4 Vikings players barely hanging onto a 2023 roster spot

Player No. 3

Esezi Otomewo - DL

The Vikings drafted Esezi Otomewo in the fifth round last year and exercised patience with his development. He didn't see the field until late in the season and made barely a peep when he did start to get some defensive snaps.

There was hope he would take a major step forward in year two, but through two preseason games, Otomewo's play has been more of the same.

He's made five total tackles in the two games but hasn't caused a lot of pressure in the backfield. The Vikings' defensive line needs someone to step up and show they can be a force either as a backup or as a rotational player, and there was hope that Otomewo could be that guy. So far, he's been outplayed by Ross Blacklock and Sheldon Day in the first two preseason matchups.

The fact he was a fifth-round pick by the current regime favors him staying on the roster, but the team also has to keep the best players.

Otomewo needs to have a splashy performance against the Cardinals this weekend, or he could find himself off Minnesota's main roster and relegated to the practice squad.