PRO FOOTBALL FOCUS: Top 15 NFL rookies through Week 6

[TheSpecialJuan]

3. TE Mitchell Evans, Carolina Panthers (83.4)

Evans recorded an 89.7 PFF overall grade against the Cowboys, his second outing with an 89.0-plus mark. His only target of the day came on the second play of the game, resulting in a 21-yard catch. He was excellent as a run blocker, logging the second-best PFF run-blocking grade at the position for the week (84.9). Evans amassed nine positively graded plays across 22 snaps in both schemes. He finished in the top five in both zone PFF run-blocking grade (83.6) and gap PFF run-blocking grade (84.4).

Like fellow rookie Jackson Hawes, the Notre Dame product is not targeted much. He has four single-target, single-catch games but has been highly productive with those opportunities, logging four first downs and two touchdowns over the past three weeks. Evans now sports a 75.5 PFF receiving grade on the season. 

Evans' impressive PFF overall grade is powered by his work in the run game, where he owns a fifth-ranked 78.3 PFF run-blocking grade.

[TheSpecialJuan]

7. WR Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers (75.9)

McMillan saw a season-low five targets in Week 6, securing three catches for 29 yards. However, he still put his stamp on the game with two touchdown catches, the first of his career. Both scores came in the red zone with Donovan Wilson in coverage. The first was early in the second quarter after McMillan got by an initial defender and forced Wilson to stumble on his way to a wide-open 19-yard catch.

The second score came early in the fourth when Wilson bumped him in the endzone before he released into space for a two-yard catch. McMillan also finished the day with a season-high 74.8 PFF run-blocking grade.

The top-10 pick is now up to 27 catches for 380 yards this season. He is tied for fifth in red-zone targets (seven) and has brought in five such passes for 38 yards and four first downs. He has earned a 71.1 PFF receiving grade on those plays. 

[TheSpecialJuan]

https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-top-15-rookies-week-6-2025

[ProcessBlue2]

[flagfootballcoach28]

Give me Mitchell Evans over T Sanders in this run heavy offense any day of the week. 

[strato]

When is the last time we took guys who get this praise in week 6 year one? 

[Icege]

<insert obligatory whining about PFF here>

[Daddy_Uncle]

If Dan puts a few more drafts like this together back to back.. watch out league. 

[Khyber53]

Our young guys are looking solid all of a sudden. Might we be finally on the upswing?

Canales keeps this up, there's no telling where we'll be.

 

[PanthersNCSU]

Please Lord let the 2026 draft class be similar to this one. At this point, if we get a little out of 2024 (even if depth), a *hopefully* great 2025 that gives multiple starters, and then put together another good group in 2026...that's how you rebuild. 

Build the rest of the team, and then Bryce has either proven enough to stay on at a discounted starter salary, or the roster is built for the next rookie QB contract or plop a vet down and roll. 

[Jay Roosevelt]

Mitchell Evans should probably be our starting TE sooner rather than later. He's a solid receiver and if he can block that well there's no reason not to put him on the field.

[kungfoodude]

9 minutes ago, Jay Roosevelt said:

Mitchell Evans should probably be our starting TE sooner rather than later. He's a solid receiver and if he can block that well there's no reason not to put him on the field.

He seems to be further along in his development than either Tremble or Sanders in the equivalent amount of NFL time.