New York Giants tight end Evan Engram is set to become an NFL free agent for the first time, but could see a limited market this offseason
There’s a legitimate chance that Evan Engram has played his final game in a New York Giants uniform, as free agency looms and a new regime sets out to clear up cap space both this year and in coming years as part of an overdue rebuild.
However, the perception of Engram is varied inside the NFL.
There are some executives that believe their coaching staff and scheme can bring out the best in Engram, but some coaches disagree.
“He’s just not a special player right now,” an NFC offensive coach tells FanSided, on the condition of anonymity because he isn’t authorized to speak about players on other teams.
Engram is coming off a season in which he caught just 46 passes for 408 yards and three touchdowns, in a Giants‘ offense that spent the season largely stuck in the mud.
“He needs to get back on track and focus on the details of his skill-set that made him such a great prospect in the first place,” the coach says. “Details like catch fundamentals, attention to detail in route-running, remembering how to be a force making contested catches and turning upfield for Yards after The Catch. Those are things that can make him special.”
Engram is one year removed from the lone Pro Bowl appearance of his career but has yet to live up to his billing as a former first-round pick.
There might not be a player on the New York Giants’ roster more in need of a change of scenery, than Engram.
Some league sources believe that Engram’s market will be limited because big names — and productive players — such as Dalton Schultz, Mike Gesicki, David Njoku, and veterans like Zach Ertz are going to set the top of the market.
“General managers look at Evan Engram and they don’t see a complete player, they see an injury prone player,” one agent tells FanSided. “He’s not a great blocker. At all. He’s hurt all the time. He’s not that young, at 27, and he’s more of a wide receiver but has a case of the drops.
“If he goes out thinking he’s going to get George Kittle money, or if he’s going to set the tight end market, that money’s just not there for Evan Engram. Not just because of the other free agents available, but it’s a pretty deep tight end draft class once you get out of Round 1 or 2.”
So, which teams will likely be in the market for Evan Engram?
Might a return to the New York Giants be best for all involved?
FanSided spoke to coaches and executives around the NFL to find out the best fits for Engram, as free agency approaches.
Here’s a look at five potential best fits for New York Giants free-agent tight end Evan Engram
Miami Dolphins
The feeling inside the league is that Mike Gesicki is going to go shopping for a mega-deal, after catching a career-high 73 passes for 780 yards and two touchdowns in his fourth NFL season, and that the Miami Dolphins might not be willing to overpay to bring him back.
According to league conversations, the Dolphins believe Durham Smythe, who finished the season with a 65 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus, with more of a traditional pass-catching tight end next season.
This is where Engram comes into play.
Especially if new head coach Mike McDaniel views Engram as someone capable of a similar role in the passing game that George Kittle excelled at for the San Francisco 49ers, the Dolphins could prioritize Engram among this year’s free agents at the position.
Presuming that Engram is the No. 4 or No. 5 tight end on the market, if the Dolphins are looking for a relatively cheaper option, Engram might be an ideal fit. Especially after New York Giants quarterbacks produced an 87.2 passer rating when targeting him, which could prove beneficial to the Dolphins if Miami sticks with Tua Tagovailoa or moves on to another young quarterback.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars certainly have a bright future at quarterback, after choosing Trevor Lawrence with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, but have neglected a position that has increasingly been instrumental in developing young QBs.
Teams that have paired young quarterbacks with dynamic pass-catching tight ends have had real success. Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry have been vital to Mac Jones’ strong rookie campaign in Buffalo, Dawson Knox has been a security blanket and one of Josh Allen’s favorite targets in Buffalo, and the most prolific football of Carson Wentz’s career was when he had Zach Ertz to throw to with the Eagles.
This offseason, Jacksonville would be wise to pair Lawrence with Engram.
In Daniel Jones’ first three seasons, Engram caught 153 passes for 1,529 yards and seven touchdowns. He just might be able to have an even bigger impact in Jacksonville, on Trevor Lawrence.
Buffalo Bills
Prior to the trade deadline, the perception inside the NFL was that the Buffalo Bills would make a strong push to acquire Engram, after Knox suffered a hand injury.
This offseason, the Bills are flush with cap space, with approximately $10 million in spending flexibility, and would be wise to continue building around Allen as he begins his second contract.
The Bills are going to be legitimate Super Bowl contenders for the next several seasons, and Allen is a fringe MVP candidate, which would only benefit Engram.
Pairing Engram and Knox, two Ole Miss alums could shift Buffalo’s offense into an even higher gear.
New York Giants
There certainly might not be a player on the New York Giants’ roster more in need of a change of scenery than Engram, but a fresh start via a new general manager, head coach, and offensive system might finally unlock Engram’s first-round potential.
As free agency approaches, the issue for Engram is a crowded tight end market that will likely include the likes of David Njoku, Dalton Schultz, Mike Gesicki, Zach Ertz, among others, FanSided has learned through league conversations with multiple agents familiar with the tight end market that Engram will likely be viewed by teams and general managers as a second-tier free agent. Or lower.
Because of Engram’s age (27), lengthy injury history, and history of drops and inconsistency, if he is going shopping for a mega-contract and isn’t able to find one, a return to New York on a one-year prove-it type contract or a middling deal might be one of his only options.
Dallas Cowboys
There might not be a better fit for Engram than the Dallas Cowboys.
Not only is former New York Giants tight end coach Lunda Wells in the same position with the Cowboys, but Engram had the most productive season of his career under Wells’ tutelage. From 2018-2019, Engram caught six of his 16 career touchdowns and produced two of the three-highest Yards Per Catch seasons of his career.
An Engram-Wells reunion makes almost too much sense.
In Dallas, Engram could settle into a solid offensive scheme that uses multiple tight ends, and he wouldn’t be relied upon to be the centerpiece of the passing game with weapons such as Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, and others already in place.
Especially if Schultz signs elsewhere, look for the Cowboys to be aggressive in their pursuit of Engram this offseason.