Better or worse? New York Giants tight end position

As we sit here today, we have no idea how offensive coordinator Jason Garrett will utilize the New York Giants tight ends. The only thing we do know is which tight ends are on the roster. So as we started to do when we looked at the Giants’ wide receivers, let’s try to determine if the Giants enter the 2020 season better or worse at tight end than a year ago.

Key losses: Rhett Ellison
Key additions: Levine Toilolo, Eric Tomlinson

Why the Giants might be better

If Engram is healthy and on the field every week, the Giants will be better at the tight end position. He’s one of the most explosive players in the league at the position, and we really didn’t fully see what he is capable of the past two seasons. Engram was eighth in the league in yards per catch and fifth in yards after catch per reception among qualifying tight ends last season, according to Pro Football Focus. Not bad. Yet it feels like we still haven’t seen what he is truly capable of.

Why the Giants might be worse

Engram could get hurt again. Who would be surprised by that? He missed five games in 2018 and eight games last season. Maybe the surprise would be if he doesn’t get hurt. Smith could get exposed, showing us why he was a sixth-round pick who couldn’t stick with the team that drafted him. After playing only 191 snaps and catching just 2 passes, the lowest totals of his seven-year career, Toilolo might show us that his productive days are done.

There are four other tight ends on the 91-man roster — Garrett Dickerson, Eric Tomlinson, Kyle Markway, Rysen John. If any of them are playing significant offensive snaps in 2020, that’s probably not a good thing.

Final thoughts

As I said above, this is all about Engram. If he can stay on the field — and is used by Garrett as more than a dump off receiver or horizontal route runner — he could have a monstrous season. If he can’t, it might be time for the Giants to begin considering what the position looks like without him.