Welcome to the beginning of our 2023 season preview content!
Over the next few weeks, we will be looking at each player on the 90-man roster in-depth with backgrounds and how they currently project forward on the Minnesota Vikings roster.
What is the best-case scenario? What is the worst-case scenario? What should we expect from them during the preseason and beyond? We will break all of that down here.
As a staff, all of us at Vikings Wire ranked the entire 90-man roster 1-90 and will be releasing player profiles in reverse order.
Background
Name: Dean Lowry
Rank: 18
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 296 lbs
Experience: 8th year
College: Northwestern
Stats (In NFL): 111 games, 80 starts, 252 tackles, 23.0 tackles for loss, 34 quarterback hits, 15.5 sacks, 16 passes defended, 1 forced fumble, 4 fumble recoveries
Votes:
Tyler Forness: 15
Kevin Fielder: 17
Judd Zulgad: 19
Saivion Mixson: 18
Average: 17.25
Best case scenario
Lowry comes in and plays on the same level as Dalvin Tomlinson did last year. His 2021 was his best season with 5.0 sacks and 42 total pressures in being a force for the Packers on their defensive line. The idea of signing Lowry to a more inexpensive contract than what Tomlinson got is a Moneyball approach. If you can get 60-80% of Tomlinson for 28% of the money, it’s a win for the Vikings.
Worst case scenario
He doesn’t revert back to his 2021 form and he continues the regression that began last season. Lowry’s pressures shrank from 42 to 17. He played a significantly lesser snap count, but played in all 17 games both seasons. Taking a step backward would be brutal for the Vikings who are counting on Lowry to be a key contributor this season.
What to expect in 2023
The likely outcome is that Lowry is somewhere between his 2021 and 2022 seasons. Being a solid player on the defensive line is what the Vikings should hope for in 2023. If they get more of that, the Moneyball approach from Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will gain creedence.
Previous player profiles
90-Garett Maag
89-Jack Podlesny
88-Zach Ojile
87-NaJee Thompson
86-Thayer Thomas
85-Sam Schluter
84-Jaelyn Williams
83-Jacky Chen
82-Cephus Johnson III
81-C.J. Coldon Jr.
80-Junior Aho
79-Malik Knowles
78-Abraham Beauplan
77-Wilson Huber
76-Lucky Jackson
75-Andre Carter II
74-Curtis Weaver
73-T.J. Smith
72-Alan Ali
71-Josh Sokol
70-Blake Proehl
69-John Reid
68-Trishton Jackson
67-Kalon Barnes
66-Benton Whitley
65-Calvin Avery
64-Theo Jackson
63-William Kwenkeu
62-Sheldon Day
61-Tay Gowan
60-Ross Blacklock
59-Vederian Lowe
58-Jaren Hall
57-Nick Muse
56-Ivan Pace, Jr
55-Jalen Reagor
54-Luiji Vilain
53-Austin Schlottmann
52-Troy Dye
51-Olisaemeka Udoh
50-Nick Mullens
49-Kene Nwangwu
48-DeWayne McBride
47-Jaquelin Roy
46-Jay Ward
45-Brandon Powell
44-Troy Reeder
43-James Lynch
42-Greg Joseph
41-Johnny Mundt
40-Blake Brandel
39-Mekhi Blackmon
38-Chris Reed
37-Joejuan Williams
36-Ryan Wright
35-Esezi Otomewo
34-Jalen Nailor
33-Ty Chandler
32-Jonathan Bullard
31-D.J. Wonnum
30-Patrick Jones II
29-Andrew DePaola
28-Ed Ingram
27-Lewis Cine
26-Garrett Bradbury
25-C.J. Ham
24-Josh Metellus
23-Andrew Booth Jr.
22-Akayleb Evans
21-Jordan Hicks
20-Camryn Bynum
19-Khyiris Tonga