Grading the Minnesota Vikings 2022 rookie class after year one
By Nik Edlund
Fourth-Round Pick
Akayleb Evans – CB
Rookie Stats:
- 10 games played (2 starts)
- 23 tackles (3 for a loss)
- 2 pass breakups
- 1 forced fumble
Akayleb Evans was the man Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said he fell in love with when he was watching film alone in the dark. He saw something in this kid in his college tape, and over the course of his rookie season, we also got glimpses of the player he can develop into.
Evans was aggressive in coverage and showed no fear when it came to coming up and laying a hit. He started two games, broke up some passes, and even forced a fumble. It was a shame he had a couple of concussions that cost him a portion of his rookie season, but his future is bright.
Evans did make friends with the fans with his outgoing personality and his activeness on Twitter. Heck, the guy even dyed his hair purple, ensuring he’ll be a fan favorite for years to come.
Production Score: 1.5/2
Fifth-Round Pick No. 1
Esezi Otomewo – DL
Rookie Stats:
- 5 games played
- 5 tackles (1 for a loss)
Despite numerous injuries and questionable depth, it took Esezi Otomewo until Week 14 to see any action. He looked fine in his five appearances, racking up about a tackle a game, and making one of those behind the line of scrimmage.
His future with the team isn’t set in stone, but he’ll definitely be competing for a roster spot in 2023 and be a favorite to land on the final 53.
Production Score: 0.25/1