Vikings release veteran DT Dean Lowry, waive LB

The Vikings have released veteran defensive tackle Dean Lowry, the team announced on Tuesday. He signed a two-year, $8.5 million deal last offseason but had a disappointing, injury-marred campaign in Minnesota.

Lowry, who spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Packers, played in nine games for the Vikings in 2023 before suffering a season-ending pectoral injury. He wasn't effective in those games, earning a career-worst 47.4 PFF grade. He finished the year with just 14 tackles and no TFL.

This move saves the Vikings a little over $2 million in cap space, although they do eat $2.4 million in dead money.

Releasing Lowry underscores the importance of adding to Minnesota's defensive tackle room this offseason. Jonathan Bullard, Sheldon Day, and James Lynch are unrestricted free agents. Khyiris Tonga is an RFA. That leaves Harrison Phillips, Jaquelin Roy, and T.J. Smith as the only DTs currently on the roster.

The Vikings desperately need an interior pressure creator to add to their front seven. They reportedly had interest in former Dolphins standout Christian Wilkins, but he agreed to sign a massive four-year, $110 million deal (with nearly $85M guaranteed) with the Raiders on Monday. That was always going to be out of the Vikings' price range.

Prior to joining the Vikings, Lowry played in 119 games with the Packers, starting 85 of them. He had played 480-700 defensive snaps in six consecutive seasons before playing just 237 this year. Lowry, a Northwestern alum who turns 30 this summer, had a career-high five sacks in 2021.

Minnesota also waived linebacker William Kwenkeu, who they signed as an undrafted free agent in 2022.