New York Giants: Does Evan Engram has Pro-Bowl potential in 2020?

New York Giants, Evan Engram
Sep 9, 2018; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants tight end Evan Engram (88) gains yards after catch during the second half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Staying healthy in the NFL is a tough challenge, even when you’re not on the field. Philadelphia Eagles star guard Brandon Brooks recently suffered a torn ACL prior to the beginning of training camp or any regulated football activities. For the New York Giants, injuries have plagued them in the receiver corps and at tight end in recent years.

The New York Giants need to find a way to keep their top tight end healthy:

Former first-round pick Evan Engram has been at the forefront of injury, suffering a sprained foot in 2019 that required surgery and forced him to miss half the year. It took him months to get out of a walking boot and off crutches, but reports have indicated he is making good progress and should be available for the 2020 season. The significant factor regarding Evan is health, as he’s one of the better pass-catching tight ends in the NFL.

Engram is a remarkably athletic and speedy player, which makes him a dangerous threat in the passing game. He can be Daniel Jones’s top security blanket, but he hasn’t been able to stay on the field over the past two seasons. As a rookie in 2017, he played in 15 games and 11 starts. After Odell Beckham Jr. went down, he posted 722 yards and six touchdowns on 64 receptions. He earned a spot on the Pro Football Writers Association’s All-Rookie Team, but since then, things have only spiraled downward.

SINow’s Conor Orr believes Engram has the potential to be a Pro Bowl-caliber player in 2020:

As Orr writes, “An infusion of two minds that value the tight end position significantly, Joe Judge and Jason Garrett, could be a major boon for Engram. He has been on torrid stretches before in his career and still might be one of the more athletically unique players in the conference. Extending his 2019 numbers out to a full season shows a player who does not drop a ton of passes (three in half a season) and gets a decent amount of yardage after the catch. Last year, Engram seemed to be settling into a role where he was comfortable catching more medium-range passes as opposed to mostly intermediate range balls.”

There is no question that Engram can have a fantastic season in 2020, but again, his production heavily relies on staying active and healthy. Engram plays his best football on mesh and streak routes, and we can expect Jason Garrett to utilize heavy 12 personnel sets. This should give him the freedom to utilize his speed in unpredictable ways, as Levine Toilolo and Kaden Smith will also be active in keeping defenses honest.