The New York Giants will conduct their rookie minicamp this weekend, much to the anticipation of the organization and it’s fans. The Giants will have their six recent draftees in attendance as well as another 30 some-odd undrafted free agents and tryout players.
There will be a lot of curiosity surrounding the new Giants players, as there always is, but onlookers will be focusing on a select few, most notably the team’s top pick, TE Evan Engram, and third round selection Davis Webb, who could be the heir apparent to Eli Manning.
Engram, a 6’3”, 237-pound speedster out of Ole Miss is described as a new-age tight end, meaning he can line up to only as an inline blocker but as a wide receiver or H-back as well. The Giants loved his athleticism and see him as a player who can break up the safety-high formations opponents have employed to fluster their passing attack. He is what is known as a “seam splitter”, a big receiver who can get past linebackers and in between the safeties.
“The fastest way to the end zone is down the middle of the field,” said head coach Ben McAdoo. “Anytime you can add someone to your offense that can run down the middle of the field with that type of speed and length, it stresses the defense.”
Engram runs a 4.42 40-yard dash and has excellent hands. His ability to block in the run game and in pass protection has been called into question, however.
“I think he’s a willing striker,” said McAdoo. “We need to refine his fundamentals. He does what he’s asked to do in their offense and does it well at a high level. We have some things that we’re going to have to work on with him.”
Webb (6’5”, 230) hails from Cal by way of Texas Tech, and has what GM Jerry Reese calls a “wintertime” arm. The Giants saw him as the best QB talent in the draft and were thrilled to get him in the third round. Webb succeeded Jared Goff at Cal last season after Goff was selected first overall by the Los Angeles Rams in the NFL Draft. At Texas Tech, injuries forced him to transfer after Patrick Mahomes assumed the starting QB role. Mahomes was taken 10th overall by the Kansas City Chiefs in this year’s draft.
Many, including Webb himself, thought he would be drafted sooner than he was. The Giants aren’t complaining but they believe Webb will use his falling draft stock as motivation to become a better pro. He will naturally have to sit behind Manning for the next few seasons.
“This guy is a football player,” Giants VP of Player Evaluation Marc Ross said of Webb. “Son of a coach, tough guy. Obviously disappointed. I’m sure he’s disappointed right now that he wasn’t a higher pick. That’s what you love in a quarterback. Guys that can bounce back and have fortitude to persevere. That’s what you need. We think he has that.”
Tat doesn’t mean we won’t be keeping an eye out for second round pick Calvin Tomlinson, a defensive tackle out of Alabama; RB Wayne Gallman of Clemson, who was taken in Round Four and Youngstown State DE Avery Moss, a player who was kicked out of Nebraska but is considered a big-time pass rushing talent.
The Giants traded up to get their sixth-round pick, Pitt OT Adam Bisnowaty, a 6’6”, 307-pound battler who will hopefully add some toughness to their offensive line. There are several UDFAs the team is high on, especially two OTs (Chad Wheeler of USC and Tennessee State’s Jessamen Dunker).
Other UDFAs expected to be in attendance this weekend: S Jadar Johnson, Clemson, LB Calvin Munson, San Diego State, DT Jarron Jones, Notre Dame, FB Shane Smith, San Jose State, DT Josh Banks, Wake Forest, TE Colin Thompson , Temple, WR Keeon Johnson, Virginia, WR Travis Rudolph, Florida State, DE Evan Schwan, Penn State, WR Rob Wheelwright, Wisconsin, CB Nigel Tribune, Iowa State, WR Jalin Williams, UMass, OL Sam Ekwonike, Coastal Carolina
Tryout players expected to attend (as per Ralph Vacchiano of SNY): RB Jonathan Gray, Texas, K Felix Menard-Briere, University of Montreal, LS Josh Appel, Indiana State, QB Jeremy Johnson, Auburn, DE John Stepec, Toledo, DT Junior Luke, University of Montreal, TE Romond Deloatch, Temple, OL Armando Bonheur, Samford, OL Jeremy Zver, University Regina, WR Alex Morrison, University of British Columbia, S Trey Robinson, Furman, CB Robert Woodson, University of Calgary, DE Connor McGough, University of Calgary