Former Vikings 5th-Round Pick Heads to Jacksonville
The Minnesota Vikings made a number of releases this week in order to form their initial 53-man roster.
One of those releases came as a surprise, with the Vikings opting to waive 2022 5th-round pick Esezi Otomewo.
Now, the former Vikings defender is heading to the Jacksonville Jaguars to join their practice squad. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported the news, tweeting, “Former #Vikings DL Esezi Otomewo, a fifth-round pick last year, is expected to sign to the #Jaguars’ practice squad, per source.”
Former Vikings 5th-Round Pick Esezi Otomewo Joins Jaguars
Otomewo made the 53-man roster last season in his rookie year. He appeared in five games for the Vikings and recorded 5 tackles, including a tackle for loss.
The defensive lineman played his collegiate ball at the University of Minnesota, giving him the status of a “hometown” draft pick. Otomewo played four seasons for the Golden Gophers and recorded 81 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks.
When James Lynch was lost for the season with a torn ACL, it seemed to open the door for the possibility that Otomewo could make the roster again in 2023. Instead, the Vikings have waived the young defensive lineman.
Otomewo played the first two preseason games this season, but he sat out of the third and final game against the Arizona Cardinals. In all, he played 63 defensive snaps and recorded 3 tackles along with 3 pressures.
Now, the former Vikings defender will head to Jacksonville and join a defensive line that includes names like Folorunso Fatukasi, Angelo Blackson, Roy Robertson-Harris, Jeremiah Ledbetter, Adam Gotsis, and Tyler Lacy.
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Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.