The Vikings have parted ways with three longtime players this offseason, releasing Adam Thielen and Eric Kendricks in March and then jettisoning Dalvin Cook this month.
All three had a significant impact on the franchise and all three will be best remembered for wearing Purple, even though Thielen is now in Carolina, Kendricks is with the Chargers and Cook is considering his options.
So how many figure to end up in the Vikings’ Ring of Honor? Let’s examine their candidacy. (An announcement is usually made shortly after training camp opens in late July.)
WR Adam Thielen
The case for Thielen: One of the best local stories in Vikings’ history, Thielen was born in Detroit Lakes, Minn., grew up rooting for the Vikings and then attended Division II Minnesota State in Mankato. Thielen wasn’t on any team’s radar coming out of college, but managed to get an invite to the Vikings’ rookie camp in 2013. He played extensively on special teams in his first two seasons in 2014 and 2015, but then caught 69 passes for 967 yards and five touchdowns in his third season. Thielen took off after that and is third on the team’s all-time receptions list with 534, behind Cris Carter (1,004) and Randy Moss (587). Thielen’s 6,682 yards receiving are fourth on the Vikings’ list and his 55 touchdowns are third.
The case against Thielen: Thielen made back-to-back Pro Bowls in 2017 and 2018, but he wasn’t a regular selection and one could make the argument he benefitted from Stefon Diggs and then Justin Jefferson’s presence on his team. The Vikings’ deepest playoff run with Thielen came in 2017, when they were blown out by Philadelphia in the NFC title game. Thielen also battled injuries that cost him playing time from 2019 to 2021 and, although he played in all 17 regular-season games in 2022, it was clear the 32-year-old had lost speed and separation ability because of injuries.
Does he make it? Thielen is the biggest shoo-in on this list. Anyone who thinks his No. 19 might be retired is dreaming, considering Randy Moss’ No. 84 remains in circulation. But the Ring of Honor was built to honor guys like Thielen.
LB Eric Kendricks
The case for Kendricks: A second-round pick by the Vikings in 2015, Kendricks started 113 of the 117 games in which he played at middle linebacker. His 579 solo tackles place him eighth on the Vikings’ all-time list, according to Pro Football Reference, and he’s also eighth in tackles for a loss with 54. Pro Football Reference credited Kendricks with 919 total tackles; he also was fifth in franchise history with 51 passes defended. Five of his 15 career sacks came in 2021 and he picked off nine passes in eight seasons.
The case against Kendricks: He was a very solid player but only made one Pro Bowl appearance as a Viking. There are 27 men in the Ring of Honor, including 22 former players. Only two of them, Matt Blair and Scott Studwell, were linebackers. Chad Greenway, who played for the Vikings for 10 seasons, likely will join that list in the next few years.
Does he make it? No. Kendricks would get into the Vikings’ ring of very good but the guess here is he doesn’t get the nod.
RB Dalvin Cook
The case for Cook: A second-round pick in 2017, Cook has an interesting argument. He rushed for 5,993 yards on 1,282 carries (a 4.7 average) in 73 games from 2017 to 2022. That puts him third on the team’s all-time list and gives him 106 more yards in 20 fewer games than 2007 Ring of Honor inductee Chuck Foreman. Cook also rushed for 47 touchdowns, placing him behind only Adrian Peterson (97), Foreman and Bill Brown (51 apiece). Cook was named to the Pro Bowl in each of his last four seasons with Minnesota.
The case against Cook: Foreman’s ability to run and catch the football made him special and he had 115 more receptions than Cook’s total of 221. There’s another issue. Robert Smith, who played for the Vikings from 1993 to 2000 before abruptly retiring, isn’t in the Ring despite being second all-time on the rushing list. He had 6,818 yards and 32 touchdowns on 1,1411 attempts (a 4.8 average) in 98 games. The only running backs in the Ring are Brown and Foreman.
Does he make it? Adrian Peterson appears almost certain to be the next running back to be inducted. So will Cook join him one day? No. Cook probably would have had an excellent case if he hadn’t missed 25 games during his time in Minnesota.
Who's next to go into the Ring of Honor?
The Vikings inducted defensive end Jared Allen last year, so who will be the 28th member?
One glaring omission is wide receiver Anthony Carter. There is a case to be made that until Carter is inducted Thielen should be left out. That isn’t an issue now since Thielen’s career isn’t finished, but it could become one.
Carter, who played for the Vikings from 1985 until 1993, is third in franchise history with 7,636 yards receiving, putting him behind Cris Carter and Moss. His 478 receptions as a Viking are fifth all-time and his 52 touchdowns are fourth.
Carter was phenomenal for the Vikings in their 1987 playoff run to the NFC title game. He had six receptions for 79 yards and a touchdown in a win at New Orleans; 10 receptions for 227 yards in a shocking upset at San Francisco; and then seven receptions for 85 yards in the conference championship game loss at Washington. His yardage against the 49ers remains the second-most ever in a playoff game.
Carter also averaged 18.4 yards and had a touchdown on 12 punt returns in the three playoff games.
Carter, now 62, began his professional career with the Michigan Panthers of the USFL after playing college football at Michigan. He had been drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the 12th round of the 1983 NFL draft.
After Carter signed with the Dolphins in 1985, he was quickly dealt to the Vikings for a linebacker and a second-round pick. Carter would be elected to the Pro Bowl from 1987 through 1989.
If Carter isn’t the choice, and that’s a real possibility, don’t be surprised if it’s Greenway.
