NFL Draft results: TE Evan Engram to New York Giants with 23rd overall pick

The New York Giants selected Ole Miss tight end Evan Engram with the 23rd overall selection in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft on Thursday night.

Giants fans dreaming the the team would be able to land tight end O.J. Howard saw their hopes dashed when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took Howard at No. 19. The Giants also thought to covert offensive tackle Garett Bolles, but he went No. 20 to the Denver Broncos. The Giants also passed on Miami tight end David Njoku, the player many thought would be the second tight end selected.

SB Nation says:

Engram is a big-play receiver who happens to have the size to play tight end. His athleticism will make it difficult for even the league’s fastest linebackers to cover him, and NFL teams have began to focus on creating those mismatches more and more since players like Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham started roasting secondaries this decade.

Here’s even more from SB Nation on the Engram selection.

Engram was my choice for the Giants in my mock draft this week. Here is part of what I wrote when making that pick:

Engram is a guy who is generally ranked just below Njoku in the tight end class. But, at 6’3”, 234 pounds he is part of the new breed, more slot receiver than traditional tight end. His pro comparison is usually Jordan Reed of the Washington Redskins. Who wouldn’t want to add a Jordan Reed clone to the Giants’ offense? Forget about the blocking stuff. That’s what Rhett Ellison and Jerell Adams are for.

In his Engram prospect profile, which was just posted Thursday afternoon, here is what Chris said:

Within his limitations, there are very few negatives to Evan Engram’s game. He doesn’t have the size we’ve come to associate with the tight end position, but he has rare athleticism and will step into the NFL as one of the best athletes for his size in the league.

If a team recognizes what they have and doesn’t try to force him into being something he is not (ie: An in-line blocking tight end), and uses him in a manner similar to how Washington uses Jordan Reed, Engram could have an instant impact in the NFL.

What the Giants are saying

Engram’s reaction

Giants Draft Picks

• Round 1 (23) — Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss
• Round 2 (55)
• Round 3 (87)
• Round 4 (140)
• Round 5 (167)
• Round 6 (207)
• Round 7 (241)

Draft TV Schedule

Rounds 2-3

When: Fri., April 28, 7 p.m.

TV Channels: ESPN & NFL Network

Time Per Pick: Seven minutes for the second round, five minutes for the third round

More useful links

• Big Blue View NFL Draft Hub Page
• Big Blue View Big Board
• Complete list of prospect profiles
• Mocking The Draft Big Board
• Stephen White’s draft profiles
• Mock Draft database