Mitchell Evans & The Bucs
March 30th, 2025
So Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht loves drafting tight ends in late rounds.
Four were on the roster last season and all made their share of contributions.
Cade Otton, of course, was the top dog. The Bucs’ No. 1 tight end was the first pick of Round 4 in the 2022 draft. The came Payne Durham a year later (Round 5) and Devin Culp last year (Round 7).
Ko Kieft (Round 6 in 2022) is a core special teams player.
They’re all under contract for 2025, but Joe could see Licht investing in another tight end with an eye toward special teams and greater versatility. Also, Licht’s running backs are so darn talented, he may not want to risk them on special teams any longer.
Joe’s been looking at manbeast Notre Dame tight end Mitchell Evans. Not only does he seem to fit the good-citizen, football-deep-in-his-blood Licht model, Evans loves to block. He measured 6-5 1/2 and 258 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine a few weeks before his 22nd birthday.
Evans was Notre Dame’s No. 1 tight end last season with 43 catches for 421 yards. He didn’t miss a game after blowing out his knee (ACL) in 2023.
Projected as a Day 3 draft selection next month, Evans expects to be the guy to extend Notre Dame’s 20-year streak of having its top tight end get drafted. It’s a long list that includes Tyler Eifert, Kyle Rudolph and Cole Kmet.
As much as Todd Bowles wants to run the ball and the Bucs expect to continue a run-heavy approach, Joe would more than understand a desire to add a versatile huge body like Evans.
March 30th, 2025 at 7:51 pm
Nope. Ever since Bowles hired Justin Peele, the TE blocking is much better.
March 30th, 2025 at 7:57 pm
TE seems like a luxury pick considering the room, hard to see using a draft pick there considering there is still developing talents that are likely only going to get better. Kieft seems like the one most in danger, though he does seem to have his admirers in One Buc.
March 30th, 2025 at 8:13 pm
Long-term, I see your strategy, Joe.
Short-term, ie. deep playoff run/SB? No.
Cade and Ko will both be up for 5th year options at the end of the coming season (if I’ve done my math correctly).
Cade will absolutely have offers from other teams once he hits FA. Ko may too.
Having someone working their way up to the roster behind Payne and Devin makes sense, although Payne and Devin both played very well when they were given their opportunities last year. We should watch for that to continue this year.
But, if you really want to make a deep playoff/SB run this year, our draft has to be defense, defense, defense.
The exception would be if Jason Licht is willing to trade down or out of the first round in exchange for a couple of later picks. Then, I could see it.
And, to be fair, Evans does look like he’d fit the bill of what the team is trying to do here.
March 30th, 2025 at 8:13 pm
Definitely would have to be a guy you figured was an absolute steal. If similar value of basically prefer any defensive player before a tight end and a reciever before a tight end imo. Arguably oline for more depth
March 30th, 2025 at 8:14 pm
Culp is going to be a breakout player on offense next year. Big, physical and fast. Unpopular opinion, but he could overtake Otten next year as the #1. Tight ends aren’t supposed to get up the seam that fast. He reminds me of Vernon Davis
March 30th, 2025 at 8:19 pm
Sure thing … if he falls to our 5th pick.
Top 4 needs to be 3/4 defense min. If we snag an offensive player, prefer OL/WR.
So… doubting he’ll be there.
March 30th, 2025 at 8:25 pm
Maybe I’ll change my mind.
Mitch Evans and Mike Evans are Very, Very similar names.
LOL
March 30th, 2025 at 8:25 pm
Drafting TE Evans would be a waste as he would be sitting at the bottom of the roster for the next two years. Payne and Culp haven’t even scratched their true potential.
March 30th, 2025 at 8:39 pm
Don’t see it happening at all. If the Bucs draft anyone at all on offense next year, I gotta think it will be a WR. They have solid depth at all other offensive positions now, after adding several linemen in free agency. It’s got be be nothing but defense this year, where the depth is more than shallow, I would think.
March 30th, 2025 at 8:51 pm
Due to the many obvious needs elsewhere taking a tight end seems foolish.
Otton, Culp, And Durham will more than suffice if they continue to develop.
I agree with others, if we go offense let’s get a WR
March 30th, 2025 at 8:59 pm
Unless there’s a blockbuster trade for an ILB, CB, or even a DL with a year or two left on their rookie contract (no, I don’t have anyone in mind) AND we get an extra day two pick. Or trading out of the first for several day two picks, I don’t see this happening.
My humble opinion based on zero knowledge of Licht’s draft board.
March 30th, 2025 at 9:13 pm
Get the argument but that doesn’t outweigh the need to rebuild the DEFENSE. would rather take a chance on a Day3 LB or CB.
March 30th, 2025 at 9:23 pm
Luxury pick for sure but if they can find a next level TE that would be cool. The guys in the room are a pretty good group though.
March 30th, 2025 at 9:31 pm
I kinda agree with Rastaferian up there… Culp made some nice catches with his limited opportunities.
Don’t get me wrong, I like Cade and think he does a pretty good job but Culp might be more dangerous as a weapon.
March 30th, 2025 at 9:57 pm
In other news the NFL banned Bakers finger smell celebration. Not cool.
March 30th, 2025 at 9:58 pm
Cade Otton was awesome last season. Hope he ascends to another level this coming season.
March 30th, 2025 at 10:00 pm
Think Jason is just drafting a TE every season in hopes of stumbling onto the next Gronk??
March 30th, 2025 at 10:41 pm
You do want to play a year out at TE as most rookies are not very good at that position. So taking a flier on someone isn’t a terrible idea – but ideally would only happen if they traded back earlier and picked up extra picks as they need all the help they can get at LB, S, corner, even defensive line depth.
March 31st, 2025 at 12:25 am
Vanessa, to my knowledge, non-first round picks get four year contracts and therefore no fifth year options.
March 31st, 2025 at 12:30 am
Could go for this guy. But then, there is another guy. A long snapper from Youngstown State who can snap, tackle, and drop into empty zones just in case there is a need for another player w,ho is lousy at zone coverage. Tony Telusiak Jr.
Watch for him.
March 31st, 2025 at 12:36 am
Yes.
March 31st, 2025 at 6:10 am
What would his jersey say? M. Evans?? Taken, haha
March 31st, 2025 at 6:26 am
Nope.
Licht is too loyal to Keift and Culp to draft another TE.
We are 4 deep and it will stay that way.
Licht is not going to push one of these guys off the roster.
Culp has a huge lower body. He breaks tackles. He runs a 4.5.
Culp is needs to replace Keift’s snaps on offense
March 31st, 2025 at 3:14 pm
Teacherman – Keift is a special teams guy and more of a blocking TE than a receiver – and Culp is a pure receiving TE and not much of a blocker.
Again TE’s take a while to develop, generally, so ideally you want to draft them a year before you need them. Also teams keep 4 TEs generally – and Keift might be considered a special teams only player at this point.
So getting an all-around TE isn’t a terrible idea as Otton is going to be very expensive to keep. I assume the Bucs will figure out something, but TE prices are through the roof, so getting someone in your system for a year to see if they could start or be a TE2, isn’t a bad idea.
March 31st, 2025 at 4:12 pm
@RodMunch – where do you see Durham fit in or do you? Doesnt he do both ( block/catch) fairly well? I dont see us drafting a TE four consecutive years in a row. Maybe sign an UFA that can compete for TE3?