The last time the Minnesota Vikings selected a player with the first overall pick in the draft, they were able to land legendary Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive tackle Ron Yary in the 1968 NFL/AFL Draft.
The fact that the first pick in the draft is so coveted isn’t a mystery. At that point, teams get their pick of the litter when it comes to talent and can have an excellent opportunity to take a player who can help their franchise for a long time, much like the Vikings did in 1968 as well as 1961 when they took running back Tommy Mason.