Former Vikings 2022 draft pick lands with last-place team in NFC South

Before defeating the Chicago Bears on Sunday to improve their record to 9-2 this season, the Minnesota Vikings made the decision to waive cornerback Akayleb Evans on Saturday, midway through his third year with the team.

Luckily for Evans, it didn't take long for him to land another opportunity in the NFL, as the Carolina Panthers announced on Monday that they had claimed the former Vikings defensive back off of waivers.

Evans entered the league back in 2022 when Minnesota used a fourth-round pick to draft him, and during his second season with the Vikings, he wound up starting 15 of the team's 17 games. This year has been a different story for the young corner, however, as he only accumulated a total of three defensive snaps in seven appearances before Minnesota waived him on Saturday.

Akayleb Evans not the only member of the 2022 Minnesota Vikings draft class to recently part with the team

Evans landing with the Panthers on Monday means that he is now among the group of players selected by the Vikings in the 2022 NFL Draft who are no longer with the team.

In 2022, Minnesota drafted a total of 10 players, and as of Monday, Jalen Nailor, Ed Ingram, Ty Chandler, and Brian Asamoah are the only ones who are still currently with the team.

In addition to waiving Evans on Saturday, the Vikings also waived tight end Nick Muse on Monday. Muse was a 2022 seventh-round pick by Minnesota, and in 15 career appearances with the team, he only caught one pass.

According to NFL Media's Tom Pelissero, the Vikings will sign Muse to their practice squad if he ends up clearing waivers. But if he winds up being claimed by another team, he will join Evans, Lewis Cine, Andrew Booth, Esezi Otomewo, and Vederian Lowe in the group of players from Minnesota's 2022 draft class who are no longer with the organization.

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