Fourty-Four Days To the Unofficial Start of the NFL Season

Posted on by Tom C

There are 44 days to August 6th and the NFL Hall Of Fame Game. That game can be considered the unofficial start of the NFL season. The number 44 is also the number of receptions that Giant tight end Evan Engram had last season. That was pretty good considering that he only played in eight games due to injury, Engram’s yards per game and receptions per game last season were both the high of his three year career. Which is also impressive considering he made the PFWA All-Rookie team in 2017.

Engram is one of only 13 tight ends since 1992 that have in their first three seasons 150+ receptions, a 60% catch rate and 7+ yards per target. There are only two teams on that list of thirteen that had two players. The Giants have Evan Engram and Jeremy  Shockey. The Patriots had Rob  Gronkowski and Aaron  Hernandez. Currently on rosters in the NFC East from those 13 players are Engram and Zach  Ertz on the Eagles.

In 2018 Evan Engram was second among tight ends in yards after the catch per reception with 8.6 yards. That was good for seventh among all receivers. That year he was 13th in drop percentage among tight ends. Engram was the tenth ranked tight ed in YAC/Rec in 2019 with 5.7 yards.In 2019 Engram was sixth among tight ends in yards per game.

Evan Engram had the top 40 yard dash time at his 2017 scouting combine among tight ends. His 4.42 seconds is fourth best among tight ends since 2000. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah recently reported that the Giants will have the fastest team in 11 personnel based on projected starters and their forty times.

The Giants are projected to have a tight end friendly offense in 2020. Three of their new coaches – Joe Judge, Jason Garrett and Freddie Kitchens – reportedly place a high emphasis on utilizing tight ends. In New England Rob Gronkowski flourished and in Dallas they utilized Jason Witten. If Engram stays healthy in 2020 he could have a big year.