Taking a flier on adding a young depth player might not be a bad idea
It is no secret that cornerback is one of the positions the New York Giants will need to try and upgrade once the 2024 season ends. Could the Giants get a head start on that endeavor by claiming a young cornerback who was just waived by the Minnesota Vikings?
The Vikings have waived third-year cornerback Akayleb Evans, a 2022 fourth-round pick who started 15 games for the Vikings in 2023.
After playing 855 defensive snaps (85%) for Minnesota last season, the 6-foot-2, 198-pound 25-year-old had only been on the field for three defensive snaps this season.
The Giants recently cut reserve cornerback Nick McCloud after he refused to take a pay cut.
Deonte Banks has struggled as New York’s No. 1 cornerback, third-round pick Dru Phillips has been excellent in the slot, and Cor’Dale Flott, a third-year player who is still just 23 years old, has held his own opposite Banks.
There is little depth, however, behind those three. Veteran Adoree’ Jackson plays limited snaps, but is on a one-year deal and unlikely to return in 2025. Tre Hawkins, a 2023 sixth-round pick, rarely plays. Art Green was recently signed off the practice squad to add depth.
Christopher Gates of SB Nation’s Vikings website, Daily Norseman, told Big Blue View that Evans “could be” worth a claim for the Giants.
“He started 15 games for the Vikings last year and actually showed some promise as a rookie in 2022. For the second half of last season, though, he was kind of a mess … missing tackles, getting beaten in coverage, really dropped off for reasons I’m not totally sure of,” Gates said.
“I think the talent is there, to be sure, and I think the Giants could do worse on the waiver wire than Evans.”
In a pre-draft scouting report, Draft Buzz wrote:
Akayleb Evans is an excellent athlete who currently looks a little raw but has elite measurables and if developed correctly may have top upside. He is an elite run defender as a corner who consistently wraps up the ball carrier, but is lacking as a cover corner and gives up too many big plays and penalties.
It doesn’t seem like it would hurt the Giants to put in a claim and take a look at whether Evans might be better than some of the depth options they currently have.
