Minnesota Vikings cornerback Akayleb Evans was claimed by the Carolina Panthers on Monday, November 25, marking the end of his brief tenure in Minnesota. The Vikings had waived Evans on Saturday, November 23, to make room for tight end Nick Muse, who was needed due to starter Josh Oliver’s ankle injury.
Although the Vikings hoped Evans would clear waivers and return to the practice squad, they were not optimistic about this outcome. Minnesota Star Tribune reporter Ben Goessling noted that the Vikings did not expect Evans to make it through waivers, confirming his departure as he was officially picked up by Carolina.
At 6-foot-2 and 198 pounds, Evans was viewed as a prototypical cornerback for Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who prefers physical press corners. Evans started 15 games in 2023 but struggled with inconsistency, particularly toward the end of the season when he was benched twice.
His inability to establish himself as a reliable starter led the Vikings to sign veteran cornerback Stephon Gilmore during training camp. Evans played only three defensive snaps this season before being waived.
The Panthers have now taken on the remainder of Evans’ $4.4 million rookie deal. He joins a growing list of former Vikings now with Carolina, including players like Adam Thielen, D.J. Wonnum, Mike Boone, Xavier Woods, and Dan Chisena, all of whom previously contributed to Minnesota’s roster before moving on to the Panthers.
Evans’ release also highlights the struggles of the Vikings’ 2022 draft class. Selected in the fourth round (118th overall), Evans is the latest player from this draft class to contribute little to the team. Five members of the 2022 class, including safety Lewis Cine, cornerback Andrew Booth Jr., linebacker Esezi Otomewo, and tackle Vederian Lowe, have already been let go.
This class, under general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, has failed to meet expectations, and many of its draftees have seen minimal impact on the field.
While the blame for a disappointing draft class ultimately falls on Adofo-Mensah, several factors contributed to these struggles. Adofo-Mensah’s short scouting period, given his January 2022 arrival, and the retention of Rick Spielman’s scouting department for that year, meant that many decisions were made under challenging circumstances.
Additionally, the defensive players from this class were selected to fit the system of former defensive coordinator Ed Donatell, only to face a system change when Donatell was fired and Flores took over. This transition has made it even more difficult for these draftees to succeed in the Vikings’ evolving defense.
