Welcome to the beginning of our 2023 season preview content!
Over the next few weeks, we will be looking at each player on the 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: Ben Sims
Rank: Unranked
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 250 lbs
Experience: Rookie
College: Baylor
Stats (At Baylor): 78 receptions, 785 yards, 12 touchdowns; 2 rushes, 2 yards, 2 touchdowns
Best case scenario
An undrafted free agent, Ben Sims’ best path to making the Vikings’ 53-man roster is through this blocking. Although this impact through the air was limited throughout college, Sims thrived as an additional blocker for Baylor, especially as an H-back.
At 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, Sims is one of the better-built tight ends on the roster, and that size makes him a legitimate threat as a red zone target and blocker, especially in one-on-one situations against linebackers.
Worst case scenario
The worst-case scenario is pretty easy for undrafted free agents like Sims: he’s one of the early roster cuts as teams get down to 53 players. Making an NFL roster is a daunting task, and it gets even more difficult if you don’t have an upside as a receiver, like Sims.
What to expect in 2023
Making the practice squad is an achievement for Sims, but making the 53-man roster would be a pleasant surprise. It’s not that Sims can’t find his way onto the team (the upside as a run blocker is certainly intriguing), but the experience of Mundt and Muse could push Sims down the pecking order rather quickly.
If Sims has a strong training camp and preseason and makes the active roster, he’ll have to find a role on special teams before sniffing the offense.
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
18-Dean Lowry
17-Brian Asamoah
16-Alexander Mattison
15-Jordan Addison
14-Josh Oliver
13-Ezra Cleveland
12-K.J. Osborn
11-Harrison Phillips
10-Marcus Davenport
9-Byron Murphy Jr.
