The 2026 NFL season is here, and we have updated our Pre-Season Football Monitor.

As we have expanded our projects, we can’t say we've expanded the team behind the scenes!  As a result, we are a little behind on this one, and we could only post the top 50 of the Pre-Season Monitor at this time.

We will add more during the season (and yes, we know that defeats the purpose of pre-season), but thank you for your patience.

We have unveiled the Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Wide Receivers, Tight Ends, and Offensive Linemen.  Now we have Defensive Linemen/Linebackers/Pass Rushers/EDGE.

Note that we will separate this group next year into pure pass rushers and disruptors. We hoped to do that this year, but our work on the United States Athletic Hall of Fame took over our time!

As you will see, the 12 in this category should be split into two groups in the future.

They are:

#1 DL/LB/EDGE, #1 Overall: Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams, Not Ranked Last Year.

#2 DL/LB/EDGE, #7 Overall: Myles Garrett, Los Angeles Rams, #9 Overall Last Year.

#3 DL/LB/EDGE, #9 Overall: Von Miller, Dallas Cowboys, #6 Overall Last Year.

#4 DL/LB/EDGE, #10 Overall: T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers, #7 Overall Last Year.

#5 DL/LB/EDGE, #13 Overall: Khalil Mack, Los Angeles Chargers, #8 Overall Last Year.

#6 DL/LB/EDGE, #14 Overall: Calais Campbell, Baltimore Ravens, #12 Overall Last Year.

#7 DL/LB/EDGE, #15 Overall: Cameron Jordan, New Orleans Saints, #14 Overall Last Year.

#8 DL/LB/EDGE, #19 Overall: Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs, #15 Overall Last Year.

#9 DL/LB/EDGE, #20 Overall: Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers, #19 Overall Last Year.

#10 DL/LB/EDGE, #29 Overall, Micah Parsons, Green Bay Packers, #54 Overall Last Year.

#11 DL/LB/EDGE, #36 Overall, Danielle Hunter, Houston Texans, #44 Overall Last Year.

#12 DL/LB/EDGE, #39 Overall, Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers, #42 Overall Last Year.

Look for more updates soon!

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the top 50 of each major North American sports team. That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists and consistently look to update them when necessary and based on necessity. As such, we are delighted to present our post-2023 revision of our top 50 Minnesota Vikings.

As for all of our top 50 players in football, we look at the following:

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in the National Football League.

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

4.  Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles that are not reflected in a stat sheet.

Last year, Minnesota had a losing record (7-10) but still saw some fluctuation in our Top 50 with one new entrant and three elevations.

As always, we present our top five, which saw no changes:

1. Alan Page
2. Fran Tarkenton
3. Randall McDaniel
4. Carl Eller
5. Mick Tinglehoff

You can find the entire list here.

Safety Harrison Smith inched up one spot to #28.

Defensive End Danielle Hunter, now with the Houston Texans, moved to #30 from #36.

Now, with the Atlanta Falcons, Quarterback Kirk Cousins has moved from #38 to #43.

The lone new entrant is former Offensive Player of the Year, Wide Receiver Justin Jefferson.  He debuts at #46.

We thank you for your continued support of our lists on Notinhalloffame.com.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team. That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists out and we always consistently look to update them when we can and based on necessity. As such, we are very happy to present our post 2022 revision of our top 50 Minnesota Vikings.

As for all of our top 50 players in football we look at the following:

1. Advanced Statistics.

2. Traditional statistics and how they finished in the National Football League.

3. Playoff accomplishments.

4. Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

Last year, the Vikings had an excellent regular season, but were unable to go deep into the playoffs. There were three new elevations and one new entrant based on the 2022 Season.

As always, we present our top five, which was not affected by the last season:

1. Alan Page

2. Fran Tarkenton

3. Randall McDaniel

4. Carl Eller

5. Mick Tingelhoff

You can find the entire list here.

Safety, Harrison Smith, inched up one rung to #29.

Running Back, and (as of this writing) Free Agent, Dalvin Cook, advanced nine spots to #32.

Defensive End, Danielle Hunter climbed up four spots to #36.

Quarterback, Kirk Cousins, who added his third Pro Bowl in Minnesota went from #48 to #43.

The new entrant is Linebacker, Eric Kendricks, who is now with the Los Angeles Chargers. He enters at #50.

It is notable that Wide Receiver, Justin Jefferson, just missed out on a spot despite only playing three seasons.

We welcome your input and comments and as always, we thank you for your support.

Danielle Hunter arrived in Minnesota as a 2015 Third Round Pick who had to survive the SEC grind while playing at LSU. Hunter was not a starter in his first two years, but saw significant action in passing situations, so much so, that he was third in the NFL in Sacks in 2016 with 12.5.

Hunter entered 2017 as a starter, and in 2018, he had what was arguably his best year to date. He accrued 14.5 Sacks with 21 Tackles for Loss and was named a Second Team All-Pro and to the Pro Bowl. If 2018 was not his best, then it would be 2019, where he matched his 14.5 Sack total, and was fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting.

The momentum that he had was derailed when a herniated disc kept him out of the entire 2020 season. A torn pectoral muscle cost him over half of 2021, but he was back for 2022, collecting 10.5 Sacks and a third Pro Bowl.  In 2024, Hunter had what was argaubly his best season as a Viking with 16.5 Sacks and a league-leading 23 Tackles for Loss.  This would be his swan song in Minnesota as Hunter signed with the Houston Texans in 2024.  As a Viking, Hunter accumulated 87.5 Sacks, 108 Tackles for Loss and 134 Quarterback Hits.

2025 Pre-Season Rank #44, 2024 Pre-Season Rank #57, 2023 Pre-Season Rank #87, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #102 2021 Pre-Season Rank #102, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #90.  Peak Period: 2018-19/2023-25

Danielle Hunter may not have been even a Pro Bowl Selection (though he was a Second Team All-Pro), but the current Houston Texan has evolved into one of the most effective and consistent pass rushers in the game.

Hunter broke the 100 Sack mark last year, and on the loaded Texans defense, he is poised to get his fifth double-digit year in that stat.  While he might be on the north side of 30, he still owns that sick blend of finesse and ferocity, and though he is revered in football circles, he often gets left behind in general football conversation.

A monster season puts him in the conversation, as would five more great ones; he is capable of both scenarios despite being 31.  This could be the year that gets him in.