Vikings 90-man roster player profile: DT Khyiris Tonga
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: Khyiris Tonga
Rank: 19
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 338 lbs
Experience: 3rd year
College: BYU
Stats (In NFL): 26 games, 4 starts, 52 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, 2 quarterback hits, 0.5 sacks, 4 passes defended, 1 fumble recovery
Votes:
Tyler Forness: 19
Kevin Fielder: 19
Judd Zulgad: 18
Saivion Mixson: 19
Average: 18.75
Best case scenario
Tonga earns the starting nose tackle job and takes a massive step forward in 2023. He looked really good as a sub-package pass rusher last season after the Vikings acquired him via waivers in September of 2022. Tonga is a nose tackle by trade but showed potential as a 5T/4i.
Worst case scenario
What we saw in 2022 was a mirage and won’t be duplicated in 2023. His 10 pressures in 151 pass-rush snaps were mostly from the outside. With Tonga likely getting a starting role in 2023 at nose tackle, his responsibilities will change and so could his impact on the game.
What to expect in 2023
Unless you have freaky athleticism, nose tackles are severely undervalued. They get taken late in drafts along with often being undrafted. Tonga is one of those players and has seemingly found a home with the Vikings. Under Brian Flores, Tonga is likely to be the nose tackle and will be responsible to handle two gaps. The pass rush upside is something that will help him but how often will he get to use it as a starter? That remains to be seen.
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
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