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The Minnesota Vikings ended a decade-long drought during the 2022 NFL Draft, selecting a player from the Minnesota Golden Gophers for the first time since the linebacker net triplet in 2010. And now a mini-hype train is attached to that player, e.g. Bleacher Report Nominated Defensive lineman Eseji Otomeo “Wonder Rookie Gem” to appear as Vikings.
Of Ian Wharton Bleacher Report To surprise the public in an unexpected way, the NFL chose one player from each team, and for Minnesota, it was not Jalen Naylor, Tie Chandler or Nick Muse. Instead, Wharton details the big plans for the Gophers defender.
As a result of last-round deals with the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers, General Manager Quesi Adofo-Mensah snatched Otomeo from the 5th round in April. Draft network Otomewo is said to be “an attractive developmental defensive lineman that provides prototypical size, length and strength to serve as a dirty base edge in a hand at the NFL level.”
The new Vikings have Nigerian roots and have played high school football in Indiana.
At the University of Minnesota, Otome also played 34 games, including 81 total tackles and 7.5 sacks. He is an extraordinary man, standing 6’6 ″ and weighing 282 pounds. He has majored in business and marketing education. Out of high school, Otomeo was considered by some draft scouts to be the best EDGE race in the state of Indiana.
Accordingly, Bleacher Report The Vikings have big plans for Otomewo as an amazing rookie gem, saying, “He has readymade NFL strength and keeps the blocker out of his frame because of his length. Otomewo is tough so she’s not a stand-up edge threat, but the positive is that she doesn’t have to compete with Daniel Hunter and J’Darius Smith to snap. Instead, he will play in the relief of Harrison Phillips and Armon Watts.
The key part here is the redefining of its potential role. Among the draft progressions, most draft scouts have identified Otomio as one EDGE RASHER, But Wharton puts the brakes on him, predicting a role for him in the Vikings’ defensive line courage. In fact, Hunter and Smith dubbed the EDGEs of the Minnesota defense, so, if Bleacher Report Correct, Otomewo interweaving with Philips and Watts check out.
To make the Wharton plan work, Otomewo will have enough completion. The work is certainly not outside “his” gate. He needs to get players of this depth out of their DL aspirations:
- James Lynch
- TY McGill
- TJ Smith
- Tyris Stevenson
- Julian Taylor
- Jalen Twiman
One can see from the list, though, that even in Atom it wouldn’t be too difficult with that cast of ascension characters.
Otomewo received the All-Big Ten Honorable Mention honor in 2021.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to her daily YouTube channel, VikesNow. She Hosts a podcast With Bryant McKinney, which airs every Wednesday Raun Sai And Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking Fandom dates back to 1996. Listed Criminal Pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos’ and The Doors (Band).
