No regular-season snaps |
| 2014 |
Ra'Shede Hageman
Minneapolis, MN
|
DT | ATL Atlanta Falcons | 44 games · 1 yrs as starter 8 career AV |
| 2014 |
Brock Vereen
Valencia, CA
|
DB | CHI Chicago Bears | 19 games 2 career AV |
| 2010 |
Eric Decker
Cold Spring, MN
|
WR | DEN Denver Broncos | 111 games · 5 yrs as starter 45 career AV |
| 2010 |
Nate Triplett
|
LB | MIN Minnesota Vikings | 8 games |
| 2008 |
Dominique Barber
|
DB | HOU Houston Texans | 39 games 5 career AV |
| 2007 |
Matt Spaeth
|
TE | PIT Pittsburgh Steelers | 123 games · 6 yrs as starter 2 career AV |
| 2006 |
Laurence Maroney
|
RB | NE New England Patriots | 49 games 26 career AV |
| 2006 |
Anthony Montgomery
|
NT | WAS Washington Commanders | 42 games · 1 yrs as starter 14 career AV |
| 2006 |
Greg Eslinger
|
C | DEN Denver Broncos | No regular-season snaps |
| 2006 |
Mark Setterstrom
|
G | LAR St. Louis Rams | 19 games 5 career AV |
| 2005 |
Marion Barber III
1× Pro Bowl
|
RB | DAL Dallas Cowboys | 99 games · 3 yrs as starter 39 career AV |
| 2004 |
Thomas Tapeh
|
FB | PHI Philadelphia Eagles | 41 games · 2 yrs as starter 2 career AV |
| 2003 | Michael Lehan | DB | CLE Cleveland Browns | 67 games · 1 yrs as starter 9 career AV |
| 2002 | Ron Johnson | WR | BAL Baltimore Ravens | 22 games 1 career AV |
| 2002 | Matt Anderle | T | LAC San Diego Chargers | No regular-season snaps |
| 2002 | Stylez G. White | DE | HOU Houston Texans | 63 games · 2 yrs as starter 15 career AV |
| 2001 | Willie Middlebrooks | DB | DEN Denver Broncos | 56 games 4 career AV |
| 2001 | Karon Riley | LB | CHI Chicago Bears | 25 games 1 career AV |
| 2001 | Ben Hamilton | G | DEN Denver Broncos | 118 games · 7 yrs as starter 54 career AV |
| 2001 | Adam Haayer | T | TEN Tennessee Titans | 20 games 4 career AV |
| 2000 | Tyrone Carter | DB | MIN Minnesota Vikings | 158 games · 2 yrs as starter 27 career AV |
| 2000 | Thomas Hamner | RB | PHI Philadelphia Eagles | No regular-season snaps |
| 1998 | Lamanzer Williams | DE | JAX Jacksonville Jaguars | 2 games |
| 1998 | Ryan Thelwell | WR | SF San Francisco 49ers | 6 games 2 career AV |
| 1996 | Chris Darkins | DB | GB Green Bay Packers | 14 games 1 career AV |
| 1996 | Craig Sauer | LB | ATL Atlanta Falcons | 73 games 9 career AV |
| 1992 | Sean Lumpkin | DB | NO New Orleans Saints | 67 games · 2 yrs as starter 13 career AV |
| 1991 | Chris Thome | C | MIN Minnesota Vikings | 11 games 1 career AV |
| 1991 | Mike Sunvold | DT | TB Tampa Bay Buccaneers | No regular-season snaps |
| 1991 | Mark Drabczak | G | NO New Orleans Saints | No regular-season snaps |
| 1990 | Darrell Thompson | RB | GB Green Bay Packers | 60 games · 2 yrs as starter 16 career AV |
| 1990 | Jon Melander | G | NE New England Patriots | 54 games · 2 yrs as starter 16 career AV |
| 1990 | Eddie Miles | LB | PIT Pittsburgh Steelers | 1 games |
| 1990 | Jon Leverenz | LB | WAS Washington Commanders | No regular-season snaps |
| 1990 | Ron Goetz | LB | MIN Minnesota Vikings | No regular-season snaps |
| 1989 | Brian Williams | C | NYG New York Giants | 129 games · 4 yrs as starter 27 career AV |
| 1988 | Chip Lohmiller 1× Pro Bowl | K | WAS Washington Commanders | 135 games 19 career AV |
| 1988 | Troy Wolkow | G | NE New England Patriots | No regular-season snaps |
| 1988 | Gary Hadd | DT | DET Detroit Lions | 15 games 2 career AV |
| 1988 | Brian Bonner | LB | SF San Francisco 49ers | 6 games |
