ESPN Discusses the Potential Exit Of Two Vikings 2022 Draftees
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was new to the job in 2022 and the Vikings’ first stab at the draft has become one to forget. With the trade deadline looming, there’s a lot of talk about which players might be available. ESPN discusses the potential exit of two Vikings 2022 draftees in their recent piece on the subject.
ESPN and The Two Vikings 2022 Draftees
The two players in question are LB Brian Asamoah and CB Akayleb Evans. Asamoah was a third-round pick who showed glimmers of promise in his rookie season. Since the arrival of Brian Flores as defensive coordinator, Asamoah’s role on defense has shrunk rather than expanded. Asamoah has played just 13 snaps on defense this season.
ESPN’s senior NFL reporter, Jeremy Fowler, dropped Asamoah’s name into the ring after suggesting the Vikings will probably sit out the trade deadline furor – a view I share with him.
To say they have another move in them doesn’t feel like a slam dunk. Linebacker Brian Asamoah II is a former Day 2 pick who’s not in the defensive rotation, so perhaps a team that loved him in the 2022 draft makes a call.
A fourth-round pick, Evans has started 17 games on the Vikings defense, including 15 last season.
Despite showing moments of potential that included an interception, seven pass deflections, and three forced fumbles, Evans never looked the part of a top-tier starting outside cornerback. It was ESPN’s Vikings reporter, Kevin Seifert, who made the Evans suggestion.
Cornerback Akayleb Evans. Evans started two games as a rookie in 2022 and 15 last season, but he is now buried on the depth chart behind veterans Stephon Gilmore, Byron Murphy Jr., and Shaquill Griffin. At 6-foot-2 and 198 pounds, he has the kind of size that teams covet at the position. The Vikings aren’t necessarily looking to move him, and he could be elevated based on injuries, but at the moment there isn’t a clear path for him to get on the field.
The Vikings only have their first-round pick and two fifth-round picks for the 2025 draft. It is expected they will get a compensatory third-round pick for the loss of Kirk Cousins in free agency. That is still not a lot of draft capital, especially if they do decide to make a move to bring somebody in before the trade deadline. Finding buyers for Asamoah and/or Evans is one way the Vikings can boost their draft stock.
The 2022 Draft
Adofo-Mensah drafted 10 players in his first draft. Less than two and a half seasons later, six remain with the team and that would reduce to four if Asamoah and Evans were the next to go.
The Vikings GM has taken a lot of criticism for this draft. The only regular starter it has produced is Ed Ingram and the RG has underwhelmed and his position appears under threat. Jalen Nailor is showing promise as the WR3 this season and may end up as the best player to come out of this draft class.
A look at the Vikings 2022 draft class and where they are now:
- Round 1 Pick 32 S Lewis Cine – Buffalo Bills practice squad.
- Round 2 Pick 42 CB Andrew Booth – Dallas Cowboys.
- Round 2 Pick 59 G Ed Ingram – Vikings starter.
- Round 3 Pick 66 LB Brian Asamoah – Vikings roster.
- Round 4 Pick 118 CB Akayleb Evans – Vikings roster.
- Round 5 Pick 165 DL Esezi Otomewo – Jacksonville Jaguars.
- Round 5 Pick 169 RB Ty Chandler – Vikings roster.
- Round 6 Pick 184 OT Vederian Lowe – New England Patriots.
- Round 6 Pick 191 WR Jalen Nailor – Vikings WR3
- Round 7 Pick 227 TE Nick Muse – Vikings on IR
Should the Vikings trade Asamoah and Evans, that would mean four of the top five draft picks will have already left. In my opinion, it would be for the best and that draft is something Adofo-Mensah just needs to file away as lessons learned.
The Vikings have until Tuesday, Nov. 5, at 4 pm ET to finalize any trades.
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