Former Penn State wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley signs deal following NFL Draft

Former Penn State wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley went undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft but landed with a team shortly after. According to NFL Nerwork’s Tom Pelissero, Tinsley is headed to Washington after agreeing to a deal with the Commanders. The former Nittany Lion wideout joins former teammate Jahan Dotson in the nation’s capital on a deal that includes a ‘$15,000 signing bonus and a $120,000 base salary guarantee,’ Pelissero wrote via Twitter.

Tinsley was not a highly-rated recruit coming out of Lees Summit (Mo.) High. He ended up going to Hutchinson Community College in Kansas where he played Junior College ball for two seasons.

At Hutchinson Community College, Tinsley made 57 catches for 656 yards and four scores. He then transferred to Western Kentucky, where he spent the next two seasons.

In the high-powered Hilltoppers offense, Tinsley was a playmaker at wide receiver. During his senior season in 2021, Tinsley was named to the All-Conference USA second team. His first year on campus was the 2020 COVID season and he still popped off 43 receptions but just 377.

The big play ability that Tinsley can have really shown through in the 2021 season when he caught 87 passes for 1,402 yards and 14 touchdowns. He averaged 16.1 yards per catch.

His one year with the Nittany Lions and final season of college eligibility was also a successful for Tinsley. He made 51 catches for 577 yards and five touchdowns.

What NFL draft analysts are saying about Mitchell Tinsley

NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein entered the draft projecting that Mitchell Tinsley would not be selected but would be a priority undrafted free agent. This is because of some of his best skills, including his NFL frame and his willingness to work hard on blocking and focus on the task at hand when the ball is in the air.

“Possession receiver lacking top-end speed and separation quickness but possessing quality ball skills,” Zierlein wrote in his scouting report. “Tinsley’s lack of suddenness shows up quickly in press release and when trying to separate early in the route, but he’s very willing in the middle of the field and has terrific ball skills. He has the focus to make challenging catches at any spot on the field. He has good size and is a gamer, but a lack of athletic features might require him to play the role of zone-beater from the slot.”