NFL Draft 2017: New York Giants first-round grade
By Adam Patrick
The New York Giants will try and get back to the playoffs for the second straight year with a little more help on the offensive side of the ball.
New York Giants quarterback Eii Manning will have a new target to throw to in 2017 as the team opted to select Mississippi tight end Evan Engram with the 23rd overall selection in the 2017 NFL Draft on Thursday.
Engram will be an immediate upgrade to a position that the Giants desperately needed to upgrade.
On the team’s depth chart currently is Will Tye and Jerell Adams, not exactly two tight ends who have been known to strike fear into their opponents.
He brings a big mismatch potential with his size (6-foot-3, 227 pounds) and speed (4.4 40-yard dash time). Look for New York to use him a lot like the Washington Redskins currently use Jordan Reed.
After being a fairly consistent player in 2014 and 2015, Engram saw his production take a big jump during his senior season at Mississippi in 2016. In 11 games last year, the tight end caught 65 passes for 926 yards and eight touchdowns.
Engram will be another weapon for the Giants who already have wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard. Adding the tight end should help free up some of the coverage for Beckham and Shepard and allow them to make even more plays next season.
It could actually help extend Eli Manning’s career in New York also if everything works out. At 36-years-old, Manning likely does not have many years left to be a semi-productive quarterback in the NFL.
Next: 2017 NFL Draft - Live Grades
Did the Giants have other areas of need? Yes, but they saw an opportunity to add someone to their roster who has the potential to make an immediate impact for their team in 2017.
For that reason alone, the pick has to be applauded.