The Minnesota Vikings created a somewhat controversial draft class by choosing a few standout players in the top half of the first round while sacrificing a third needed position.
Minnesota needed a new quarterback to replace NFL Kirk Cousins and a pass rusher to replaceDanielle Hunter , and they also needed a cornerback to improve their weak defensive backfield. They addressed the first two needs by drafting rookies J.J. McCarthy and Dallas Turner in the first round but waited until the fourth round to pick cornerback Khyree Jackson . The team is likely to focus on upgrading the secondary for the rest of the offseason and this could lead to a trade..
Sports Illustrated’s Fan Nation's Will Ragatz suggested on May 3 that a trade involving starting cornerback Akayleb Evans would make sense. Akayleb Evans Could Drop Down Vikings’ Depth Chart This Season
Evans, a 2022 fourth-round pick, still has two years left on his rookie deal. That could make him valuable to the Vikings as a depth piece at a position where depth is often needed, but it could also make him a theoretically intriguing trade chip.
Evans, who turns 25 this summer, has shown some real flashes of upside as a long, athletic corner over the past two seasons. He started two games as a rookie and 15 last year, with inconsistent results. Evans had [1] interception, [3] forced fumbles, and [7] passes defended in 2023, but he also struggled mightily as a tackler (PFF charged him with 18 missed tackles, which was tied with teammate Byron Murphy Jr. for the most among NFL cornerbacks).
Cornerback Akayleb Evans of the Minnesota Vikings.
GettyRagatz also suggested that Evans will likely be fourth or fifth on the depth chart when the regular season starts.
Ragatz wrote, “The Vikings’ top three corners this year are Murphy,
Shaq Griffin Mekhi Blackmon and , and Khyree Jackson was just added to that mix as a fourth-round pick.Minnesota drafted Evans in the fourth round, but that was before the arrival of defensive coordinator
Brian Flores . Flores favored Evans over other options on the roster and made him a starter, but this preference might only be in comparison to Evans’ competition.The Vikings drafted Blackmon in the third round last season and added Griffin in free agency before selecting Jackson in the fourth round last month. Both Blackmon and Griffin performed better at the position than Evans, according to player grades from
Pro Football Focus . PFF ranked Evans 99th out of 127 cornerbacks who played enough snaps.Vikings May Have Tough Time Improving Secondary in Next NFL Draft
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah of the Minnesota Vikings.
GettyEvans may not be a long-term starter in the NFL, but the Vikings’
23rd-ranked pass defense (4,288 yards allowed) in 2023 showed that teams can use him as one when needed. He is also owed less than $2.1 million in base salary over the next two seasons on the $4.42 million rookie deal he signed in 2022. As Ragatz pointed out, Evans’ low salary and experience last season could support keeping him, but only if the Vikings don’t aggressively seek other cornerbacks to play ahead of him in the upcoming season.
Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN
gave Minnesota a rough C+ grade for its draft this year, partly because the team didn’t pursue more talent in the secondary earlier and because they may have sacrificed future opportunities to do so by trading up for both McCarthy and Turner. If the Vikings wish to enhance the CB position soon, they may have to use free agency and trades, which could lead to Evans being available in various possible situations.
My qualm about GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s class has more to do with mortgaging the future of this Minnesota roster. He made the move in March to get an extra first-rounder at No. 23, which cost him a second-round pick next year. And to trade up from No. 23 to No. 17, he had to give the Jaguars his 2025 third- and fourth-rounders. That means the Vikings have just three selections next year: one in Round 1 and two in Round 5.
Turner (17) is my top-ranked edge rusher, but Minnesota had a greater need at cornerback. This defense ranked 28th in the league in passing yards allowed to receivers (3,019) last season. I was a little surprised Adofo-Mensah didn’t target one of the top corners instead. He finally went corner with his next pick, but that was all the way in Round 4. Khryee Jackson (108) is a 6-3 defensive back who allowed just one touchdown in coverage last season.
The Minnesota Vikings assembled a controversial draft class, as they did not prioritize one of their main needs early or frequently enough for some critics.
