DT Khyiris Tonga Listed as Vikings' Breakout Candidate for 2023

Tonga could see a greater role on Minnesota's defensive line after Dalvin Tomlinson's departure.

Just two seasons ago, the middle of the Vikings' defensive line featured a pair of big, highly-paid, run-stuffing tackles: Michael Pierce and Dalvin Tomlinson. 

Entering 2023, both are gone. Pierce signed with the Ravens last offseason and Tomlinson signed with the Browns this March. Harrison Phillips — the Vikings' Pierce replacement a year ago — is still around and the team signed ex-Packer Dean Lowry this year, but there's room for other defensive tackles to emerge now that Tomlinson is no longer around.

One of the players who could take on a bigger role this season is Khyiris Tonga, a former seventh-round pick who was waived by the Bears last season. He was on the Falcons' practice squad when the Vikings signed him to their active roster in October, and Tonga took full advantage of the opportunity in Minnesota. 

He appeared in the final 11 games of the regular season and the Vikings' lone playoff game, seeing a total of 300 defensive snaps and earning an excellent 77.8 PFF grade in the process. Tonga was stout against the run and even showed some juice as a pass-rusher with ten pressures and half of a sack. He also added four pass breakups at the line of scrimmage.

Listed as 6'4", 338 pounds, Tonga is a true nose tackle with outstanding strength and underrated quickness. The BYU product turns 27 this summer and will compete with Lowry for the starting job next to Phillips.

In listing a 2023 breakout candidate for every NFC team, PFF went with Tonga for the Vikings.

The Vikings brought the third-year defensive lineman back on a team-friendly one-year deal, but he is expected to play a big role on the Minnesota defense as a starting interior defender.

While he only played 300 snaps for the Vikings in 2022, he carved out a role as their top interior run defender. His 73.3 run-defense grade ranked 16th among interior defenders, and the former seventh-round pick can take another leap in his first full season as a starter in 2023.

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