Welcome to the beginning of our 2023 season preview content!
Over the next few weeks, we will be looking at each player on the 90-man roster in-depth with backgrounds and how they currently project forward on the Minnesota Vikings roster.
What is the best-case scenario? What is the worst-case scenario? What should we expect from them during the preseason and beyond? We will break all of that down here.
As a staff, all of us at Vikings Wire ranked the entire 90-man roster 1-90 and will be releasing player profiles in reverse order.
Background
Name: Akayleb Evans
Rank: 22
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 198 lbs
Experience: 2nd year
College: Missouri
Stats (In NFL): 10 games, 2 starts, 23 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, 2 passes defended, 1 forced fumble
Votes:
Tyler Forness: 23
Kevin Fielder: 23
Judd Zulgad: 21
Saivion Mixson: 22
Average: 22.25
Best case scenario
Evans bounces back and thrives under Brian Flores. While he has good size, Evans is at his best in man coverage and stays in phase really well. He doesn’t let the receiver get too far away from him in space and it allows him to attack the football in close proximities.
Worst case scenario
Injuries derail him. Concussions are a tough thing to deal with. Once you get the first one, it become significantly easier to get the second and third ones. It makes it that much harder to stay healthy. Evans didn’t suffer one or two concussions in 2022, but rather three. That becomes dangerous for your long-term health. If anything is going to derail him, it will be injuries.
What to expect in 2023
Evans is going to be in a competition for the starting outside cornerback job in base and nickel packages with Andrew Booth Jr. and Mekhi Blackmon. He is primed to win that spot due to his performance in 2022 and the fact that he earned playing time over Booth. His man coverage skills have flashed excellence but consistency will earn him more playing time.
Previous player profiles
90-Garett Maag
89-Jack Podlesny
88-Zach Ojile
87-NaJee Thompson
86-Thayer Thomas
85-Sam Schluter
84-Jaelyn Williams
83-Jacky Chen
82-Cephus Johnson III
81-C.J. Coldon Jr.
80-Junior Aho
79-Malik Knowles
78-Abraham Beauplan
77-Wilson Huber
76-Lucky Jackson
75-Andre Carter II
74-Curtis Weaver
73-T.J. Smith
72-Alan Ali
71-Josh Sokol
70-Blake Proehl
69-John Reid
68-Trishton Jackson
67-Kalon Barnes
66-Benton Whitley
65-Calvin Avery
64-Theo Jackson
63-William Kwenkeu
62-Sheldon Day
61-Tay Gowan
60-Ross Blacklock
59-Vederian Lowe
58-Jaren Hall
57-Nick Muse
56-Ivan Pace, Jr
55-Jalen Reagor
54-Luiji Vilain
53-Austin Schlottmann
52-Troy Dye
51-Olisaemeka Udoh
50-Nick Mullens
49-Kene Nwangwu
48-DeWayne McBride
47-Jaquelin Roy
46-Jay Ward
45-Brandon Powell
44-Troy Reeder
43-James Lynch
42-Greg Joseph
41-Johnny Mundt
40-Blake Brandel
39-Mekhi Blackmon
38-Chris Reed
37-Joejuan Williams
36-Ryan Wright
35-Esezi Otomewo
34-Jalen Nailor
33-Ty Chandler
32-Jonathan Bullard
31-D.J. Wonnum
30-Patrick Jones II
29-Andrew DePaola
28-Ed Ingram
27-Lewis Cine
26-Garrett Bradbury
25-C.J. Ham
24-Josh Metellus
23-Andrew Booth Jr.
