Another Kwesi Draft Pick Is Out in Minnesota
After the Vikings traded Vederian Lowe on Sunday night, it marked the first Kwesi draft pick to leave the Vikings since Adofo-Mensah took over as GM.
Tuesday afternoon saw another departure as DL Esezi Otomewo was cut from the team. The news was reported by Adam Schefter of ESPN. Schefter tweeted, “Vikings cutting DL Esezi Otomewo, a 2022 5th-round pick. Titans cutting LB Chance Campbell, a 2022 6th-round pick.”
Another Kwesi Draft Pick Is Out
Otomewo, a 2022 fifth-round pick, 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 seemd 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.
This release seems to indicate that veteran Jonathan Bullard could be safe this year despite the rise of Jaquelin Roy within the depth chart. Bullard played 12 games for the Vikings in 2022, including 7 starts, and he put together 23 tackles, including 5 tackles for loss. He was lost for a portion of the season due to a bicep injury.
As the cutdown deadline approaches, the Vikings still employ Dean Lowry, Harrison Phillips, Khyiris Tonga, Bullard, Roy, Junior Aho, and T.J. Smith. There will likely be another cut or two amongst this group before 3 PM today.
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.