Former Vikings Cornerback Claimed by Panthers

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Akayleb Evans, Minnesota Vikings
Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

By now, it is well documented that Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has had some struggles identifying college talent through the NHL Draft. He has excelled when looking for free agents, even immediately after the draft.

Last week, another nail was put in the coffin of his 2022 draft class. Of course, Lewis Cine was the biggest miss that April, but six other selections are no longer around, and Ed Ingram (2nd round) was just benched.

Akayleb Evans can bounce back from Vikings release in Carolina

There was a time when Alayleb Evans looked like he would play a key role for the Minnesota Vikings defense. That opportunity quickly came and went.

With Josh Oliver out last week in Chicago, the former 4th round pick was waived in favor of more tight end depth. On Monday, he was claimed by the Carolina Panthers.

Evans forced his way into the starting lineup as a rookie (two starts in 10 games), before starting 15 games last season. This year he played in just seven games and got in for just three defensive snaps. The 85% snap share defensively cratered when veterans Stephon Gilmore and Shaq Griffin came to town.

Like Andrew Booth Jr. before him, Evans becomes the second corner to flame out from the 2022 draft. If you include Cine, then the Vikings went 0-for-3 on secondary help in that draft.

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The Panthers aren’t a good team so Evans should presumably have an opportunity to earn a starting role the rest of the way. He’ll team up with Adam Thielen again.

Vikings 2022 picks still popping up

Although the majority of Adofo-Mensah’s 2022 draft picks have gone belly up, that doesn’t mean other organizations have stop trying to extract value. Minnesota did slide Ed Ingram and Ty Chandler down the depth chart, but it was Nick Muse that took Evans’ spot this weekend. Unfortunately, his roster spot didn’t last long and the Vikings handed him a tough birthday present on Monday.

Esezi Otomewo is with the Jacksonville Jaguars and has started two of the four games he has played. He wasn’t active a couple weeks ago against Minnesota, but the former Gophers star recorded his first half-sack this season. There is also Vederian Lowe, the sixth round tackle from Illinois. He started eight of eleven games last year for New England and is now Drake Maye’s blindside blocker. He had a rough go of it on Sunday, but props to the late round pick for stacking starts the past two seasons.

Related: Vikings QB Sam Darnold Catches Brutal Stray During Caleb Williams’ Press Conference

At this point it looks like the most productive member of the group still remains in Minnesota. Jalen Nailor is firmly entrenched as the Vikings third wide receiver. He has five touchdowns on just 17 receptions this year.

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