Zach Evans may have been a sixth-round pick, but there’s some hype about this rookie running back for the Rams. Though the TCU and Ole Miss product is currently penciled in as the No. 3 or 4 option on the depth chart, there are some who believe he could become the starter eventually.
NFL.com’s Chad Reuter is among them, picking Evans on his projected All-Rookie Team for 2023. It’s always difficult to predict which rookies will make an instant impact in Year 1, and more often than not, it’s the early picks that do. But Evans, a sixth-rounder, could carve out a role as a rookie in L.A.
Cam Akers has definitely experienced ups and downs during his career with the Rams. If injury or inconsistent play from Akers creates an opportunity for Evans, I expect the rookie sixth-rounder to attack rushing lanes with his powerful yet agile north-south running.
Of the 11 players Reuter projects to make the All-Rookie Team on offense, seven of them were first-round picks. Evans was the lowest-drafted player by a wide margin, with the next-closest being Anthony Bradford of the Seahawks, a fourth-rounder.
Evans not only has to beat out Cam Akers for touches, but Kyren Williams and Sony Michel now, too. It’s what has Evans third (or fourth) on the depth chart right now as the Rams approach training camp, but there’s certainly time for him to rise up the ranks.
Dane Brugler of The Athletic was high on Evans coming into the draft, ranking him 31st on his big board last summer before eventually dropping him down to No. 115 in his final rankings due to some apparent reliability concerns and potential character issues.
Evans’ ability has never been the question when projecting his football future. Going back to high school, however, there were reliability issues that created a hectic recruiting process. After two productive yet inconsistent seasons at TCU, he transferred to Ole Miss for 2022, which gave him a fresh start and a chance to change his narrative. NFL scouts remained more skeptical than optimistic on him throughout the draft process.
The Rams may have found a future starter at running back and at the very least, a talented change-of-pace back to complement Akers. For now, it’s Akers’ backfield to lose, but Evans will be lurking as the season progresses.
