Panthers add Notre Dame's Evans to offense

The Carolina Panthers selected Notre Dame tight end Mitchell Evans in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, No. 163 overall.

Pre-draft profile

Evans is a rare breed at tight end these days, profiling as a player capable of handling in-line duties early in his pro career. The Notre Dame product's combination of size, play strength, and blocking skills should earn him the kind of trust that gets young players on the field. He's no slouch as a receiver either. While he doesn't have the straight-line speed to stretch the field vertically, he's quicker than you might imagine a player of his size being. And even when he's unable to create separation, Mitchell has the body control and ball skills to win in contested-catch situations. His playmaking doesn't match the more athletic tight end prospects, and past injuries will make the medicals an important part of the evaluation. But an increasingly rare do-it-all skill set should allow Mitchell to build a long professional career.