2017 NFL Draft Profile: Former Texas A&M Safety Justin Evans
By Jacob Powell
Where will Evans fit best?
Justin Evans provides teams a versatile, athletic safety who can help in both the run and pass game. His ability to lay out players and make highlight reel interceptions can be the difference in a close game. His variety of talents and high energy will make him a good fit on many NFL teams.
Evans will thrive most on a team that will allow him to roam around the field and focus on either the run or the pass. That means he will have to play next to an elite pass-coverage safety, as well as have an overall solid pass defense surrounding him to support him. This likely puts teams like the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers out of the running.
Most Ideal Fits
In terms of non-playoff teams that Evans could make an impact on, the Arizona Cardinals come to mind. Despite a lot of defensive turnover through free agency, Arizona still has a lot of defensive talent in the backfield. Justin Evans could play with his aggressive style next to Tyrran Mathieu, Patrick Peterson and former Aggie corner Brandon Williams.
Bruce Arians has been known in recent seasons to use linebacker-safety hybrids on defense. If Justin Evans can put on some weight, he can thrive in this position. With a stellar defensive backfield to back him up, Evans would be free to zone in on the run or lock down one receiver. Other non-playoff teams Justin Evans would perform well on would be the Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles, and the Cincinnati Bengals.
If Evans were to be drafted by a team that made the playoffs last season the best fit would be the Seattle Seahawks. While he might not be able to make an immediate impact, there is always the concern about how Earl Thomas will recover from his season ending leg injury. Whether or not he does play, Justin Evans would thrive in the Legion of Boom. Seattle’s defensive style perfectly fits Justin Evans abilities and play style.
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Other playoff teams which Justin Evans Would do well on are the New England Patriots, Oakland Raiders, and Houston Texans.
Results
***Stats from 12thman.com, NFL.com***