Vikings waive former starting cornerback in surprise move
By Adam Carlson
The NFL moves fast. Players can emerge as huge contributors at any moment and players who previously had a significant role can quickly find themselves on the bubble of a team like the Minnesota Vikings.
Sometimes, those realizations sneak up on fans and a player who at one point seemed like a part of the team's future can be traded or released, leaving people scratching their heads while trying to understand the move.
Vikings waive former starting cornerback in surprise move
On Saturday, the Minnesota Vikings decided to waive 25-year-old defensive back Akayleb Evans, a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. The defensive back has played in 32 games for the purple and gold, starting 17 contests.
Here is the post on X (formerly Twitter) by NFL Network and NFL.com insider Ian Rapoport announcing the transaction:
The #Vikings are waiving CB Akayleb Evans, per me and @MikeGarafolo, a bit of a surprise for the 2022 draft pick who has 17 starts and plays special teams.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 23, 2024
With a major roster crunch, Minnesota makes a tough cut. pic.twitter.com/9Ag7imbvEw
Evans started 15 games for the Vikings in 2023 but has struggled to see the field in 2024. This season, he registered two tackles for the purple and gold while playing most of his snaps on special teams.
The six-foot-two, 198-pound cornerback has only played three defensive snaps for Minnesota in 2024 compared to 83 snaps on special teams. This is a huge difference from 2023 when Evans played on 855 defensive snaps and didn't get in on a single special teams play.
The abrupt disappearance of Akayleb Evans on defense is likely a huge reason he was waived. With several veterans holding down the starting cornerback jobs, finding a way to get him on the field was likely a huge challenge for defensive coordinator Brian Flores and head coach Kevin O'Connell.
Don't be surprised if a cornerback-needy team takes a flier on Evans. A young cornerback with size and starting experience is bound to draw the interest of multiple teams with thin options at defensive back this season.
He will likely get an opportunity to work his way up in another organization thanks to his play with the Vikings in 2023 when he registered 65 combined tackles, seven pass defenses, three forced fumbles, and one interception.
Although his time with the Minnesota Vikings has come to an end, Akayleb Evans will be remembered as a contributor to the 2023 team. We at The Viking Age would like to wish him the best in his future endeavors and thank him for his time with the purple and gold.
More Vikings news and analysis
manual