New York Giants: Eli Manning has never had this many playmakers
Evan Engram
Position: Tight End
Age: 22 (9/2/1994)
2016 Season Statistics (College): 11 games played, 65 receptions, 926 yards, 8 touchdowns
Career Statistics: 41 games played, 162 receptions, 2,320 yards, 15 touchdowns
The New York Giants made a surprising decision to draft Ole Miss Rebels tight end Evan Engram in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft. The need for a tight end was undeniable, but some felt as though Engram was a reach at No. 23 overall.
As OTAs continue and Engram begins catching passes from Eli Manning in a Giants jersey, however, it’s becoming quite clear that he’s another offensive weapon.
.@EvanEngram: We have a lot of weapons on this time...my mindset is to make as many plays as possible. #NYGiants
— New York Giants (@Giants) June 9, 2017
He’s capable of doing exactly that.
Engram led all FBS tight ends with an average of 17.4 yards per reception during the 2014 college football season. He regressed to some degree during the 2015 campaign, but bounced back with 65 receptions for 926 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior.
Engram was the focal point of Ole Miss’ offense during the 2016 season, and he took on that burden with impressive success.
At 6’3″ and 234 pounds, Engram isn’t the biggest tight end target in the NFL. He ran a faster 40 time than Odell Beckham, however, and proved capable of lining up in traditional sets, the slot, and outside the hashes at Ole Miss.
Coupled with an explosive vertical leap and a willingness to fight for jump balls, Engram could be the playmaking tight end Manning has been without since Jeremy Shockey.