Former Texas A&M wide receiver Mike Evans has certainly garnered momentum in the weeks leading up to the NFL Draft. So much so that he could possibly overtake Sammy Watkins as the first wide receiver off the board next Thursday night.
According to multiple reports, the Cleveland Browns “are looking and leaning toward” Evans with the fourth overall selection.
The Browns have done a terrific job of keeping their plans quiet, having worked out essentially every quarterback prospect and done their due diligence with other potential top picks. Watkins may still around when the team is on the clock, but it seems as if the Browns are higher on Evans and could pull the trigger on the fast-rising receiver.
Looks like more are catching on – WR Mike Evans is a real possibility at No. 4 to the #Browns
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) May 1, 2014
In a radio interview with 92.3 The Fan’s “Bull & Fox” in Cleveland, TFY Draft Insider Tony Pauline reported the Browns view Evans as a better wide receiver prospect than Watkins. Pauline explained the Browns’ thinking:
“My recent information is that they are heavily looking at and leaning toward Mike Evans, the receiver from Texas A&M,” he said.
“What I’ve heard from several sources is he’s not only their highest-rated receiver, he’s one of the highest-rated players on their draft board, period. Early on, we were hearing they may take Sammy Watkins. I’ve heard all along that the spread between Watkins and Evans is not that large, but someone explained it quite clearly — you can’t teach 6-6 — and Mike Evans is a 6-6 receiver who plays the position very well and he’s got a great amount of upside. He made Johnny Manziel such a better quarterback. He would go up and win out for those contested balls, and with teams going with bigger cornerbacks, how do you beat them? You match them with wide receivers who are 6-4, 6-5, 6-6.”
There is the possibility Evans is still the second wide receiver off the board, assuming the St. Louis Rams or Jacksonville Jaguars nab Watkins with the second or third pick. But this is definitely an interesting twist for Cleveland, who have given no indication of what direction the team is heading in.
The final XN Sports Mock Draft, the Browns remain the landing spot for Johnny Manziel, with Evans falling to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 7.
