Rookie SWOT: Evan Engram

Name: Evan Engram

Position: Tight End

Pro Team: New York Giants

College Team: Ole Miss Rebels

Draft Status: Round One, Pick #23 overall

Video Highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOXXbtiKLgI

Combine Review

• Height: 6’3”
• Weight: 234 pounds
• Hands: 10”
• Arm Length: 33.5”
• 40-Yard Dash: 4.42 seconds
• Vertical: 36”
• Broad: 125”
• 3-Cone Drill: 6.92 seconds
• 20-Yard Shuttle: 4.23 seconds

Strengths

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It doesn’t take very long to figure out what makes Evan Engram such an intriguing tight end prospect.  At 6’3”, 234 pounds Engram still has borderline track speed.  Evan Engram measured taller, bigger and faster, jumped higher and farther, and was more agile in every single measurable drill than the average wide receiver at this year’s NFL Combine.  Engram is simply a freak athlete that looks like the next big “move” tight end.

Beyond just being a freak athlete, Evan’s receiving skills are perhaps the best at the position this year, even in a stacked tight end class.  Evan consistently snatches the ball from far outside of his frame with his ten-inch hands.  He reads coverages well and finds the gaps up the seam and over the middle to become a nightmare for opposing defenses. His ability to high point and track the ball like a wide receiver just makes his job even easier.

Weaknesses

The most obvious potential weakness in Evan Engram’s game isn’t really a skill, rather just his weight.  The stereotypical every-down tight end generally weighs at least around 250 pounds instead of just Engram’s 234. That brings into question Evan’s ability to stay on the field in run-heavy packages (even though the Giants don’t utilize such packages very often).  Can he contribute in running-blocking on the goal line where he could potentially score touchdowns off of play-action?  Can he pass protect when called upon?  Those are the questions that many are asking with Engram.

He isn’t a horrible blocker, but that definitely is not in his “strength” column.  One thing that’s easy to notice with Engram is that he is not the most physical in creating separation like many tight ends are.  He relies on finesse and speed more than strength.  When he plays a good nickel corner or cover linebacker Engram may struggle due to his habit of trying to avoid any tough contact in coverage.

Opportunities

The tight end position is one of the most difficult to play in the NFL.  However, Evan Engram landed in a spot where he has a fantastic spot to learn all he needs to in order to find early success.  For all the weapons that the Giants have going for them in their offense, the way that they deploy them is actually quite predictable.

In 2016 the Giants ran 97% of their offensive snaps (all but 29 of them) in just two personnel groupings: 11 and 12.  If you’re unfamiliar with what that means it’s actually very simple.  “11” personnel generally involves one running back, one tight end, and three wide receivers.  “12” personnel generally involves one running back, two tight ends, and two wide receivers.  The Giants actually ran 11 personnel 92% of the time last year.  If they repeat that, Engram’s potentially looking at a massive snap count in a fairly simple offensive scheme.  Why do all of those snaps go to Engram instead of Will Tye (very sad that I have to ask this)?  NFL teams do not draft players in the top 25 picks overall to play 8% of the snaps (even in year one).

If Engram does get the majority of the reps in the Giants’ offense the opportunity for great production early is fantastic.  In 2016, 113 targets went to tight ends for the Giants for 79 receptions, 609 yards and three touchdowns.  In PPR or TE-Premium leagues those results equate to a fantasy football tight end one.  Obviously a lot has to go right in year one for Engram, but the opportunity is there for him to figure things out early.

Threats

Will Tye clearly has the upper hand on Evan Engram in the run-blocking category.  He already knows the offense.  Tye simply brings balance at the tight end position.  Yes, there’s a good chance that only one tight end will be on the field for 90% or more snaps this year for the Giants.  If Engram can’t learn the traditional tight end position right away those snaps may not all just automatically go to Engram.  At Ole Miss the offense never required Engram to play in a very traditional tight end role.  He was (for the vast majority of the time) lined up detached from the line of scrimmage in the “move” tight end role.  Tye is probably (believe it or not) the biggest threat in year one for Engram’s fantasy value.

However, we can’t forget the solid wide receiver options in New York.  Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard demanded 274 targets put together last year.  This offense the Giants added Brandon Marshall (similar size to Engram).  He may be on the “back nine” of his career, but if he warrants more targets than the ghost of Victor Cruz from last year then that’s another solid threat.  Marshall could steal some targets in between the twenties for sure.  But even if Engram is on the field in the red zone Marshall still may be the size mismatch that Eli Manning chooses to utilize when they get in close.

Short-Term Expectations

In all reality it would be very hard for any rookie tight end to come in, learn a position that he’s never truly played, and automatically play 90% or more of the team’s offensive snaps in year one.  Will Tye will probably still get some reps as they slowly teach Engram the intricacies of what it means to be a real NFL tight end.  The targets are going to be spread around quite a bit as it is in New York, at least for the 2017 season.

Expect a snap around somewhere in between 60% and 80%, 40 catches, 500 yards, and three touchdowns in year one.  That’s not going to blow anyone away, but it’s a step in the right direction for a fantastic career.

Long-Term Expectations

It’s difficult to project the future of any New York Giants offensive player knowing Eli Manning is nearing the end of his golden years at quarterback.  However, expect Engram to become the long-term fixture in New York alongside a solid wide receiver duo in Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard.  He’ll always have solid wide receiver options to pull the attention away from him in coverage.  Engram could easily produce back end TE1 fantasy football numbers for his entire career if the Giants find a decent heir to Eli Manning’s mantle.

Rookie Draft Advice

Evan Engram generally goes in between picks eight and 14 in most rookie drafts (in 1QB, non-TE-premium leagues).  If you want to up your chances of getting Engram definitely trade into this range. I have personally drafted Engram as early as seventh (in a devy-depleted draft with fewer players available) and as late as 14^th this offseason.  If you don’t want to select OJ Howard at pick seven you can probably trade down to ten, add a late second, and still get Engram.

Good luck to you in all of your rookie drafts!  As always you can find me on Twitter @FF_TravisM.  I’m always up for chatting on my writing here or anything else you fancy.  I hope you enjoyed the article.  Now go get this stud tight end!

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