3 Young Vikings Defenders Whose Roles Could Increase in 2023
The Minnesota Vikings have a number of intriguing young players on their roster right now, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. Unfortunately, some of them are shrouded in mystery because of injury issues early on in their NFL careers (i.e. Andrew Booth, Lewis Cine, Akayleb Evans).
However, we won’t be talking about these players today. There are plenty of other players to talk about on this roster. Today, we will be discussing three young Vikings defenders who could see increased roles on the team in 2023.
LB Brian Asamoah
Brian Asamoah is the most obvious choice for this list. PFF has already tabbed him as a breakout candidate for the Vikings in 2023, and if either Jordan Hicks or Eric Kendricks become cap casualties, we could see the 2022 third-round pick jump into a starting role next season.
The plan for Asamoah became apparent down the stretch of the 2022 season as he progressively earned more snaps during the final stretch of the year. He flashed outstanding speed and a hard-hitting mentality that should thrive in a Brian Flores system next season.
DL Khyiris Tonga
Khyiris Tonga was signed by the Vikings in October to be a depth piece on the defensive line. Tonga had spent his rookie season of 2021 with the Chicago Bears before being cut and joining the Falcons practice squad before the 2022 season.
With the Vikings, Tonga became an unexpectedly crucial piece to the defense as Minnesota went through injuries to players like Jonathan Bullard, James Lynch, and Dalvin Tomlinson. Tonga started the final two games of the regular season and appeared in 11 for the Vikings overall.
There is still a chance that Dalvin Tomlinson returns to Minnesota in 2023, but regardless, Tonga has proven himself valuable to the Vikings and could be a full-time starter next season.
CB Tay Gowan
I called Tay Gowan a “dark horse” of the 2021 NFL Draft, and he remains that way heading into 2023. The cornerback was selected in the sixth round by the Arizona Cardinals, but he was traded midseason to the Philadelphia Eagles.
With Philly in 2021, he appeared in two games, playing 44 defensive snaps and 32 special teams snaps. He signed with the Vikings ahead of the 2022 season, but especially considering the Vikings drafted two cornerbacks in the draft, Gowan got buried in the depth chart and didn’t get any defensive snaps during the season.
Even still, I have faith the Gowan can produce for an NFL defense. He brings great size and length to the field, and during the 2019 season with UCF, he was one of the best college football cornerbacks in the country, allowing an opponent passer rating of just 26.2.
With Patrick Peterson, Duke Shelley, and Chandon Sullivan potentially off the roster next season, perhaps this finally is Gowan’s chance to prove what he can do in the NFL.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh can often be found training for a marathon, playing video games, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.