NFL Draft Experts give their take on the Giants' first round pick:
With the 23rd pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the New York Giants selected tight end Evan Engram of Ole Miss. Here is a look at what the experts are saying about the pick:
"He's a matchup nightmare. He can block on the perimeter. He'll be an immediate impact player. His skill set is closer to Mike Evans. He runs routes like a wide receiver. I don't care what you call him. Eli [Manning] is going to say 'Wow, I love this kid.'"
"If you happened to follow the SI draft rankings, it was Engram and not David Njoku who slotted in as this class's No. 2 TE, behind O.J. Howard. In that context alone, this is a sneakily strong pick by GM Jerry Reese. It's also a classic Giants pick, as it bypasses the team's glaring need at linebacker despite Reuben Foster's fall and Zach Cunningham's availability. Offensive tackle could have been in the cards, too, but this pick will continue to push the Giants toward a throw-first-ask-questions-later offense. Engram, Odell Beckham Jr., Brandon Marshall, Sterling Shepard … how does a defense defend this attack?"
"I wrote after the combine that Engram was entering the first-round discussion, and I've moved him above David Njoku as my second-ranked tight end. … He put up the best 40 time (4.42) among tight ends and the fourth-best vertical (36 inches) at the combine. At 6-3, 234, Engram had 65 catches for 925 yards and eight touchdowns in 2016. He also has experience, as he was a four-year player for the Rebels. He's a natural pass-catcher who could line up in the slot in the NFL, though he must improve his inline blocking."
"I'm going to give this pick an 'A' because they have remade their offense, and we're doubling down. Teams that are going to the championship game are the teams that are finding ways to score points. The New York Giants went through a stretch last year when they could not score on offense; Eli couldn't get it right. So the way you help an aging quarterback is surround him with big-time playmakers. Evan Engram is a copy of Jordan Reed, who is playing down in Washington. This is a matchup nightmare. You put him in the middle, so now what you have with the New York Giants is Odell Beckham Jr., Sterling Shepard, you've got Brandon Marshall on the outside, you have a do-it-all playmaker in the inside in Engram. Their three- or four-wide packages will give people problems. They now should be able to find a way to score points."
"The Giants' first Round 1 tight end since Jeremy Shockey in 2002, Engram just made a scary receiving corps terrifying. Whether you classify Engram as a small tight end or a huge slot receiver, he'll be a mismatch nightmare at 6-3 and 234 pounds with 4.4 40 speed. And who's going to double him at the expense of leaving WRs Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall in single coverage? Engram won't be a great blocker, but that's not what will pay his bills. Move QB Eli Manning up your fantasy draft board."
"Evan Engram gives the Giants an underneath matchup player with the speed to get up the seam. Similar to the skill set of Jordan Reed, Engram has the route running talent and formation flexibility to align in multiple spots. He can be a weapon for Eli Manning."
