Evan Link OT Michigan |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #71 SUB-POSITION: Left/Right Tackle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/02/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 5.29 seconds (44%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jersey: #71 | |
| SUB-POSITION: Left/Right Tackle | |
| Last Updated: 11/02/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 5.29 seconds (44%*) | |
| Overall Rating: |
78.0 / 100
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
|
81% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Pass Blocking: |
|
84% |
| Run Blocking: |
|
59% |
|
DRAFT PROJECTION:
UDFA
Overall Rank:
#295
Position rank:
#44 (OL)
|
||
| College Games: 27 College Snaps: 1531 | ||
ESPN RATING: 80/100
|
||
247 RATING: 88/100
|
||
|
RIVALS RATING: 5.8 (95%)
|
||
| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Nick Saldiveri - Old Dominion |
|
94% |
| Carter Warren - Pittsburgh |
|
93% |
| Garret Greenfield - South Dakota State |
|
91% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Evan Link was a two-time first-team All-WCAC selection at Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C., and a four-star recruit with offers from Florida State, Miami, Penn State and Wisconsin before choosing Michigan in the 2023 class. He grew up in Burke, Virginia.After a redshirt year, he started 11 games in 2024, 10 at right tackle and one at left tackle in the ReliaQuest Bowl. He moved to left tackle in 2025 and made seven starts before suffering a lower-body injury in the win over Washington in October that left him carted off the field. Sherrone Moore later said it was not as bad as first feared.
Link opened 2026 at left guard against Western Michigan before returning to left tackle, where he has started since. He has given up three pressures all season, including one in 76 snaps against Indiana, and has 24 career starts.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Has allowed three pressures all season in a pass-heavy role
- Handled Indiana's rush over 76 snaps, giving up one pressure
- Starting experience at left tackle, right tackle and left guard
- Patient in his pass sets, rarely lunging or overextending
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Run blocking is a clear weakness, rarely moving defenders at the point
- Struggled to sustain run blocks against Indiana's physical front
- Average athlete for a tackle, which may push him inside at the next level
- Lower-body injury in October 2025 left him carted off against Washington
- Gave up 27 pressures in 2024, so his consistency is recent
Scouting Report: Summary
Link has become a dependable pass protector for Michigan. He sets with patience, keeps his weight under him and has allowed only three pressures this season, including a solid day against Indiana's front.However, his run blocking is well behind his pass protection, and he does not create push in the run game. His average athleticism may limit him to guard in the NFL, and his 2025 season ended early after a lower-body injury.
Overall, Link is a steady, versatile lineman who can play three spots. He projects as a priority free agent who could earn a backup role thanks to his pass protection and versatility.
How other scouting services rate Evan Link (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
249.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
41.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.