Vikings Roster Countdown: No. 95 Khyiris Tonga — Sneaky Breakout Candidate?

Tonga is a PFF darling who could have a chance at a larger role with Dalvin Tomlinson gone.

Author:
Will Ragatz
Publish date:
Jul 11, 2023 6:48 PM EDT

In this story:

Ahead of the Vikings' 2023 training camp beginning in late July, we'll be taking a look at every player on the 90-man roster, counting down from 99 to 0 (excluding the UDFAs, who we already profiled). For every player, we'll look at the best and worst-case scenarios and their realistic outlook for the upcoming season.

No. 95: Khyiris Tonga, DT

Age: 27 | Size: 6'4", 338

Nov 13, 2022; Orchard Park, New York, USA;Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga (95) against the Buffalo Bills in the fourth quarter at Highmark Stadium. — Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

The Vikings may have struck gold when they poached Khyiris Tonga off the Falcons' practice squad last October. The former Bears seventh-round pick out of BYU was a pleasant surprise in the second half of Minnesota's season, and there are reasons to believe his arrow may still be pointing up as we enter the 2023 campaign.

Tonga was one of the final ten selections in the 2021 draft; he had somewhat pedestrian college statistics and was an older prospect because he served a two-year mission before enrolling at BYU. He made the Bears' roster as a rookie and ended up playing over 200 defensive snaps, but Chicago decided to waive him last year after training camp. After a month on Atlanta's practice squad, the Vikings signed him to their active roster.

Tonga got his first opportunity in a Vikings uniform in a Week 8 win over the Cardinals and didn't look back. He played at least 20 defensive snaps in ten of the final 11 games (including playoffs) and earned a very strong 77.8 grade from PFF. Not only was he fantastic against the run, Tonga also racked up ten pressures and batted down four passes in a rotational role.

This season, with Dalvin Tomlinson no longer in the mix at DT, Tonga has a chance to earn even more playing time.

Best-case scenario: Tonga proves that last year wasn't a fluke and beats out Dean Lowry for a starting job next to Harrison Phillips, playing heavily on early downs and even in some passing situations.

Worst-case scenario: Tonga can't keep up the momentum from last season and fades into a minor role.

Outlook for 2023: Harrison Phillips and Dean Lowry are the Vikings' projected starters at DT, but Tonga is right there as well. He was legitimately excellent last year on 300 snaps, so he should at least enter the season as an important rotational piece on Minnesota's defensive line. There's breakout potential here if Tonga can beat out Lowry for a starting role and maintain last year's level of play across 500 or 600 snaps.

Previous Vikings player profiles

Danielle Hunter | D.J. Wonnum | Harrison Phillips | Ross Blacklock

UDFAs