Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill will have a new weapon to work with on offense this season after the team drafted running back Darrynton Evans in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Evans is the perfect complement to starting back Derrick Henry. The Appalachian State product brings 4.41 40-yard dash speed and could be the change-of-pace, passing-down back the Titans are looking for to replace Dion Lewis and add a new element to the offense.
During a Zoom call with the media on Thursday, Tannehill revealed that he has been working with Evans down in Florida this offseason and explained why he’s “really excited” to have him on the team, per Jim Wyatt of Titans Online.
“Just a talented guy,” Tannehill said. “He’s very explosive, very fast. Catching the football, really natural. When you see a running back catch the ball naturally, whether they’re coming out of the backfield or split out wide, it definitely adds another element to the offense and can give defenses a hard time. Really excited about having Darrynton with us.”
The part about Evans looking natural as a pass-catcher is important.
While the Titans would like to see Evans take the passing-down work and might look to line him up in multiple spots, he didn’t necessarily have a ton of experience catching passes in college, totaling just 39 receptions during his career.
Another thing to watch with Evans is how he handles pass protection. Should he struggle, that could limit the rookie’s snaps in his first season.
Aside from contributing on offense, we could also see Evans’ explosiveness displayed in the return game. The 22-year-old averaged an impressive 25.7 yards per kick return with the Mountaineers.
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