When the Minnesota Vikings kicked off training camp, there were serious questions about the cornerback room, especially before the signing of Stephon Gilmore. Six games in, the secondary has been a pleasant surprise, especially at CB.
Stephon Gilmore looks every bit the superstar he was brought in to be. Shaq Griffin has been great on the opposite side, and Byron Murphy Jr. is standing strong as well. And… the Vikings are reportedly interested in more cornerbacks, at the trade deadline.
That’s left Akayleb Evans as the odd man out. Suddenly, a guy who was supposed to get starting reps on the outside, even a couple weeks prior to the season, is buried on the depth chart. Thus, he’s become a prime trade candidate leading up to the trade deadline on November 5 for Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
Akayleb Evans on the Minnesota Vikings trade block
Akayleb Evans, who was listed on the Minnesota Vikings final injury report Wednesday as ‘questionable’, was a 4th round draft pick by the purple, back in 2022. He drew a couple of starts as a rookie, before he started 15 games in 2023, his sophomore NFL season. The past results, when Evans has been on the field, have been mixed.
After the Gilmore signing, though, Evans has largely been an afterthought on the Vikings defense. The former Missouri Tiger has logged just three total snaps, on that side of the ball, to go with the 62 he’s logged on special teams. For all of those reasons, ESPN’s Kevin Seifert believes the third year CB could be on the move.
“Cornerback Akayleb Evans. Evans started two games as a rookie in 2022 and 15 last season, but he is now buried on the depth chart behind veterans Stephon Gilmore, Byron Murphy Jr. and Shaquill Griffin. At 6-foot-2 and 198 pounds, he has the kind of size that teams covet at the position. The Vikings aren’t necessarily looking to move him, and he could be elevated based on injuries, but at the moment there isn’t a clear path for him to get on the field.”
Kevin Siefert on Akayleb Evans (ESPN)
It makes a good amount of sense for Minnesota shop Evans around the trade market, just to see what they can find. Most likely, he isn’t all that happy with his role right now, either. According to PFF, the 25-year-old CB has just one tackle on the season, to go with one missed tackle. Both came on special teams and the tackle was an assist.
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Those are Akayleb Evans’ 2024 statistics. So, if another team is looking for a young, talented cornerback who hangs out on social media a bit too much, then the Vikings have the perfect kid.
First career interception for Akayleb Evans! pic.twitter.com/kqfhozrp0n
— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) December 16, 2023
As Siefert points out, there’s no real reason for the Vikings to give Evans away. Although his results have been a rollercoaster, he did emerge as a starting option, just a season or two ago. It’s unlikely they are ready to give up on a talented defensive back, unless a team comes with a reasonable offer.
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Evans’ body plays well at the position, and the Vikings have seen what happens when their corner depth is non-existent. It’s believed the Minnesota Vikings will be active before the trade deadline. Without a doubt, Evans is still an asset that many possible trade partners will have interest in.
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