New York Giants: Top 10 players who need to step up in 2018
By Henry Buggy
#8 – Evan Engram
New York’s 2017 first-round pick proved himself a valuable weapon in his rookie season. Evan Engram led Big Blue’s offense with 64 catches and six touchdown receptions. He trailed only Sterling Shepard in receiving yards and posted a team-high (11) on plays plus-20 yards.
While the 6-foot-3, 240-pound tight end made an instant connection with fellow Ole Miss alum Eli Manning, he struggled with dropped passes and in run-blocking. Engram posted a league-high 11 dropped passes for a tight end, according to Pro Football Focus.
He also had the second worst grade of any rookie first-rounder, beating out O.J. Howard by less than a point.
A look at how every first round draft pick graded as a rookie pic.twitter.com/U4gZ6c9TiC
— PFF (@PFF) January 9, 2018
The Giants could surely use improved play from Engram this upcoming season. If the second-year tight end can improve his blocking and correct his issues with dropped passes, he will undoubtedly play a significant factor in the offense’s turnaround.
Engram doesn’t necessarily need to put up huge numbers to help this offense. The Giants have plenty of weapons. What they need from Engram is for him to develop into a complete tight end.