The New York Giants made tight end Evan Engram of Ole Miss the 23rd overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft on Thursday night in Philadelphia.
Giants GM Jerry Reese has been on a roll as of late at the draft table and in free agency, accumulating talent in droves and turning Big Blue from a back-to-back 6-10 laggard to an 11-5 playoff qualifier in 2016.
The Giants’ offense was flat as a pancake down the stretch in 2016, averaging under 19 points per game and needs more playmakers. Enter Engram, perhaps the most explosive seam-busting tight end in the country. He has been compared to Washington’s Jordan Reed, and Giant fans know how dangerous Reed can be.
Here’s a quick rundown of Engram, who was a both a first team All-American and All-SEC selection in 2016. He ran a 4.42 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and can be used in just about any skill position on the offense.
From Lance Zierlein of NFL.com:
“Makes up for his lack of size with athletic ability and plus speed for the position. Engram has experience as a safety blanket for Ole Miss QB Chad Kelly and can work all three levels of the field. He will appeal strictly to teams looking for a move tight end who can be deployed as a chess piece in a matchup-based passing attack. Engram’s ability to stress defenses could land him on Day 2 (Rounds 2-3) of the draft and a potential starting role early in his career.”
VP of Player Evaluation Marc Ross told reporters after the selection that, “[Engram] checked all the boxes we look for in a quality player…the more weapons you have, the harder you are to defend.”
With the addition of Brandon Marshall to an already stacked receiving corps that features Odell Beckham, Jr. and Sterling Shepard, Engram could become the ultimate mismatch nightmare for opposing defenses.
The Giants felt that Engram would not be there in the second round when they chose (Pick #55). They pulled the trigger early, perhaps, but the kid can play. Why they chose him over Miami’s David Njoku is simply a matter of taste. Engram is more versatile and the Giants love versatility in their players.
HC Ben McAdoo: We're excited to add him to the mix and hit the ground running.
— New York Giants (@Giants) April 28, 2017
McAdoo: We'll use him in a variety of ways.
— New York Giants (@Giants) April 28, 2017
McAdoo: I think he's a threat after the catch.
— New York Giants (@Giants) April 28, 2017
Reese had several offensive lineman on the board to choose from such as Ryan Ramcyck of Wisconsin and Western Kentucky’s Forrest Lamp, but the rumors were they had Utah’s Garret Bolles rated higher. So did the Denver Broncos, who took Bolles with the 20th pick.
The Giants did not get a shot at any of the top quarterbacks on the board. North Carolina’s Mitchell Trubisky was taken second overall by the Chicago Bears. Patrick Mahomes II of Texas Tech was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs with the 10th pick and Clemson’s Deshaun Watson went 12th to the Houston Texans.
in his comments after he was picked, Engram, who was not present at the draft, was very excited about joining Big Blue…
“I can’t put it into words…New York was at the top. This is an amazing feeling…I know I’m ready to come in and make an immediate impact. I know for a fact…Eli Manning texted me after to tell me congrats…He is always around Ole Miss during the offseason…I’ve caught a couple balls from him.”