In a draft class that featured six tight ends selected within the first two days, Notre Dame’s Mitchell Evans had to wait longer than anticipated to be picked—but that changed on Saturday when the Carolina Panthers selected the senior in the fifth round with the 113th overall pick.
A former high school quarterback, Mitchell Evans transitioned to tight end upon arriving at Notre Dame and steadily grew into a larger role each season. He spent his first two years backing up current Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer before becoming the starter as a junior.
In his junior year, Evans played seven games and recorded 29 catches for 422 yards and a touchdown, highlighted by a career-best performance of seven receptions for 75 yards against Ohio State.
Building on that momentum, he delivered another strong showing in his senior year, leading the team with 43 receptions for 421 yards and three touchdowns over 16 games. His efforts earned him a spot as a semifinalist for the John Mackey Award, which honors the nation’s top tight end.
Evans may not have had the breakout senior season some expected, largely due to ongoing recovery from the knee injury that ended his junior year early. However, he gained momentum late in the season and impressed at the NFL Combine, tying for the fastest 10-yard split among tight ends.
Though he slid in the draft, Evans has the potential to become a reliable target for Panthers quarterback Bryce Young. Initially, he’s likely to contribute as a second- or third-string tight end and see significant time on special teams.
It’s a promising situation—he has upside as a dependable receiving option and benefits from the presence of former Notre Dame teammate Tommy Tremble, now a Panthers tight end, as a mentor. While there are no guarantees with fifth-round picks, Evans will have every chance to carve out a role—and he could prove to be a late-round steal for Carolina.
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