One Player on Vikings’ Roster Bubble Suddenly Safe
The Minnesota Vikings have encountered foul luck at cornerback in July — really foul luck.
One Player on Vikings’ Roster Bubble Suddenly Safe
Rookie cornerback Khyree Jackson tragically passed away in a Maryland car accident, second-year corner Mekhi Blackmon tore his ACL and will miss all of 2024, and veteran defender Shaquill Griffin is currently plagued by a leg injury that is considered week-to-week.
Meanwhile, the franchise signed Duke Shelley, a cornerback and fan-favorite from the 2022 season, before the Blackmon + Griffin developments, plus defensive back Bobby McCain, who has experience at cornerback and safety. Yet, even with those additions, cornerback Akayleb Evans’ job security has increased by the moment.
Source? Defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
“We’re going to need him,” Flores said about Evans on Monday. “You can’t teach that height, that length and his speed. Like all of us, he’s working to be as consistent as he can possibly be.”
These are the Vikings’ cornerbacks with 40 days before the start of the regular season:
- Byron Murphy
- Shaquill Griffin (Injured)
- Mekhi Blackmon (Injured)
- Akayleb Evans
- Andrew Booth
- Duke Shelley
- Bobby McCain
- NaJee Thompson
- Jaylin Williams
- A.J. Green III
- Dwight McGlothern
A crowded group indeed, Flores desperately needs a couple of men to emerge in light of events involving Jackson, Blackmon, and Griffin. Evans feels like “the guy.” Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah found Evans in Round 4 of the 2022 NFL Draft, so he’s under contract for two more seasons. The impending campaign feels like a career-defining one for the 24-year-old.
Evans finished 2023 with a 54.9 Pro Football Focus grade, ranking him 99th of 127 qualifying cornerbacks. He also allowed a 110.4 passer-rating-against during his sophomore season, which was not overly efficient. He was benched a couple of times after starting 2023 quite well. The Missouri alumnus was taken out of a Week 18 game versus the Detroit Lions, later inserted back into the lineup, and was promptly torched by Amon-Ra St. Brown for a 70-yard touchdown.
Thankfully for Evans’ sake, a career isn’t wholly made or broken in Year No. 2. He has time to step up and shine, especially in a cornerback room that begs for such a contributor.
Flores added about Evans on Monday, “I thought Akayleb did a lot of good things last year. I think there was a lot of growth and improvement from him, from when I got here throughout the season. There’s ups and downs for every player … but that’s life in the NFL. He’s bounced back, he’s strung some good days together and we’re going to need him.”
The path to a starter’s job is wide open for Evans. He’s off the roster bubble, almost out of necessity.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment.