NY Giants sign Kelvin Benjamin: How ex-WR fits tight end depth chart
The NY Giants signed former first-round pick Kelvin Benjamin, as a tight end, following this weekend’s tryout during the team’s rookie minicamp
The NY Giants have signed former Carolina Panthers first-round pick Kelvin Benjamin, following a tryout during the team’s rookie minicamp this weekend, with one caveat, the former wide receiver is now a tight end.
News of Benjamin’s signing was first reported by ESPN’s Jordan Raanan.
Benjamin, 30, was originally chosen by NY Giants general manager Dave Gettleman with the No. 28 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. However, he never quite lived up to first-round billing.
Through the first five seasons of his career, Benjamin has spent time with the Panthers, Buffalo Bills, and Kansas City Chiefs. Benjamin has 209 career receptions for 3,021 yards and 20 touchdowns in 61 games.
Given that Benjamin weighed in this weekend at 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds, it is no surprise that the NY Giants have moved him to tight end, from receiver. The NY Giants are also significantly deeper at receiver, after signing Kenny Golladay and John Ross, and choosing Kadarius Toney in the first-round of the NFL Draft, than at tight end.
It might be an uphill battle for Benjamin to make the active roster, but he’ll certainly have his chance through the offseason program and training camp.
Here’s a look at how the NY Giants’ tight end depth chart now shapes up, with Kelvin Benjamin a part of it:
1) Evan Engram
2) Kyle Rudolph
3) Kaden Smith
4) Kelvin Benjamin
5) Levine Toilolo
6) Nakia Griffin-Stewart
7) Cole Hikutini
8) Nate Wieting
9) Rysen John
There is a chance that the NY Giants could keep as many as five tight ends this season, and given Benjamin’s prior connection with Gettleman, there is a chance he has a leg-up in the competition for a roster spot.
Matt Lombardo is FanSided’s National NFL Insider, and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday. Email Matt: Matt.Lombardo@FanSided.com, Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattLombardoNFL