Round 5, Pick 27 (#163) - Mitchell Evans, TE, Notre Dame

[*FreeFua*]

10 hours ago, Bear Hands said:

I was just coming in to say that exact thing.

JT could be our TE1.

Evans could surprise - I may be the most surprised value wise with his pick (along with Scourton).  He has legit all-around Y/F/T usage ability.   Great blocker, great hands, some unexpected shiftiness for his size.

And I've always been a Tremble fan.  He's a great TE2 who has made plays and knows how to block.  He's not a world beater, but he fills his role very well.  

Much like Evans I don’t think Sanders is athletic enough to be a TE1. I’m hopeful he got into better shape this past offseason but we’ll see

[Icege]

19 minutes ago, *FreeFua* said:

Much like Evans I don’t think Sanders is athletic enough to be a TE1. I’m hopeful he got into better shape this past offseason but we’ll see

I'm going to need to see a little more top end speed out of JT while he's in pads. There were times where it almost appeared like he was running in quicksand, but I also wonder if part of that is just a rookie still processing things and not at a point where he can just read and react.

If it's just a matter of comfortability, then he might look even faster on the field this season. If JT can convince Tremble to hit the sled with him after they get done on the jugs machine with Chuba...

[Swaggasaurus]

I have the same issue with JT that I have with Legette. Catching the ball when the game is on the line. Our pass catching picks improved us for this reason alone.

[Tomcatn]

14 hours ago, csx said:

Two tight end sets?

Don't get your hopes up, I would like that to happen too.

Edited April 27, 2025 by Tomcatn

[jfra78]

There will be 2 and even 3 tight end sets, they will just all be blocking 

[*FreeFua*]

1 hour ago, Icege said:

I'm going to need to see a little more top end speed out of JT while he's in pads. There were times where it almost appeared like he was running in quicksand, but I also wonder if part of that is just a rookie still processing things and not at a point where he can just read and react.

If it's just a matter of comfortability, then he might look even faster on the field this season. If JT can convince Tremble to hit the sled with him after they get done on the jugs machine with Chuba...

would have been interesting to see if they took Ferguson over Princely had he still been there. He was one of the few TE’s they met with that has true TE1 upside 

[DeadpoolPanther]

Really good pick that late. I still think the kid from Texas has the potential to be a great TE but Evans is a player and super dependable. He can def help.

[Davidson Deac II]

5 hours ago, *FreeFua* said:

Much like Evans I don’t think Sanders is athletic enough to be a TE1. I’m hopeful he got into better shape this past offseason but we’ll see

I will wager that both of them are faster than Greg Olsen, and he was a pretty decent tight #1.  

[jfra78]

30 minutes ago, Davidson Deac II said:

I will wager that both of them are faster than Greg Olsen, and he was a pretty decent tight #1.  

Evans ran a 4.74, Sanders a 4.69, Olsen a 4.51

Edited April 27, 2025 by jfra78
I think Sanders is plenty fast to play TE, he gets open alot and catches everything thrown at him.

[Davidson Deac II]

1 hour ago, jfra78 said:

Evans ran a 4.74, Sanders a 4.69, Olsen a 4.51

Fair enough, but I doubt he could run that when he was with us.  

And fwiw, Sanders ran a 4.32 20 yard shuttle, Olsen was 4.48.  Sanders also ran a faster 10 yard split.  I think these two items are more indicative of football speed than running down the field in a straight line.  

But the point is that, especially with tight ends, blazing speed is not the most important element.  Getting open, using the body to block off the defender, finding the seam in the defenses, are the most critical elements. 

Edited April 27, 2025 by Davidson Deac II

[jfra78]

3 minutes ago, Davidson Deac II said:

Fair enough, but I doubt he could run that when he was with us.  

And fwiw, Sanders ran a 4.32 20 yard shuttle, Olsen was 4.48.  Sanders also ran a faster 10 yard split.  I think these two items are more indicative of football speed than running down the field in a straight line.  

But the point is that, especially with tight ends, blazing speed is not the most important element.  Getting open, using the body to block off the defender, finding the seam in the defenses, are the most critical elements. 

I agree with that, and I think Sanders is fine for TE1 especially in a Dave Canales system

[DaveThePanther2008]

I saw a stat from 2023, apparently before his injury, where he was averaging 53 ypg from the TE position. That's a pretty solid number. 

[carpanfan96]

Evans will pass up JT this off season and be TE2 behind Tremble. Tremble is the starter and is going to stay that because of blocking, that's more important for the TE in Canales's system. 

[CarolinaLivin]

Yall want him to wear 88? or has TMJ taken/ruined all the greatness from that number for us