Recently-Cut Vikings Defender Gets a New Gig
Predictably, a team made a move to acquire former Vikings defender Akayleb Evans.
Ian Rapoport of The NFL Network sent along the word, noting that Carolina is the corner’s new home: “Former #Vikings CB Akayleb Evans, who was waived on Saturday, was claimed by the #Panthers, sources tell me and @MikeGarafolo. With a season worth of starts and plenty of special teams prowess, Evans should help.”
The Former Vikings Defender and The Carolina Panthers
In a perfect world, Mr. Evans gets a chance to show what he can do.
Only 25, the 6’2″ corner has the potential to develop into a CB2/3 in the right scheme. Keep in mind that he was drafted to function within Ed Donatell’s defense. Brian Flores leaned on Evans quite a bit in 2023 but ended up benching him down the stretch of the season due to some persistent struggles.
The 2023 season featured Evans playing in fifteen games, starting all of them. He snagged 65 tackles, 7 passes defended, 1 interception, and 3 forced fumbles. At his best, Evans is a long, fast corner who can be disruptive in coverage and who is physical when supporting the run defense.
More concerning, however, are some of the coverage numbers.
Evans allowed 70.4% of targets into his coverage to be completed in 2023. An average catch went for 13.7 yards and he was dinged with allowing 6 touchdowns. His 855 snaps thus featured moments that he would like to have back.
Carolina doesn’t appear to be going anywhere fast. The 3-8 football team is working under the leadership of first-year head coach Dave Canales. Currently, the Panthers’ defense is coming in at last place in the NFL by allowing an average of 30.9 points against per game.
The final chapter hasn’t been written for Akayleb Evans. The No. 118 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft can hopefully put together some excellent work in Carolina as he looks to take a step in his career.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this piece.
Purple Positives: Vikings Tranquilize Da Bears
K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter, as a co-host for Notes from the North, and as the proprietor at The Vikings Gazette, a humble Vikings Substack.