Kiper & McShay pick first-round sleepers for the 2020 NFL draft

[EastHallApp]

Do all of you guys expect Evans to leave after this year? If I am not mistaken he is still just a Junior. The 2020 draft is for existing Seniors and guys who will leave early. What am I missing?

Someone raised the possibility of him going early, so that's what started it. I don't expect that, but the discussion of his future applies whether it's after this season or next.

[bigdaddyg]

Do all of you guys expect Evans to leave after this year? If I am not mistaken he is still just a Junior. The 2020 draft is for existing Seniors and guys who will leave early. What am I missing?

Someone raised the possibility of him going early, so that's what started it. I don't expect that, but the discussion of his future applies whether it's after this season or next.

Hope that he stays. I thought that this topic was dealing with the 2020 draft. If it is extending to 2021 we have a heaping bunch of guys to discuss.

[NewApp]

Glad to see he's getting noticed. I wonder if he might project as a safety in the pros? Or if they think they could bulk him up more without sacrificing too much speed.

My friend who sent me pro day results said that some have Gaither as a safety but some also have him at linebacker. In today's NFL linebackers are often smaller than ideal because of the pass happy offenses.

I always thought he was a good player but he is a tweener. Some will see him as a S and others as a LB. He is definitely going to end up in the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine my friend told me. Gaither should get drafted for sure unless he has an injury like Moore did.

It will be interesting to see what Akeem is measured at since he looks more like 6'1 210 or 205 than what he is listed at. Hopefully he comes in at 6'2 225 instead of what they think he may.

Akeem is definitely 6’2 and he is a bit thin. He is cut up, but if I were looking for ideal LB size, he doesn’t have it. His instincts are phenomenal and he is extremely mature for his age (has a little girl and runs his own business). He can definitely add more weight to his frame, so that may be his plan based on what scouts tell him when he decides to come out.

Evans is a skill player. He added more weight in the offseason, but I think he is pretty maxed out where he is now for his frame. He should get heavy looks based on his skillset.

Can he run his own business and keep his athletic scholarship via NCAA standards?

[yosef69]

fyi - Evan's tweeted something out today about getting some great news. RB is probably where in least concerned about someone going early, because we have absurd depth for a g5 program there.

[Rick83]

fyi - Evan's tweeted something out today about getting some great news. RB is probably where in least concerned about someone going early, because we have absurd depth for a g5 program there.

Can you imagine if we still had Peoples?!?

[appstatealum]

Glad to see he's getting noticed. I wonder if he might project as a safety in the pros? Or if they think they could bulk him up more without sacrificing too much speed.

My friend who sent me pro day results said that some have Gaither as a safety but some also have him at linebacker. In today's NFL linebackers are often smaller than ideal because of the pass happy offenses.

I always thought he was a good player but he is a tweener. Some will see him as a S and others as a LB. He is definitely going to end up in the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine my friend told me. Gaither should get drafted for sure unless he has an injury like Moore did.

It will be interesting to see what Akeem is measured at since he looks more like 6'1 210 or 205 than what he is listed at. Hopefully he comes in at 6'2 225 instead of what they think he may.

Akeem is definitely 6’2 and he is a bit thin. He is cut up, but if I were looking for ideal LB size, he doesn’t have it. His instincts are phenomenal and he is extremely mature for his age (has a little girl and runs his own business). He can definitely add more weight to his frame, so that may be his plan based on what scouts tell him when he decides to come out.

Evans is a skill player. He added more weight in the offseason, but I think he is pretty maxed out where he is now for his frame. He should get heavy looks based on his skillset.

Can he run his own business and keep his athletic scholarship via NCAA standards?

I believe he does stuff in offseason only. You are not allowed to work during the season.

[Yosef10]

If Evans keeps it up he may go early

I would think he's picked up as a receiver and/or third down back. Doesn't have the body type to be a run between the tackles guy at that level.

Not comparing the two other than size, but people said the exact same thing when McCafferey came out at 5’11 202lbs. Evans listed at 5’11 201 lbs. He’s shown the ability to run between the tackles just fine IMO.

Could be. The biggest difference, in my opinion, is the skill and vision that CMC showed. Evans is a quality back but he isn't Christian McCaffrey. CMC has more contact balance than any other NFL running back not named Alvin Kamara and even then it's a push. Perhaps Evans comparison is better applied to Kamara, who is less shifty but has the ability to bounce off of would be tacklers and make guys miss given enough space to operate.

Yeah i just responded bc you said body type and their body types are pretty similar and CMC has no troubles running through the tackles.

[appstatealum]

Do all of you guys expect Evans to leave after this year? If I am not mistaken he is still just a Junior. The 2020 draft is for existing Seniors and guys who will leave early. What am I missing?

I strongly doubt he would leave early. That wouldn't benefit him in the least bit.

[ericsaid]

Do all of you guys expect Evans to leave after this year? If I am not mistaken he is still just a Junior. The 2020 draft is for existing Seniors and guys who will leave early. What am I missing?

I strongly doubt he would leave early. That wouldn't benefit him in the least bit.

Depending on the advice he gets if he requests that the NFL provide a Draft Analysis, it may be in his best interest. If there isn't much more he can do to improve his draft stock, rather than risk an injury like Jalin Moore had, he could go pro.

[ericsaid]

If Evans keeps it up he may go early

I would think he's picked up as a receiver and/or third down back. Doesn't have the body type to be a run between the tackles guy at that level.

