Daunte Culpepper

Daunte Richard Culpepper is a NFL quarterback who has played for the Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins and Oakland Raiders other than the Detroit Lions team. At present, he is with the Sacramento Mountain Lions team since 2010. The Minnesota Vikings drafted Culpepper, who played football at the University of Central Florida, in 1999. He was the 11th pick overall.

Culpepper was the starting quarterback for the Vikings from 2000 to 2005. He then spent one year with the Miami Dolphins, playing in four games and another season with the Oakland Raiders, competing in seven contests.

In 2004, Culpepper posted his best season ever, completing 379 of 548 passes (69.2%) for 4,717 yards. He threw 39 touchdowns and earned a rating of 110.9. On October 30, 2005, he suffered a debilitating knee injury against the Carolina Panthers. The QB damaged sustained severe damage to three of the four major ligaments in his knee like ACL, PCL and MCL and was placed on the injured reserve list. After voicing dismay with the Vikings and expressing his wishes to play for another club, he was traded to the Miami Dolphins.

He played just four games with the Dolphins, during which he was sacked 21 times. Obviously still trying to recover from his injuries, he struggled on the field. Along with his knee problems, Culpepper was also suffering from a shoulder injury. After the 2006 season, Miami released him, and the Oakland Raiders eventually signed Culpepper. After starting in six games for the Raiders, a hamstring injury sidelined the quarterback for the rest of the season.

When healthy, Culpepper is a dynamic athlete with sharp passing skills, good mobility and sound decision making capabilities. Health will be a major issue for the aging quarterback who has been an All-Pro player twice and been selected for the Pro Bowl three times.