Evan Engram 2021 Outlook: What the Heck Happened in 2020?
4 years agoThere aren't many players that make it hard to look in the mirror after drafting them. Evan Engram is one of them. After becoming the first rookie TE to have over 700 receiving yards since fellow Giant, Jeremy Shockey, in 2002, the world was greatly disappointed with the seasons that followed. Engram the prospect was an athletic, pass-catching tight-end, that was selected in the first round. What could go wrong? Well, lots apparently. Engram finished as the TE18 in 2020 despite Saquon Barkley being injured and no true alpha WR1 of consequence. The opportunity was there for a big season, as Engram finished as one of just five tight ends with 100 targets and eighth in yards at the position. Missing from his 2020 campaign were the touchdowns. Despite 109 targets, Engram managed to catch one touchdown all season. If you are one of the few people reading this (probably dynasty managers) wishing I would say something positive, here it is: The Giants were 31st in the league in passing touchdowns per game, mirroring Daniel Jones being 31st in red zone pass attempts. The good news? Engram was tied with Sterling Shepard for the most red-zone targets on the team (14). Regardless of your opinion on Daniel Jones, the passing touchdowns should increase. If this is the case, Jones clearly isn't afraid to target Engram near the endzone (although, you could argue he should be). The team also added depth to their roster by acquiring tight ends Kyle Rudolph and Kelvin Benjamin. The case could easily be made that the Giants don’t have enough to go around when you also consider the return of Barkley and the addition of Golladay. However, I believe Engram should still be a significant part of this team. If you miss out on the top 8-10 tight ends in your draft, you could do a lot worse than grabbing Engram.