Not comparing the two other than size, but people said the exact same thing when McCafferey came out at 5’11 202lbs. Evans listed at 5’11 201 lbs. He’s shown the ability to run between the tackles just fine IMO.

Could be. The biggest difference, in my opinion, is the skill and vision that CMC showed. Evans is a quality back but he isn't Christian McCaffrey. CMC has more contact balance than any other NFL running back not named Alvin Kamara and even then it's a push. Perhaps Evans comparison is better applied to Kamara, who is less shifty but has the ability to bounce off of would be tacklers and make guys miss given enough space to operate.

Yeah i just responded bc you said body type and their body types are pretty similar and CMC has no troubles running through the tackles.

Their height and weight are similar but their running styles, vision, contact balance, and a variety of other things are far different. I like Evans as an NFL player but I'm not convinced he sticks as a running back. If I'm a coach, specifically with the Patriots or Cardinals, I want him to be out in space and have a chance to make a guy miss. He's proven, against every style of team from P5 to FCS, that all he needs is a lane on kicks, runs, or receiving, to take it the distance.

[ericsaid]

If Evans keeps it up he may go early

I would think he's picked up as a receiver and/or third down back. Doesn't have the body type to be a run between the tackles guy at that level.

Not comparing the two other than size, but people said the exact same thing when McCafferey came out at 5’11 202lbs. Evans listed at 5’11 201 lbs. He’s shown the ability to run between the tackles just fine IMO.

Could be. The biggest difference, in my opinion, is the skill and vision that CMC showed. Evans is a quality back but he isn't Christian McCaffrey. CMC has more contact balance than any other NFL running back not named Alvin Kamara and even then it's a push. Perhaps Evans comparison is better applied to Kamara, who is less shifty but has the ability to bounce off of would be tacklers and make guys miss given enough space to operate.

That said, we're comparing him with a guy who was a top 10 pick and is an MVP candidate. (And Kamara is obviously one of the better backs in the league too.) I don't know how Evans projects at the next level, but even as a poor-man's version of those guys, he could get drafted, make a roster and play for many years.

The reason I make those comparisons is because the margins in the NFL are so slim that there isn't really that big of a difference, oftentimes, from one guy to the next, in terms of what kind of production they can have when utilizing their abilities correctly.

Evans does remind me a bit of Kamara with the way he can take hits once he gets going and will maintain balance. Whether he could do that in the NFL remains to be seen. He will get his shot though.

[ericsaid]

I feel like Evans is cut from a similar mold as Travaris Cadet, only with more upside. TC had several very productive years in the NFL. Much will depend on him going to a team that can use his skillset. He isn't going to be a consensus #1 pick, but if the right staff gets hold of him, he will have the opportunity to have a solid career.

Evans appears to be much farther along than Cadet ever was. I'd assume that once Pro Days roll around and a likely combine invite happens, if he runs a sub 4.4 40 and clocks in between 205 and 210, he's going to get drafted.

[appstatealum]

I really see Evans as a James White type of player. He can have a really great career that way.

[AppStFan1]

Glad to see he's getting noticed. I wonder if he might project as a safety in the pros? Or if they think they could bulk him up more without sacrificing too much speed.

My friend who sent me pro day results said that some have Gaither as a safety but some also have him at linebacker. In today's NFL linebackers are often smaller than ideal because of the pass happy offenses.

I always thought he was a good player but he is a tweener. Some will see him as a S and others as a LB. He is definitely going to end up in the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine my friend told me. Gaither should get drafted for sure unless he has an injury like Moore did.

It will be interesting to see what Akeem is measured at since he looks more like 6'1 210 or 205 than what he is listed at. Hopefully he comes in at 6'2 225 instead of what they think he may.

It will depend on his December to April work. I think he can bulk up the lower half of his body and get to 225 before the Pro Day and possible combine. If he's being acknowledged as a Day 2 or 3 pick he probably gets a combine invite. If he can still run a 4.6 40 at 225-230 pounds and being 6'1 (doubt that he's 6'2), and can show off short area quickness and strength on the bench, he should solidify a draft spot.

Doubt he's a safety though. Most likely a hybrid player used in Big Nickel packages.

Apparently scouts think he should run in the high 4.5s. I think he can bulk up and play LB. Even if he runs say a 4.69-4.75 range at 225-230 pounds that is fast enough. He could certainly be a hybrid who moves around in different packages. Gaither can flat run. Fastest guy on our front seven in terms of range.

[AppStFan1]

Do all of you guys expect Evans to leave after this year? If I am not mistaken he is still just a Junior. The 2020 draft is for existing Seniors and guys who will leave early. What am I missing?

I expect him to stay since there are so many RBs and seeing Duck go undrafted.

[AppStFan1]

I feel like Evans is cut from a similar mold as Travaris Cadet, only with more upside. TC had several very productive years in the NFL. Much will depend on him going to a team that can use his skillset. He isn't going to be a consensus #1 pick, but if the right staff gets hold of him, he will have the opportunity to have a solid career.

Evans appears to be much farther along than Cadet ever was. I'd assume that once Pro Days roll around and a likely combine invite happens, if he runs a sub 4.4 40 and clocks in between 205 and 210, he's going to get drafted.

I have no doubt that Evans would get drafted. I think he, Sutton, and Gaither definitely get drafted while Franklin, Thomas, Fehr, Johnson, Hennigan, and ZT would all get signed by a team.

[AppStFan1]

I really see Evans as a James White type of player. He can have a really great career that way.

I'm with you.