Panthers rookie preview: Can Mitchell Evans help reinvigorate the TE room?

USA Today

4 days ago

A good dig route here from Mitchell Evans. Eats the cushion off the line and shows a nice hesi move at the top of the route. No. 1 gets his feet stuck in quicksand and Evans creates separation. Good stuff. pic.twitter.com/HTUdggjEBb
The Carolina Panthers haven't had notable production out of the tight end position since the days of Greg Olsen. (Yeah, the Emmy Award-winning broadcaster.)
But the organization may be closer to finding the next player who can carry the torch. And Mitchell Evans, one of Carolina's two fifth-round picks from the 2025 draft, could be that guy.
Let's take a deep dive into the Notre Dame standout's college film to see why . . .
Film
The 6-foot-5, 258-pound Evans enters Carolina with an impressive amount of nimbleness and fluidity. He plays with a physical temperament and nature that is appreciated after the catch, at the catch point and as a blocker.
As a route runner, Evans isn't going to provide elite explosiveness—but he is a smart and disciplined technician.
Here, against Indiana, he gets out of his stance sufficiently and begins eating up the cushion against the defender (No. 1). Evans does a nice job of dropping his hips, using a shimmy at the top of the route to get the opposing defensive back's feet sealed into the ground, then makes a hard cut to the dig to create separation.
In a lot of the reps you'll see in these clips, Evans' versatility will come up in a big way. He played from the slot, in-line, the wing in offset 12-personnel groupings and on the perimeter. Notre Dame also utilized him in motions and shifts to create mismatches.
One aspect of Evans' game that should be appreciated is his ball skills. His hands are outstanding, giving the quarterback a large margin for error with his catch radius while being able to consistently win at the catch point and in congested windows.
Look for the #Panthers to utilize Mitchell Evans in shifts and motions when on the field. He showed to be effective from any alignment, including here moving L2R from trips to doubles. Then, the big catch down field. pic.twitter.com/yKrfTxsJyJ
#Panthers got themselves a new TE (Mitchell Evans) that can be a reliable target in congested spaces. pic.twitter.com/ZSF4XmyG1C
Oh, and every once in a while, Evans will make some ridiculous grabs—like the following one against Ohio State in 2023 . . .
mitchell evans, hello pic.twitter.com/7bDcrFflqp
Evans works well against zone to attack blind spots, sit and make himself available to the quarterback. He knows how to attack space in the middle of the field and can be a menace against Cover 3 or match coverages.
Furthermore, he has some impressive fluidity after the catch—as you can see here against the Buckeyes in the national championship game from January . . .
Two plays from new #Panthers TE Mitchell Evans:1. Evans from No. 3 trips attacking the MOF2. Evans sitting in zone void, collects himself, and creates after the catch pic.twitter.com/USXQcIxXgY
Overall, Evans plays with great physicality and effort as a blocker. He is versatile in this regard, whether he is on the perimeter in the screen game, working to the second level or being utilized as the zone split blocker.
Evans' hands are firm and offer drive when he gets into good positioning. He works off combo blocks well and can attack from different angles and leverage points.
Mitchell Evans (88) with good drive and physical temperament at the POA. #Panthers pic.twitter.com/rMBGogH2Jp
(Repost bc uploading on this site is acting up) Been watching new #Panthers TE Mitchell Evans for a film review on @ThePanthersWire.I like the hand positioning as well as the finish, even if there was help. I want to see more drive on a down-to-down basis as a run blocker. pic.twitter.com/5leZAdpw2o
Tight end is one the toughest positions to have immediate success from as a rookie. George Kittle didn't emerge as a top player at his position, or even a regular contributor, until his third season. Evans will likely face a similar path for a few reasons.
One of them is shown in the clip above. Evans did show good hand placement to lock in, but lacked the drive he has shown from time to time. In those instances, he needs to be more consistent with his physicality.
Plus, Evans' hand positioning and placement could be more consistent. He can also be over eager as a blocker, at times, and get juked out of his socks.
Outlook
With starter Tommy Tremble still healing up from offseason back surgery, a door has opened for Evans and 2024 fourth-round pick Ja'Tavion Sanders.
Evans could be a more reliable blocker than Sanders, particularly when head coach Dave Canales wants to control the pace and tempo by running the ball. That just might give him an edge.
When Tremble is healthy, Evans will likely be relegated to the No. 3 spot on the depth chart as the developmental blocking piece. However, his pass-catching skill set should allow him more opportunities during the season and eventually result in a bigger role in the offense.
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