2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Mitchell Evans (TE – Notre Dame)

FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in March. Here’s a look at Notre Dame tight end Mitchell Evans. And check out our entire 2025 NFL Draft Guide.

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Mitchell Evans

Mitchell Evans (TE – Notre Dame)

6-foot-5 | 260 Pounds

Background

Mitchell Evans was a high-school quarterback and three-star recruit who backed up Michael Mayer for a couple of seasons (five total catches) before taking over the starting tight end job, which he’s held for the past two seasons. Led the Irish in catches in both seasons (29-422-1 in 2023 and 43-421-3 in 2024.)

Positives

Massive in-line tight end with two and a half years of productive starting experience. At the beginning of his career, Evans took the vast majority of his snaps as an in-line blocking tight end. However, once he took over the lead tight end role he lined up as an H-back or slot receiver much more often. Fires out pretty low for a tall tight end. Good knee bend. Solid leverage, combined with impressive functional strength, allows him to successfully seal defenders when attacking the outside shoulder or otherwise generate movement.

Evans showed impressive physicality, toughness and nastiness to work through the whistle, with a killer instinct. Can successfully line up opponents as a stalker and has some experience working out wide in bunches on designed screens. Has been a relatively reliable safety valve underneath with just five career drops against 77 career catches. Able to stay on track through contact as a route-runner.

Works in some head-fakes to give the defense something to think about while running routes. Shows the ability to settle into soft spots against zone coverage. His frame allows him to effectively shield defenders from the ball. Caught two-thirds of his contested catches, per Pro Football Focus (PFF). Hardly elusive, but can power ahead and pick up yardage after contact by barreling through opponents. Shows pretty good lateral quickness in limited snaps as a pass protector, with an active punch.

Negatives

A percentage of Evans’ snaps taken as an in-line “Y” diminished significantly over the past two seasons, as that role often goes to the team’s second tight end. His role as a receiver is mostly that of a safety valve underneath, with a lot of hooks, flat releases (sometimes from motion), crossers and the occasional clearing route further downfield. Sort of a single-speed athlete who doesn’t have much burst or explosiveness to his game.

May struggle to run away from linebackers in man coverage or seriously threaten defenses down the seams. Hand placement as a blocker is sometimes a bit too far outside (or even downright grabby). Has been penalized three times in each of the past two seasons. Aggression can get the best of him, leading to balance issues. Doesn’t have a ton of experience being retained in pass protection.

Summary

A big tight end who took over more of a versatile offensive role the past two seasons, but who is at his best when he’s using his size, strength, toughness and nastiness to move people in the run game.

While Evans provides a reliable safety valve who can find spot spots against zone coverage and shield smaller defenders from the ball, he’s not the most dynamic athlete. May struggle to create separation against man coverage. Looks like a nice blocking tight end with some additional value near the goal line. Could get some mid-round consideration.

Projection: Round 5/Round 6

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Tight Ends

Colston Loveland (Michigan)

A very solid overall tight end who has the type of polish you’d expect given his pedigree. Loveland lined up split out wide or in the slot very often during the games reviewed, showing impressive speed, route-running skills and body control. Provided the Wolverines with a reliable target who could create mismatches against different types of defenders.

Despite not being a primary inline blocker for the team, he is also a physical, aggressive and tough blocker with good effort, sound fundamentals and impressive functional strength. A do-it-all type who looks likely to be a first-round pick at this point, although Lovelans is not quite the physical/athletic freak that typically goes in the first round at his position.

Projection: Round 1/Round 2

Check out the full 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Colston Loveland

Tyler Warren (Penn State)

A big, smooth and versatile tight end who has the functional strength to execute different blocking assignments and who stuffed the stat sheet as one of the focal points of Penn State’s offense this year.

Running a variety of different routes from different alignments and showing the ability to create on underneath throws or come down with contested catches, Warren looks like a reliable option with the skills to play either inline or as a flex option at the next level. Looks likely to be one of the first two tight ends off the board, potentially as high as the first round.

Projection: Round 1/Round 2

Check out the full 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Tyler Warren

Mason Taylor (LSU)

Just a big, tough tight end who works hard to sustain in the run game and who presents his quarterback with a big target and a reliable pair of hands underneath. Taylor was asked to execute various blocking assignments and line up all over the offense in school, so as a three-year SEC starter with pro bloodlines, the level of polish is about what you’d expect.

May never be the fastest or most dynamic receiver, but it doesn’t take a lot of imagination to envision Taylor developing into a no-frills, starting-caliber in-line tight end.

Projection: Round 3/Round 4

Check out the full 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Mason Taylor

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