NFL Draft: 3 tight ends New York Giants should target to replace Kyle Rudolph

The recent release of Kyle Rudolph and likely departure of Evan Engram will leave a noticeable gap in the Giant’s tight end room. The draft could be the perfect place to address the position.

The New York Giants have officially started to dismantle their roster.

They have started this by cutting both running back Devontae Booker and tight end Kyle Rudolph. By doing this the Giants have cleared up nearly $8 million in cap space. But they will now have to address these positions, through either the draft or free agency.

The tight end position at the moment looks grim for the New York Giants.

The release of Rudolph, paired alongside the team letting likely Evan Engram walk in free agency has left the position lacking any real depth on this roster.

The New York Giants could very well end up going after a tight end in this year’s NFL draft.

While there are no stand-out prospects within this year’s tight end class, there are several that will be able to make their impact felt early on in their career. Much like the running back prospects, there is a chance that many talented prospects will still be around in the mid-to-late rounds of the draft. This allows for a team such as the Giants to address their more crucial needs earlier on in the process, while still being able to pick a quality player later in the draft.

Here are three tight ends the New York Giants could look to fill need at tight end

Trey McBride, Colorado State

Colorado State’s Trey McBride may very well be the most talented receiver in this year’s tight end class.

During his time in college, he racked up receiving numbers that rivaled even the game’s best wide receivers.

In his first three seasons, McBride showed a gradual increase in his skills. He made improvements in every statistical category with each following year.

His final season served as his true breakout year. He accounted for 90 receptions and 1,121 receiving yards. While he scored just one touchdown, he was still the main force of this Colorado State offense. He averaged nearly 13 yards per catch and was able to consistently produce at a high level.

McBride caught at least six passes in all but one game in his final season at Colorado State. His best game came against Toledo, where he was responsible for 109 of the team’s 110 receiving yards.

McBride struggled at times with his blocking but still proved to be good enough to hold his own. His ability to be effective in the passing game makes up for what he lacks in this area. Between his speed and route-running skill, he can match up and win against opposing linebackers with ease.

If put into this Giants offense with Brian Daboll at the helm, McBride could be used in a similar way to that of Dawson Knox on the Buffalo Bills. Given time, McBride could develop into a quality blocker, which would only make his game resemble Knox’s even more

Jalen Wydermyer, Texas A&M

Texas A&M’s Jalen Wydermyer is viewed more on potential rather than what he has done up to this point. While in college, he never filled the stat sheet but instead often showed flashes of what he could become.

At 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds, he has the size to be a solid player at the next level. For his size, he can pick up speed. Adding him to any offense automatically adds another receiving threat that can help stretch the field.

During his time at A&M, he appeared in 34 career games. He caught 118 passes for 1,468 yards. He accounted for 16 touchdowns and averaged nearly 12.5 yards per reception.

While averaging just over three catches per game, Wydermyer earned his status as a top pass catcher. He offers a natural catching ability that everyone wants in their tight end at the next level. Once the ball gets into his hands, he is skilled enough to make the big play.

Wydermyer would be effective in both the red zone and throughout the rest of the field. Between his speed and ability to win against defenders, he will be able to be an every-down type of player.

At times he struggled with pass blocking, but also showed potential. He could very well develop into a more than capable pass blocker at the next level, especially given his size.

By playing in the SEC, he was often matched up against some of the best defenders in college football. His ability to block at this level should be a good sign of how he will translate to the next level.

Isaiah Likely, Coastal Carolina

Tight end Isaiah Likely excelled in the receiving game while at Coastal Carolina. He often put up big numbers and was among the most elite at his position during his final season.

At 6-4 and 240 pounds, Likely is undersized compared to most of the NFL’s top tight ends. He is built more like current free agent, and former Giants tight end Evan Engram.

Given he can add weight, he can add another layer to his game. At the moment, what he lacks in size he can make up for in pure athleticism and raw ability.

Likely was among the best pass-catchers at his position this past season. During his four seasons at Coastal Carolina, Likely recorded 133 receptions, 2,050 receiving yards, and 27 touchdowns while averaging almost 16 yards per reception. He finished his career having at least five touchdowns in each of his four seasons.

Likely has also proven to be one of the draft’s most willing blockers. While he isn’t the biggest player on the field, he gives 100% whenever asked to block opposing defenders. More often than not, he is blocking down the field, rather than on the offensive line. He can handle defenders at the second level with ease.

Likely has all the necessary traits to develop into a strong tight end at the next level. If he can get bigger, he could play a big role in both the run game and passing game on this Giants offense. The potential that he has shown could make selecting him in the draft worth the risk.