It was the drop heard ‘round the Meadowlands. On a chilly Thursday night in October 2020, the New York Giants were about to put the Philadelphia Eagles away. Daniel Jones threw a perfect dime to a wide-open Evan Engram, a ball that would have sealed the game and, quite possibly, changed the trajectory of the Giants' season. It hit his hands. Then it hit the turf.
The Giants lost. Fans lost their minds. And for many, that single moment became the defining image of the Evan Engram New York Giants era.
But looking back now, especially with Engram finding massive success elsewhere, the story is a lot more complicated than just "he had bad hands." It was a five-year marriage that started with "future superstar" vibes and ended in a chorus of boos at MetLife Stadium. If you want to understand why a first-round talent became the most polarizing figure in Big Blue history, you have to look at the mismatch between expectation and reality.
The First-Round Hype and the "Big WR" Trap
Jerry Reese, the Giants GM at the time, was looking for a spark. He took Engram 23rd overall in the 2017 NFL Draft out of Ole Miss. On paper, it was a dream. Engram ran a 4.42-second 40-yard dash at 234 pounds. That's not tight end speed; that’s elite wide receiver speed.
The plan was simple: pair him with Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard to create an unguardable offense for Eli Manning.
📖 Related: Jake Paul Mike Tyson Tattoo: What Most People Get Wrong
Honestly, it worked at first. As a rookie, Engram was a revelation. He hauled in 64 catches for 722 yards and 6 touchdowns. He made the PFWA All-Rookie Team. He looked like the next Travis Kelce or Jimmy Graham. The Giants thought they had a mismatch nightmare who could line up anywhere.
But there was a catch. Engram wasn't really a tight end. He was a "big slot" receiver who was being asked to block defensive ends like Brandon Graham and Chase Young. He was physically gifted but caught in a scheme that didn't always know how to hide his weaknesses.
Why the Evan Engram New York Giants Tenure Went South
The 2020 Pro Bowl selection is actually a great example of the weirdness. Engram made the Pro Bowl that year despite having a career-high 11 drops. One of those drops famously led to a Daniel Jones interception. Another cost them that Eagles game.
Even Engram himself admitted he was shocked when Daniel Jones told him he’d made the roster. He thought it was a prank.
👉 See also: What Place Is The Phillies In: The Real Story Behind the NL East Standings
- The Injuries: He missed 14 games over his first three seasons. Hamstrings, knees, a foot injury that required surgery—his body just couldn't stay on the field consistently.
- The Scheme Changes: He played under three different head coaches (McAdoo, Shurmur, Judge) and multiple offensive coordinators. He never had the stability to just play.
- The Mental Toll: Playing in New York is a different beast. By 2021, the relationship with the fans was toxic. Every time the ball went his way, you could feel the collective gasp of 80,000 people waiting for a mistake.
It’s easy to blame the player, but the organization failed him too. They kept trying to make him a traditional "Y" tight end who could block in-line. That was never his game. He’s a guy who needs to be in motion, running crossers and deep seams where he can use that 4.4 speed.
Comparing the Giants Years vs. the Jaguars Pivot
| Metric | NY Giants Average (2017-2021) | Jaguars Peak (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Receptions | ~52 per season | 114 |
| Catch % | 61.1% | 79.7% |
| Role | In-line/Blocking hybrid | High-volume "F" Tight End |
Basically, the Giants saw a Swiss Army knife and tried to use it as a hammer. When he got to Jacksonville, Doug Pederson treated him like a primary weapon.
The Redemption Nobody in New York Expected
When Engram left as a free agent in 2022, most Giants fans were happy to see him go. He signed a one-year "prove it" deal with the Jaguars. And man, did he prove it.
He didn't just play well; he became one of the best tight ends in the league. In 2023, he caught 114 passes—the second-most by a tight end in NFL history. He was reliable. He was explosive. He was exactly what the Giants hoped he would be back in 2017.
✨ Don't miss: Huskers vs Michigan State: What Most People Get Wrong About This Big Ten Rivalry
Watching him thrive in Jacksonville (and later sign with the Denver Broncos in 2025) has been a bitter pill for some Giants fans. It raises the question: was it Engram, or was it the Giants' environment?
The truth is usually somewhere in the middle. Engram needed a fresh start to clear his head. He needed a coach like Pederson who understood his specific skill set. But he also needed to get through the fire in New York to develop the thick skin required to survive in the NFL.
Key Takeaways for Giants Fans and Fantasy Managers
If you're still dissecting the Evan Engram New York Giants era, here is what the data and history actually tell us.
- Usage Matters More Than Talent: A player can be a freak athlete, but if they are playing out of position, they will fail. Engram is a receiver, not a blocker.
- The "Drops" Narrative Was Real, But Overblown: While he had high-profile drops, his catch percentage skyrocketed once he was in a system that gave him high-percentage looks (underneath routes vs. contested deep balls).
- The New York Pressure Cooker: Some players just aren't built for the specific scrutiny of the NY media market. Engram has spoken openly about the mental health struggles he faced during those losing seasons.
What to do next
If you are a Giants fan looking for the "next" Engram, pay attention to how the team uses hybrid players like Theo Johnson. Don't just look at the stats; look at where they are lining up. If a guy is 240 lbs and being asked to block 270 lb defensive ends every play, expect the receiving production to suffer.
For those following Engram’s current career, his time in New York is now just a "growing pains" chapter in what has turned into a very respectable NFL journey. He’s no longer the guy who drops the game-winner; he’s the guy who moves the chains.
Keep an eye on the Giants' upcoming draft strategies regarding "positionless" players. The Engram era taught the front office a valuable lesson: if you draft a unicorn, make sure you actually have a forest for him to run in.