2014 NFL Draft Profile: Mike Evans, WR Texas A&M

Nov 9, 2013; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver Mike Evans (13) warms up before the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports

It’s a good year for players coming out of Texas A&M.  It looks like they could have as many as three players taken in the first round of this year’s draft.  Those three prospects are QB Johnny Manziel, OT Jake Matthews, and WR Mike Evans.  Evans is the most interesting of the three when it comes to draft position.  He’s seen as the second-best wide receiver in this year’s draft and could see himself becoming an early selection Clemson’s Sammy Watkins gets drafted with one of the first picks of the draft.

Evans enters the draft with only two years of college football experience.  Although he doesn’t have the experience that some of the other wideouts in this draft class have, he does have some pretty amazing physical traits that could even make him jump Watkins at the draft if he has an excellent combine.

Here are his statistics over two seasons at Texas A&M:

•  26 games played
• 151 receptions
• 2499 receiving yards
• averages 16.5 yards per catch
• 17 receiving touchdowns

Although Evans has very impressive stats, even more impressive are his measurables.  He is 6’5″ tall and and weighs in at 255 pounds. Those numbers are very similar to those of Detroit Lions superstar Calvin Johnson.  Although I hate comparing NFL prospects to current pros, Evans has the same kind of ability as Megatron when it comes to going up and getting the ball as well as fighting off defenders.

Oct 19, 2013; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver Mike Evans (13) is unable to make the catch as Auburn Tigers defensive back Jermaine Whitehead (behind) defends the play during the second half at Kyle Field. Tigers won 45-41. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Strengths

•  Size
• Strength
• Hands
• Tracking the ball
• Physical

Weaknesses

•  Slow release after snap
• Creating separation

Fit For The Vikings

The Vikings already have Jennings and Patterson to start at wide receiver.

My Take

I’m a big fan of Evans, as you could probably figure out from my glowing review of him.  He will be a great addition to any team that he goes to, but with the Vikings spending so much in free agency to get Greg Jennings and trading up in the draft to get Cordarrelle Patterson, I don’t see the team selecting another wide receiver early in the early rounds of the draft.