Viktor
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- Mar 19, 2019
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Matt Birk, C | No. 173 Overall, 1998 | Years with Vikings: 1998-2008
Every once in a while, diamonds in the rough are unearthed beyond the first few rounds of the NFL Draft – and that's exactly what happened when the Vikings drafted Minnesota native Matt Birk.
The former Cretin-Derham Hall and Harvard standout became a full-time starter in his third NFL season, which also marked his first career Pro Bowl nod. Birk garnered six selections to the all-star game, tying Mick Tingelhoff for the most Pro Bowl appearances by a Vikings center.
Birk missed the 2005 season with a hip injury but bounced back in 2006, starting all 16 games that season. In 2007 he helped block for rookie Adrian Peterson, who racked up 1,341 rushing yards en route to NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.
Birk wasn't just as an asset to Minnesota on the field. His commitment to giving back led to his selection as the Minnesota Vikings Community Man of the Year for six straight seasons.
After his time with the Vikings, Birk went on to play four seasons for the Ravens. In February 2013, he helped Baltimore defeat San Francisco in Super Bowl XLVII.
– By Lindsey Young
John Sullivan, C | No. 187 Overall, 2008 | Years with Vikings: 2008-2015
If a team can get a sixth-rounder to make any sort of impact, it's usually viewed as a win. But if you can get a solid starter, especially on the offensive line, that's a home run.
Sullivan was a sixth-rounder in 2008, and although he didn't start as a rookie (behind Birk), he started all but three games over the next six seasons from 2009 to 2014. He helped keep quarterbacks upright, paved the way for Peterson, brought a strong measure of leadership to Minnesota's locker room and positively impacted the community.
A back injury in the 2015 preseason ended Sullivan's time in Minnesota, but he played three more seasons after leaving the Vikings and started in Super Bowl LIII for the Rams. Sully can easily be viewed as one of the best sixth-rounders in franchise history.
– By Eric Smith