The New York Giants‘ offense is loaded with young, explosive talent. This year, those young players will be taught by a new coaching staff. Head coach Joe Judge replaced Pat Shurmur, an offensive-minded coach that had little success in two years with the New York Giants. Now the Giants will implement the Air Coryell offense with their new coordinator, Jason Garrett.
Jason Garrett will combine his scheme with a stable of talented playmakers in 2020. One player to keep a keen eye on in particular is tight end Evan Engram. Evan Engram is entering a prove-it year in 2020 and could be one of the NFL’s breakout players if all goes well.
Staying Healthy
The biggest challenge for Evan Engram throughout his three-year NFL career so far has been staying healthy. Evan has already missed 14 games in three years. When Engram is healthy, he is a versatile playmaker in the Giants’ offense. Unfortunately, Giants fans have yet to see Engram reach his full potential as he has struggled to stay on the field more and more year after year.
Why Evan Engram Could Break Out In 2020
Every year, Giants fans prepare and excite themselves for Evan Engram’s breakout season. But it just has not happened yet. The reason why, as previously mentioned, is the injury history. But in 2020, there are plenty of reasons to believe that Evan Engram will finally break out.
There is a ton of untapped potential stored within Evan Engram’s skillset. At 6 feet 3 inches, 240 pounds, with a lightning-fast 4.42 forty-yard dash time, Evan Engram is one of the most athletic and dynamic tight ends in the NFL. Not to mention the fact that Evan is only 25 years-old.
As a rookie in 2017, Giants fans saw the most of Evan Engram. That season, Engram played in 15 games and totaled 722 yards and 6 touchdowns as the Giants’ primary receiving option (receiving 115 targets). Engram’s second season saw regression caused by injuries. Under new head coach Pat Shurmur, Evan totaled 577 yards and 3 touchdowns in 11 games.
Evan Engram’s 2019 season was off to a blazing hot start before being derailed by injuries. Through the first five weeks of the 2019 NFL season, Evan Engram was averaging 9.6 targets per game, 74.6 yards per game, and totaled 2 touchdown receptions. After those first five weeks, Engram only played in three more games that season and was clearly not at full health when he was on the field.
Evan Engram saw an increased role in the beginning of the 2019 season and he rose to the occasion. He was an efficient, and improved player prior to suffering his injury. Now the Giants have a new offensive coordinator and new offensive scheme to implement in 2020. Luckily for Evan Engram, Jason Garrett loves to utilize the tight end position end helped Jason Witten have one of the best careers ever by a tight end during his time in Dallas. If Evan Engram stays healthy in 2020, it will be his breakout season.
What If Evan Engram Does Not Prove Himself In 2020?
Regardless of whether or not Engram breaks out in 2020, the Giants still need to pick up Evan Engram’s fifth-year option. It is the financially responsible thing to do. Engram is the best tight end on the Giants’ roster and the team cannot afford to just let him walk in free agency next offseason. He has proven that he has enough talent to garner a lucrative contract if he does hit free agency. The Giants’ best course of action will be to pick up Engram’s fifth-year option and keep him on an affordable salary in 2021, even if he does break out this season.
If Engram stays healthy and has an impressive 2020 season, fans will then question whether or not he is a one-year wonder. Consistency is key in the NFL and Evan has not been consistently healthy. The Giants cannot commit to Engram long-term until he proves he can play a 16 game season. Picking up his fifth-year option next offseason is a no-brainer, but what the Giants should do with Engram after that will be determined down the road.