Drafted! Rodriguez Picked in the Seventh Round by the Minnesota Vikings

By Lion Athletics

DETROIT – With the 232nd pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings select Levi Drake Rodriguez, defensive lineman, Texas A&M University-Commerce.

Rodriguez (Georgetown – Eastview) heard his name called in the seventh round of the NFL Draft on Saturday afternoon, becoming the first Lion to be drafted since 2000 and the 31st NFL/AFL draft pick in program history.

Playing for the Lions for two seasons, Rodriguez totaled 80 tackles and seven sacks in his Lion career, earning first team all-Southland Conference honors last season as well as being named to Pro Football Focus’ First Team All-America.

The last Lion to be drafted prior to Rodriguez was Antonio Wilson in 2000, who was also drafted by the Vikings. Minnesota has picked a player from A&M-Commerce for the fourth time. The other Lion draftees to the Vikings are Lion Athletics Hall of Famers Autry Beamon, Wade Wilson, and Antonio Wilson.

Here is the full list of AFL/NFL Draft picks in Lion Football history.

YearRoundPickTeamPlayerPosition
1960-AFL1—Buffalo BillsJon GilliamC
1960-AFL1—Boston PatriotsDee MackeyTE
1960-AFL1—Los Angeles ChargersJim CameronC
1960-AFL2—Oakland RaidersBob ParkerOT
1960-AFL2—Oakland RaidersSam McCordQB
1960-NFL14161Green Bay PackersJon GilliamC
1960-NFL16191Baltimore ColtsGeorge BoyntonDB
1961-NFL9121San Francisco 49ersEveristo NinoOT
1962-AFL31243Dallas TexansEveristo NinoOT
1963-NFL20279Detroit LionsGordon ScarboroughB
1963-AFL28224Kansas City ChiefsGordon ScarboroughB
1964-NFL10127San Francisco 49ersFred PolserOT
1964-AFL1398Kansas City ChiefsOrville HudsonE
1964-AFL14111Oakland RaidersFred PolserOT
1964-NFL15198Philadelphia EaglesBob BurrowsOT
1964-AFL21162Kansas City ChiefsBob BurrowsOT
1967-NFL4104Kansas City ChiefsRon ZwernemannOG
1968-NFL372New York JetsSam WaltonOT
1969-NFL492New York GiantsRich HoustonWR
1969-NFL7175Pittsburgh SteelersChad BrownDE
1969-NFL14354San Francisco 49ersTom BlackWR
1971-NFL4104Pittsburgh SteelersDwight WhiteDE
1973-NFL353Dallas CowboysHarvey MartinDE
1975-NFL12311Minnesota VikingsAutry BeamonDB
1976-NFL5132Green Bay PackersAundra ThompsonWR
1976-NFL9249Kansas City ChiefsTim CollierDB
1981-NFL8210Minnesota VikingsWade WilsonQB
1984-NFL11297St. Louis CardinalsKyle MackeyQB
1986-NFL10255St. Louis CardinalsWes SmithWR
2000-NFL4106Minnesota VikingsAntonio WilsonLB
2024-NFL7232Minnesota VikingsLevi Drake RodriguezDL