5 Minnesota Vikings who could be labeled busts after the 2023 season

Viking No. 4

DE Esezi Otomewo

Esezi Otomewo was a fifth-round pick last year and it took him a bit to get on the field. He played in the final five games racking up five tackles with one of those going for a loss.

There hasn't been a ton of buzz surrounding Otomewo in camp so far, but that goes for the majority of the defensive line. All he has to do is beat out disappointing Ross Blacklock, journeyman Jonathan Bullard, and underwhelming James Lynch for a spot on this team.

If he can do that and be a primary backup at defensive end, he'll likely see more snaps as Brian Flores loves mixing up looks and personnel. Being part of that rotation will give him an opportunity to make some plays, showing why the Vikings selected him early on day three of the draft.

If Otomewo doesn't become a primary backup and is relegated to bench/special teams duties, his second-year stats could look much like his first. This would cause him to be labeled a disappointment and he'll be down to his final chance to make the team in 2024. Even if he has that final shot, the bust label will loom large over him and be unavoidable.