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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Tyler Forness

Vikings 90-man roster player profile: LS Andrew DePaola

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

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Name: Andrew DePaola

Rank: 29

Height: 6’1″

Weight: 229 lbs

Experience: 9th year

College: Rutgers

Stats (In NFL): 106 games, 2022 All-Pro, 2022 Pro Bowl

Votes:

Tyler Forness: 11

Kevin Fielder: 30

Judd Zulgad: 45

Saivion Mixson: 29

Average: 28.75

Best case scenario

Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

DePaola maintains his 2022 form. As a long snapper, it’s about consistency. He was nothing but consistent for the Vikings and was rewarded with postseason honors and the most-ever guaranteed money for a long snapper in NFL history. Long snapper might not be the most important position, but you can certainly lose a game because of a botched snap. Ask the New York Giants.

Worst case scenario

Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports

DePaola regresses and makes a lot of mistakes. Special teams is more about mental stability and fortitude than it is about being incredibly skilled. Staying mentally strong and being consistent. After getting a record-setting contract for the position, handling the pressure of that will be key to preventing a major regression.

What to expect in 2023

Billy Hardiman-USA TODAY Sports

DePaola has been a stalwart player for the Vikings since joining the team in 2020. While he might not be an all-pro like he was in 2022, the expectations should be that he’s at worst a solid player. Solid is what you need from your specialists and he can do just that.

The Real Forno Show

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