STRENGTHS
Evan is a multi-position, Defensive Back with the high football IQ to be a coach on the field and make the players around him better. He might be the best cover safety in this draft. He was used all over the defense because he identifies and stops the run as well as any safety in the NFL. He is a good tackler, hitting running backs and receivers with the aggressiveness to dislodge the ball. He takes on blocks with the aggressiveness and excellent techniques needed to make it easy for him to shut down sweeps and screens in the backfield. He has the speed, size, and high football IQ to be used in any style of defense as a single free safety, strong safety, or in the slot as a cover safety. Evan, along with his athletic talent and size has excellent anticipation skills and instincts. He will make the players in your defensive backfield better because of his ability to play more than one position at a high level and his leadership skills.
CONCERNS
Evan has to have a good combine. If he can break the 4.5 barrier and show more flexibility in his cover skills it would not shock me to see him slip into the first round. That being said, from what I see on film he does struggle at times breaking down to make tackles and change direction in the open field. Some of this is because he seems too aggressive to make the big hit and not because he lacks the talent. He can cover in the slot but I’m not convinced he could be used at that position in every down-and-distance situation.
BOTTOM LINE: 2.07
As of this writing, no one knows about Evan except for the scouts and GM’s. Evan is smart but as Shakira sings…the hips don’t lie, Even struggles to change direction if he is not on the move. He struggles to change direction at times against those shifty receivers and running backs when he is in space. Let me put it this way…you can break his ankles when he is alone trying to make a tackle. So…he’s not perfect, but he is an excellent football player with excellent athletic talent and can play off or on the line of scrimmage and be used in any style of zone or in single coverages. He is a good tackler but he does have to learn to break down and make the sure tackle instead of the big hit all the time. Evan plays a position that is not valued as high as other positions are valued mostly because it takes less athletic talent to play the position and can be taught and coached easier for that reason. Nevertheless, Teams nowadays are looking for safeties who can cover instead of the hard-hitting safeties limited to one style of defensive backfield play. Evan looks to me to be that style of Defensive back and not just a pure limited safety but the combine will be the key to prove that he is, for sure. If you’re a team looking for a unique style of defensive back to play safety, you might want to pick this kid early instead of waiting until later in the draft. Just saying!
