Mitchell Evans is one of the best blocking tight end prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft. His scouting report evaluates whether his lack of production and durability at the collegiate level is a cause for concern.
Overview, Film Analysis, And 2025 Scouting Report Of Notre Dame TE Mitchell Evans
Measurables:
- 6’5”
- 258 lbs
2025 NFL Combine Results:
- 40-Yard Dash: 4.74 seconds
- 10-Yard Dash: 1.55 seconds
- Vertical Jump: 31”
- Broad Jump: 9’ 7”
- 3-Cone Drill: 7.25 seconds
- 20-Yard Shuttle: 4.40 seconds
Player Background:
Mitchell Evans is a former three-star recruit who played high school football at Wadsworth High School in Ohio. He was a two-sport athlete in high school, spending time on the basketball court in addition to playing both tight end and quarterback on the football field. Evans enrolled with the University of Notre Dame during the 2021 recruiting cycle.
Evans saw limited action and production in his first two seasons with the Fighting Irish. This was largely due to being stuck behind former top prospect Michael Mayer. Evans didn’t catch his first collegiate touchdown until the final game of his sophomore season which happened to be the game-winning score in the 2022 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. His three receptions for 33 yards set a new career high.
After Mayer joined the Raiders in the 2023 NFL Draft, Evans wasted no time making an impact in his junior season. His 29 receptions and 52.8 receiving yards per game were the best among qualified receivers on the team. Had he not missed the final four games of the season due to a torn ACL, Evans would have added to his 422 receiving yards and likely have led in that category as well.
The 2024 season was not only a successful one for Evans but the entire Fighting Irish program as well. He became a reliable target for quarterback Riley Leonard throughout the 2025 College Football Playoff. Evans registered 14 receptions across all four playoff games before falling to the Buckeyes in the CFP National Championship. Statistically, he didn’t have an exceptional collegiate career by any means. He failed to reach 1,000 career receiving yards and managed just five touchdowns on 77 receptions.
Accolades:
- East-West Shrine Bowl Selection (2025)
- John Mackey Award Semifinalist (2024)
- AP Preseason All-American Second Team (2024)
Best Tools/Pros:
The physical profile Mitchell Evans brings to the table is among the best out of all the prospects at the tight end position in the 2025 NFL Draft. He understands how to play with his frame at both the line of scrimmage and in all three areas of the field as a receiver. He thrived as a big framed option over the middle of the field on in-breaking routes.
When given the opportunity to make a play in contested catch situations, he was able to pair his big framed option with a strong catch radius. In one-on-one situations, Evans is able to work back to the football and make adjustments to put himself in a good position to make the reception.
TE Mitchell Evans ONE-HANDED CATCH! 🤯
(🎥: NBC) pic.twitter.com/DfJRY6NwH2
— Notre Dame Fighting Irish (@Insidetheirish) September 23, 2023
Evans possesses the kind of strength needed to succeed as a tight end at the next level. He is able to withstand big hits and secure the catch through contact. During his routes, he is able to fight through contact, get himself in a good position and make the play. After the catch, he seeks out contact and forces missed tackles with his strength and contact balance. At the line of scrimmage, he showcases the same strength but plays with more intensity.
It is clear Evans has the necessary mass to contribute as a blocker in both the passing and running game at the NFL level. He consistently sealed the edge on stretch plays to his side of the field. His strong hands in the receiving game show up in the blocking game when he gets under the pads of his assignment. Evans is rarely outmuscled as a blocker on tape. If he did lose a blocking assignment, it was likely due to a mistake in technique.
Tools To Improve/Cons:
Separation isn’t how Evans will win as a receiver. He doesn’t have the athletic profile or twitchiness to work himself open on zig routes or double moves. He will almost always be catching the ball with the defender draped all over him. This will give his quarterback at the next level a very small margin for error when looking his way on passing plays.
This lack of athleticism shows up after the catch as well. Evans is unable to quickly transition to a runner after completing the catch. When he does become a runner, his lack of speed and acceleration make it tough for him to turn a small gain into a chunk play. His 4.4 yards after the catch per reception (Pro Football Focus) ranked in the bottom half of all draft-eligible tight ends last season.
As mentioned before, Evans will need to work on his technique as a blocker to solidify himself as a three-down blocking tight end in the NFL. He tends to anchor himself too quickly forcing him to lunge at rushers in pass protection. His footwork is incredibly raw and at this point, not many offensive coordinators will trust him to mirror defenders in pass protection. He needs to become more than just a power blocker and develop more technique to slow down finesse pass rushers at the next level.
With such a big frame, Evans is very limited in terms of the routes he can run. He runs with very tight hips and isn’t overly loose when breaking off the route. Oftentimes, he can get caught rounding off out-routes which allows the defender to break on the football more effectively. He will need to become quicker off the line of scrimmage especially when facing press coverage. There are too many times on tape when he is bumped off his route right away. Evans is then taken out of the play entirely since he can’t get back up to speed fast enough.
Potential Team Fits:
NFL Projection:
There aren’t many tight end prospects in this draft class that play similarly to the way Mitchell Evans does. He’s a throwback at the tight position. His game lacks versatility and he isn’t explosive or an incredible receiving threat. Instead, he will dominate in rare contested catch situations as a receiver down the field and as a blocker at the line of scrimmage. His big frame will be the reason he lands on an NFL roster but his sticky hands and big catch radius will be the reason why he stays on one.
As a mid-round prospect, Evans will provide the team that drafts him with a high-floor player who can contribute as a run blocker right away. At best, he will be a consistent possession tight end who will be valued on third down while contributing on all three downs as the second tight end on the depth chart.
Prospect Grade and Comparison:
- Middle Fourth – Early Fifth
- A smaller version of Brevyn Spann-Ford
Film Exposures:
- vs Penn State (2024)
- vs Ohio State (2023)
- vs Louisville (2023)
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – Imagn Images
