Previewing the loaded NY Giants’ 2020 tight end position group

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 30: Evan Engram #88 of the New York Giants catches the ball for a two-point conversion during the third quarter of the game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium on December 30, 2018 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 30: Evan Engram #88 of the New York Giants catches the ball for a two-point conversion during the third quarter of the game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium on December 30, 2018 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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Levine Toilolo of the NY Giants (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
Levine Toilolo of the NY Giants (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /

The Veteran Newcomer: Levine Toilolo

To continue the Stanford tradition, Levine Toilolo enters the conversation. Toilolo joins fellow Cardinal Kaden Smith in New York for 2020. Like Smith, Toilolo comes over from the reigning NFC champion 49ers but he joins the NY Giants as an unrestricted free agent.

Toilolo, at age 28, is entering his 8th NFL season joining his 4th NFL team since entering the league in 2013. He was drafted 133rd overall in the 4th round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. Toilolo stuck around with Atlanta for five seasons, making the Super Bowl in 2016 only to infamously blow a 28-3 lead.

Toilolo was cut after five seasons in Atlanta and he signed with Detroit in 2018. After that, he played for the 49ers in 2019, helping the team reach the Super Bowl. Toilolo only caught two catches for the Niners, but he played a meaningful and significant role as the team’s primary blocker at tight end.

He will fill a similar role for the NY Giants in 2020.

Toilolo signed a one year deal with Big Blue in free agency to help shore up the edge blocking that has been a significant issue and has plagued the team’s offense for years. Toilolo is a staggering 6’8, 270 pounds.

Expect Levine to help come in and use his size and physicality to help neutralize chip, and knockdown opposing defenders and pass rushers.

He will not be counted upon to catch passes and stretch defenses. He will be taking on a leadership and veteran’s role where he can mentor younger players at his position and teach them things about blocking and the nuances of the position from all the things he’s learned in his 8-year experience in the league.

Also, he is 0-2 in Super Bowls and seems due for another visit. With three times the charm, hopefully, he will be the answer for putting the 5th Lombardi Trophy into the trophy case at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center!