| 1988 | Gary Couch | WR | NO New Orleans Saints | No regular-season snaps |
| 1987 | Mark Dusbabek | LB | TEN Houston Oilers | 31 games · 1 yrs as starter 7 career AV |
| 1987 | Bruce Holmes | LB | KC Kansas City Chiefs | 4 games 1 career AV |
| 1987 | Ray Hitchcock | C | WAS Washington Commanders | 5 games |
| 1986 | Kevin Starks | TE | ATL Atlanta Falcons | No regular-season snaps |
| 1985 | Andre Harris | DB | PIT Pittsburgh Steelers | No regular-season snaps |
| 1985 | Kerry Glenn | DB | NYJ New York Jets | 74 games 9 career AV |
| 1985 | Mark Vonder Haar | DT | TEN Houston Oilers | No regular-season snaps |
| 1984 | Jay Carroll | TE | TB Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 32 games |
| 1984 | Randy Rasmussen | C | PIT Pittsburgh Steelers | 43 games 4 career AV |
| 1984 | Jim Gallery | K | TB Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 19 games -1 career AV |
| 1983 | Todd Hallstrom | T | WAS Washington Commanders | No regular-season snaps |
| 1983 | Karl Mecklenburg 3× All-Pro 6× Pro Bowl | LB | DEN Denver Broncos | 180 games · 10 yrs as starter 93 career AV |
| 1982 | Jim Fahnhorst | LB | MIN Minnesota Vikings | 82 games · 2 yrs as starter 23 career AV |
| 1982 | Wally Kersten | T | LAR Los Angeles Rams | 3 games |
| 1982 | Ken Dallafior | G | PIT Pittsburgh Steelers | 87 games · 4 yrs as starter 26 career AV |
| 1982 | Chester Cooper | WR | SEA Seattle Seahawks | No regular-season snaps |
| 1981 | Marion Barber Jr. | RB | NYJ New York Jets | 85 games · 1 yrs as starter 5 career AV |
| 1981 | Jeff Schuh | LB | CIN Cincinnati Bengals | 87 games · 2 yrs as starter 13 career AV |
| 1981 | Garry White | RB | SF San Francisco 49ers | No regular-season snaps |
| 1980 | Elmer Bailey | WR | MIA Miami Dolphins | 31 games 1 career AV |
| 1980 | Greg Murtha | T | PHI Philadelphia Eagles | 5 games |
Big Ten programs by draft picks
How Minnesota compares with the rest of the league.
About this program's draft record
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Minnesota in the NFL draft
Minnesota has produced 89 NFL draft picks between 1980 and 2026, including 5 first-round selections. 4 of those picks (4%) went on to make a Pro Bowl.
Minnesota ranks among college football’s most productive NFL pipelines. FantasyHQ lists every Minnesota draft pick from 1980 through 2026 — 89 selections, 5 first-rounders, 4 Pro Bowl alumni. Current conference: Big Ten.
How to use this page
- Scan the notable alumni for the program's highest-impact NFL careers.
- Read the class-by-class bars to spot the peak recruiting-to-draft cycles.
- Open a draft year to see the full class, or a conference peer to compare pipelines.
Frequently asked questions
How many NFL draft picks has Minnesota produced?
Minnesota has 89 NFL draft picks in FantasyHQ’s archive (1980–2026), including 5 first-rounders. See the full list at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/minnesota-golden-gophers.
Who are the most accomplished NFL players from Minnesota?
Notable Minnesota draftees include Karl Mecklenburg, Antoine Winfield Jr., Marion Barber III, Chip Lohmiller. Browse career outcomes at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/minnesota-golden-gophers.
When was Minnesota’s most recent NFL draft pick?
Minnesota’s most recent pick in the archive is from the 2026 NFL Draft. See year-by-year totals at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/minnesota-golden-gophers.