One of the LA Chargers' biggest roster needs heading into the 2025 NFL Draft is the tight end position. As a result, Michigan's Colston Loveland has emerged as the dream first-round prospect for many fans, although there is no guarantee he will be on the board at pick No. 22.
The Chargers will have to adjust their game plan if Loveland is picked earlier in the first round as no other tight end is worth a first-round pick. Thankfully, the Chargers have foundationally addressed every roster hole so the team is not pigeonholed into forcing one or two positions.
While most fans are clamoring for a pass-catching tight end in what is a deep class, the Chargers may be better off going a different direction. Notre Dame's Mitchell Evans has all the makings of being someone who Jim Harbaugh loves in the draft process and could be a third or fourth-round target for the Bolts.
There's no doubt the Chargers have a baseline interest in Evans given his style of play. At Notre Dame's pro day, the Chargers were given even more reason to covet Evans as his testing numbers improved across the board from the NFL Combine.
Solid numbers from Mitchell Evans today. 40, shuttle, 3C, vertical, and broad improved from Combine pic.twitter.com/rjfPPoPkHP
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) March 28, 2025
Chargers have even more reason to draft Notre Dame's Mitchell Evans
Evans earned a 7.17 Relative Athletic Score for his numbers at the NFL Combine. A 7.17 rating is good, not great, but his testing numbers were eerily similar to Mark Andrews, who Chargers fans clamored for earlier this offseason.
The Notre Dame improved in just about every area, which should only be viewed as a positive for the Bolts. The Chargers aren't going to draft someone based on workout numbes at a pro day, but they can help hammer the point home for an intriguing prospect.
Evans is a bit different than other tight end options as he is not a pass-catching dynamo. Instead, Evans is arguably the best in-line blocker in this draft not named Tyler Warren and would instantly be playable as a TE3.
Los Angeles would essentially be adding its long-term Will Dissly with a much higher ceiling. Evans will carve out a long career in the NFL as a blocking specialist who still has some upside in the passing game. He may not be Colston Loveland, but he has the potential to be a respectable pass-catching weapon with his sure hands and contested catch ability.
The Chargers added a pass-catching tight end in Tyler Conklin so the team does not have to force a tight end who is better in the passing game who may be worse overall. Instead, the Chargers are in a position to take the best all-around tight end, which in the mid-rounds, may be Evans.
Conklin can serve as a one-year stopgap while the team evaluates Evans' pass-catching ceiling in his rookie year. If Evans doesn't make the leap to being a true pass-catching TE1 then the Chargers can re-address the position next offseason.
Evans is a Harbaugh guy through and through based on how he approaches the game. If Loveland doesn't wind up in LA, don't be surprised to hear Mitchell Evans' name called by the Chargers.