Beat Writer for the Team Very Critical of Two Vikings’ Cornerbacks

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Jul 26, 2024
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Minnesota Vikings, Andrew Booth Jr. & Akayleb Evans
Credit: Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings

A few weeks back, the Minnesota Vikings’ cornerback room was questionable. Fast forward to now, it doesn’t just look questionable it’s actually a problem. Unfortunately, this wasn’t anything the Minnesota Vikings could control.

2024 fourth-round draft pick, who was showing potential thus far in the offseason, Khyree Jackson was killed in a car crash just a few weeks back. A couple weeks later, second-year cornerback Mekhi Blackmon tore his ACL on the very first day of Minnesota Vikings’ Training Camp. The cornerback room seems cursed right now.

Zero confidence in cornerbacks Akayleb Evans and Andrew Booth Jr.

Appearing on KFAN this past week, Minnesota Vikings’ beat writer Alec Lewis (The Athletic) had some extremely critical thoughts on cornerbacks Evans and Booth Jr. Words that might be warranted too.

Like I got to, I’m just speaking from what I’ve seen and what I’ve talked to, people I’ve talked to, like I have zero confidence… that Akayleb Evans is going to be really successful as a cornerback this year. I just can’t rely on that at all. Andrew Booth Jr., I feel even worse about.

Alec Lewis (The Athletic) via KFAN

There wasn’t a whole lot said, but it’s quite clear that Lewis has zero confidence in Evans or Booth Jr. to step up and take one of the starting outside cornerback spots. He goes even further stating that he feels even worse about Booth Jr. compared to Evans.

What’s the issue with Minnesota Vikings’ cornerbacks Akayleb Evans and Andrew Booth Jr.?

Evans is coming into his third year in the NFL after being drafted in the fourth-round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He’s been benched numerous times throughout his tenure here in Minnesota. He’s posted an abysmal 47.2 overall defensive Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade his rookie year. His 2023 season wasn’t much better either where he posted a slightly better overall defensive PFF grade of 54.9.

Booth Jr. was also drafted in the 2022 NFL draft but in the second-round. He hasn’t faired much better posting an overall defensive PFF grade of 45.3 his rookie year and 68.6 last year. However, he only played 256 snaps in 2023.

Related: Vikings’ Cornerback Might Have Cringiest Interview in Team History

Both of these players have a lot to prove this year. They’ve struggled understanding the defense and can’t seem to figure out a way to cement themselves as a reliable corner. They now have a perfect opportunity in front of them to show the team that they belong in the NFL.

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