Previewing the loaded NY Giants’ 2020 tight end position group

The Incumbent Starter: Evan Engram

Evan Engram enters year four with Big Blue looking to provide more answers than questions. Talent has never been the problem for Evan. He put up incredible stats for a rookie tight end in 2017. From there, he regressed and missed 5 games in 2018 and another 8 missed games in 2019.

Many people have wondered if he should move to receiver due to his size and speed (6’3, 240 pounds, and a 4.42 40 yard dash). He also has struggled with blocking since his Ole Miss days and it is a legitimate concern.

However, Engram is at his best when utilized as a dangerous mismatched weapon against linebackers and safeties. Engram has the ability to go up the seam and outrun linebackers and outmuscle safeties to make impressive plays when the ball is thrown his way.

He gives NY the best shot at making defenses do more than just run a shell Cover-2 look and he opens up more for other playmakers like Saquon, Shepard, Tate, and Slayton. Engram is a good, useful player that also makes other players lives’ easier.

Simply put, Engram is one of the major make-or-break players on the team’s roster. He is one of the main x-factors on this team and he needs to have a big season. The NY Giants picked up his 5th-year option so the team has made it clear they like what they have in Evan Engram.

I expect Evan Engram to come back and have a season more like his rookie year than the last two. Jason Garrett should use him in a variety of creative ways, deploying him as an inline blocker, H-back, slot and outside receiver, and use pre-snap motions and movements to get him freed lose and to expose the defense’s coverages.

Engram is a multi-dimensional player who can catch passes across the middle, go deep and make contested catches, take end-around runs, and chip guys at the line of scrimmage. The sky is the limit with Evan Engram’s football pedigree and talent, now he has to put it all together in a critical season.