Coming into the offseason, one of the biggest needs the Tennessee Titans had was at running back, which became even more prominent after the team cut Dion Lewis early in the offseason.
Their solution for that need was drafting Appalachian State running back Darrynton Evans, who is a perfect change-of-pace option to complement Derrick Henry, in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
As much as Titans fans loved the pick, were experts as high on Evans prior to the draft? Let’s take a look.
Dane Brugler, The Athletic (Evans was his No. 8 running back):
SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Appalachian State, Evans was the featured runner in former head coach Eli Drinkwitz’s zone-heavy run scheme. Over his first two seasons, he returned kicks and bounced between running back and slot receiver on the depth chart before becoming the top running back midway through the 2018 season when Jalin Moore went down with an injury. Evans is a speedy, one-cut runner who feels openings, presses the hole and makes quick decisions to attack the second level. While competitive as a runner, he isn’t powerful and won’t be a high-volume yards-after-contact runner vs. NFL defenses. Overall, Evans might be limited by his lack of size and physicality, but he is a chug-to-daylight runner with excellent peripheral vision, projecting best as a complimentary outsize zone runner with kick return value.
GRADE: 3rd Round
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com (Round 3 projection):
Slashing outside-zone runner with glide in his stride and ability to run with elusiveness and creativity. Evans is a little undersized and might be viewed as a change-of-pace option, but he appears to have the three-down skill set to handle committee carries. He can run with patience, but has the loose hips and agile feet to plant-and-go in a hurry. He sees the field and does a nice job of setting up and eluding tacklers with lateral cuts or stacked moves. While he’s confident in space, Evans lacks the commitment and finishing force to make a living inside the tackles. His third-down and kick-return versatility increases the likelihood that Evans will hear his name called in the middle rounds with a chance to become a solid RB2.
Joe Marino, The Draft Network:
Appalachian State running back Darryton Evans is an explosive runner with plenty of juice and wiggle that makes him a dangerous threat in space with home run hitting potential. He is an ideal complement to a stable of backs that is in need of a space player with return upside. With that said, his spotty vision and slow processing skills present some challenges forecasting him to a heavy workload that features touches as an inside runner. Condensed, heavy traffic areas reveal discomfort from Evans and his power to win through contact is modest. Big play potential is always a welcomed trait for an NFL team, but Evans doesn’t come without restrictions.
The name of his game is speed. Evans has been rumored to have sub 4.4 speed, as low as 4.37 in the 40-yard dash. He can outrun defenses in a hurry. The speed is evident with his breakaway runs and on kickoff returns. Returned three kicks for touchdown with one being for 100 yards. Get the ball in his hands and let his athleticism take over. He will destroy any angles that defenders take.
He is also very good in the passing game as both a blocker and receiver. He can help out or chip on blocks and leak out. Once he gets the ball in his hands, he can make a defender miss with his quickness. Does a good job of tracking the ball in the air. Soft hands as a receiver.
Evans is a speed back with shifty open-field moves and good enough hands to be an immediate threat on third downs. He doesn’t have the between-the-tackles power to be an immediate starter for a power scheme, but he brings enough juice in zone schemes to get a long look as a north-south runner with long speed.
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