Chris Evans 2021 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Name: Chris Evans

Position: Running Back

College: Michigan

Height: 5’10 ⅞”

Weight: 219 lbs

Overall Rank: No. 202 overall

Position Rank: RB16

Strengths: Michigan’s Chris Evans burst onto the scene in Ann Arbor. In his first two years at Michigan, he posted 7 and 5.1 yards per carry, respectively. Evans is well-built with an ideal frame that can pack some downhill power. He has long-arms and massive hands, with the receiving ability to snag targets outside of his frame. Evans is an impressive receiver out of the backfield and could offer positional versatility that secures him a low-end roster spot in Year 1. Given his receiving ability, it’s possible some teams look to move him there long-term as offensive positions become more fluid. Evans is a fundamentally sound runner that drops his pad level to get the ugly yards inside in the box. He doesn’t have a true trait as a runner to hang his hat on but he’s functional in all regards and can be a rotational player that doesn’t waste time getting downhill with the ball in his hands.

Weaknesses: After an impressive beginning to his collegiate career, Evans’ star dimmed quickly as he sat out the 2019 due to an academic issue and then saw just 16 carriers in 2020 as part of a congested backfield group. The knock on Evans is largely a confusing end to his collegiate career. Regardless of a stacked backfield, if Evans is as legit as he looked early on, there’s no excuse to not be receiving more reps. He’s likely seen as a gamble and, while the physical profile is intriguing, there’s surely questions about why the trajectory of his time at Michigan went the way it did. Evans has average speed to the boundary and won’t overwhelm defenders in space. His game is as a north-and-south runner that doesn’t offer much fluff, but there’s a lack of creativity to his game that feels bland. 

What I Love: Evans is a phenomenal receiver out of the backfield and I’m not convinced some teams won’t try to convert him to receiver long-term. 

NFL Comparison: Brandon Bolden

Grade: 59/100

Position Specific Traits:
(key: +, ++, +++ positive scale | -, - -, - - - negative scale)

Agility: +
Ball Security: - -
Blocking: +
Contact Balance: +
Hands: +
Power: +
Speed: +