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2014 NFL Draft: Mike Evans Scouting Report

Mike Evans

Texas A&M, WR
Height:
6.5
Weight: 231
40yd: 4.53
Age: 21

Stats

Year

G Rec Yd Avg

TD

2012

13 82 1,105 13.5

5

2013 13 69 1,394 20.5

12

Strengths:

Has elite size for the position and will enter the league as one of the biggest and tallest wide outs. Plays with power as a blocker and a route runner. Has excellent leaping ability and body control to reel in errant and high passes. Is a sideline and red zone nightmare for the opposition. Feasted on Alabama’s corners in 2013, routinely making sideline catches with ease. Has strong hands to make the spectacular catch and to catch outside his frame. Is capable of securing the pass with defenders draped over him.  Is a surprisingly quick and fluid mover for his size and has the long speed to break away and go the distance. Runs with long and powerful strides to chew up field. Powers off the line of scrimmage and is not easily pressed except by the longest and strongest of corners. Excellent vertical receiver who get down the field and make a play. Great on comeback routes and will make his way back to the ball to help bail out his QB. Stepped up as the go-to receiver his redshirt freshman year. Is only 21 and has huge upside.

Weaknesses:

Plays much too physically in his routes and will grab and push off from his defender. Was contained by larger corners against LSU. Will dance a bit too much after the catch rather than take advantage of his natural power and size advantage. Does not get to the ball with much aggression, and will look to try and pick up the pass interference call rather than make the catch. Needs to reign in his emotions when he does not get those calls. Ran mostly vertical routes at A&M and will need to learn a more sophisticated route tree at the next level. Has build up speed and is not overly shifty. Will let the ball through his hand too much on occasion. Will lose track of where he is in the endzone and along the sideline and come down out of bounds more often than he should. Is not the most fiery blocker.

Red Flags: None

Bottom Line: Evans possesses a rare skill set that will make him a valuable commodity in the first round, but still has a long way to go to become a polished, reliable receiver in the NFL. Loaded with upside, Evans has the talent to develop into perennial Pro Bowl receiver and would be a wonderful complement to help make a young or inaccurate QB look better. Projects as a “Z” receiver best suited for a vertical offense but with polish could fit a West Coast offense.

Comparison: Vincent Jackson

Grade: 9.2 (mid-1st Round)

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