5 Things the NY Giants need to do to make the playoffs in 2021
By John Makuch
No. 2) Trade Evan Engram and draft Kyle Pitts or another offensive weapon
On the surface, trading a “Pro Bowl” tight end seems like a bad idea, but Evan Engram could not believe Engram made the Pro Bowl in a video that went viral a few months ago.
It is still puzzling as to why he made the Pro Bowl over Packers tight end Robert Tonyan who caught 11 touchdowns to Engram’s one touchdown all season. Engram’s now-infamous drop against Philadelphia is the reason the NY Giants have a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and they would have won the division if he catches that pass.
Florida TE and Mackey Award winner Kyle Pitts would not have dropped that pass, he is one of the best prospects at the position we have seen in quite some time and would be a great piece to help the development of Daniel Jones. Pitts is going to be a superstar, plain and simple, and if he is available, the NY Giants should take him unless if Devonta Smith or even Ja’maar Chase is available.
Evan Engram’s drops led to a loss of 35 expected points according to stats from @reinhurdler on Twitter which is clearly enough points to make up for the one game the NY Giants needed to make the postseason.
Whether Engram brings in a fifth-round pick or fewer, Engram was a net loss for the Giants in 2020 and it is hard to see a way he turns that around enough in 2021. Pitts on the other hand is a likely star at the tight end spot in a class loaded with pass catchers, it seems like an easy equation to pick one of these guys up.
Adding to the defense if there is a talent you cannot pass up would be a positive for the NY Giants, but with the main issue for the Giants being the offense and receiving, while the defense remains strong, drafting offensive talent is a pressing issue for the team.
Daniel Jones needs weapons that he can trust if he wants to develop as a quarterback, and there are plenty of guys that he would be able to trust in this 2021 draft class so the NY Giants need to pick one of these guys up and even pick up a guy like Allen Robinson alongside them.
Allen Robinson, Darius Slayton, Saquon Barkley, and Kyle Pitts, now that is a core that can fix the touchdown and red-zone issues for this NY Giants team and it would make Jones look way better in this offense.