It seems like every season we come back to the same player as a potential breakup candidate for the New York Giants. Former first-round pick, Evan Engram, is the player of choice.
With the skill set to be an elite tight end in the NFL, Engram is primed for a big year following the departure of Odell Beckham Jr. Compiling his career stats, Engram has tallied 109 receptions for 1,299 yards and nine touchdowns. He’s also averaged a healthy 11.9 yards per reception.
For the third-year player to finally have his best season yet, he needs to alleviate the injury concerns. He started training camp battling a hamstring injury that could resurface during the regular season if not appropriately treated.
The 23rd overall pick from the 2017 NFL draft played in just 58.8% of offensive snaps over the past two seasons. This has limited his production and efficiency significantly.
One of the major knocks on Engram has been his catch rate, which finished at 55.7% in his rookie season. He dropped 11 passes. Last season it jumped up to 70.3%, and impressive elevation after just one year.
Also, he saw his production spike towards the end of the year with Beckham Jr. out due to injury. He totaled more than 80 yards per game, doubling his stats from when Beckham was on the field.
This upcoming season, head coach Pat Shurmur plans to utilize his most athletic tight end in various ways. While he’s not the most efficient blocker, Evan believes he will be able to contribute in the run game as well as the pass. The departure of their best receiver has some critics focusing on the Giants, but Shurmur and Engram both believe that their team is in a better place and are prepared to take the proper steps forward toward success finally.
New York Giants tip tight end Evan Engram stated, according to the New York Post:
It definitely put a chip on her shoulder. We don’t let it affect us, but we definitely feel it, and we are gonna put it on the field, and that’s all that matters.
He added:
A lot of guys in this room. Might not have a lot of big names, but there is a lot of talent in here, and a lot of guys are gonna show that this season, and show y’all.
Not only has Engram taken on a leadership role for this team, but he has worked on his game to ensure he has one of his best seasons yet. Barring injury, he’s on pace to be a key contributor for the Giants on offense during the 2019 regular season.