How NY Giants’ Evan Engram vows to improve in critical contract-year
Evan Engram aims to bounce back in what could be a make-or-break season for the NY Giants’ tight end, playing under his fifth-year option
Few players on the NY Giants’ roster have more at stake this season than tight end Evan Engram.
The NY Giants picked up Engram’s fifth-year option prior to last season, and while he proceeded to make his first Pro Bowl, Engram was also charged with eight drops in what was a largely disappointing campaign.
Engram caught 63 of his 102 targets last season for 654 yards with just one receiving touchdown. It seemed the NY Giants struggled to get him the ball through the air, as quarterback Daniel Jones had a meager 59 passer rating when targeting him, and often resorted to handing the ball off on jet-sweeps. Engram added six carries for 26 yards and another touchdown, on such plays.
The 26-year-old vows to be better in 2021.
"“Really everything,” Engram told reporters Friday was what he focused on improving. “From ball security, from blocking techniques from routes, getting in and out of breaks, really everything that goes in doing my job every single day I put an emphasis on to improve.”"
Entering his fifth-season, and the final year of his rookie deal, the NY Giants have made no guarantees about his future beyond this season. The Giants even added shore-handed veteran tight end Kyle Rudolph in free agency.
Despite the uncertainty that might loom beyond this season, Engram is focused on what he can control, which might ultimately parlay itself into a new deal with the NY Giants.
"“Honestly my motivation is in the moment right now,” Engram says. “All that stuff is in the future. I have no control over that. I have control of what I do today on the field, what I do in these meetings to end the day, and as long as I work hard every single day, improve and do my job for my team, all that stuff will take care of itself.”"
Key takeaways from Kenny Golladay's first practice with Giants. light. Hot
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