Under offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, the New York Giants tight ends are going to be put to work. Many double-tight ends sets can be expected, while the overall number of targets for each member of that unit will undoubtedly increase.
The good news for New York is that two quality tight ends top their depth chart — Evan Engram and Kaden Smith.
Engram is a potential superstar with a rare athletic gift not sported by many at the tight end position. His issue is, of course, an inability to stay healthy. Meanwhile, Smith is an up-and-coming talent who really flashed at times in 2019.
Behind Engram and Smith, things get a little more foggy. The team signed Levine Toilolo and re-signed Eric Tomlinson, both quality blocking tight ends, this offseason to bolster depth that also includes Garrett Dickerson and others.
That collective group looks good enough on paper to be ranked 15th overall by Pro Football Focus, who left open the possibility that a healthy Engram could propel them further up this list.
Injuries struck the Giants’ tight ends in 2019, as none of their four options played more than 10 games. Evan Engram caught 44 passes in just eight games, and he’s been a solid option who has excelled after the catch, averaging 6.2 yards after the catch per reception since entering the league.
While he’s never graded above 60.6 as a run-blocker, Engram’s 746 yards when lined up as a wide receiver ranks 12th among tight ends, so his best asset is the ability to produce all over the formation.
It will be a battle for the backup job, with 2019 sixth-rounder Kaden Smith being the top returning producer after recording 31 receptions last season. However, Smith is not a dynamic receiver — he graded at 54.6 overall last year — so expect competition with veteran backups Levine Toilolo and Eric Tomlinson. Toilolo has three straight years grading in the 60s, while Tomlinson has bounced between multiple teams as a solid run-blocker.
A healthy Engram could be in line for a big season, and any kind of production from the backups will keep this unit in the top half of the league.
If, if, if… That’s always the case when it comes to Engram and the Giants tight ends. He holds the key to unlocking the unit’s true potential, but as PFF suggests, he must remain on the field in order to do so.
[lawrence-related id=651834,651717,651265]