Evan Engram Agrees to Rookie Contract with New York Giants

Evan Engram is officially a New York Giant. The team announced Thursday it has signed him to a contract after selecting him with the No. 23 overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft.

Engram tallied career highs as a senior at Ole Miss with 65 catches for 926 yards and eight touchdowns. He's an athletic tight end who consistently beat single coverage down the middle in his Rebels tenure:

Season	Catches	Receiving Yards	Yards Per Catch	TD Catches
2013	21	268	12.8	3
2014	38	662	17.4	2
2015	38	464	12.2	2
2016	65	926	14.2	8

Dan Salomone of the Giants' official website noted the Giants used a first-round pick on a tight end for the first time since 2002 (Jeremy Shockey) when they drafted Engram. The Ole Miss product was confident he could fulfill expectations.

"I know I'm ready to come in and make an immediate impact," Engram said, per Salomone. "I know for a fact. I've been watching the Giants; they're on TV all the time. I sit down and watch them, especially this past year. I've been really analyzing teams and certain offenses. The Giants have been missing a piece like me." 

Engram's speed stands out, especially from the tight end position. He ran a 4.42-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine and can stretch the field over the seam.

The NFL provided a glimpse of his talent: 

It will be difficult for opposing defenses to shade safety attention Engram's way because of the presence of wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr., Brandon Marshall and Sterling Shepard. That will leave the rookie to face plenty of single coverage, which he can exploit at 6'3" and 234 pounds. 

He is too fast for many linebackers and too physical for plenty of safeties with the athleticism to outleap defensive backs on fade routes and in the red zone. Engram is a threat to make game-changing plays from all over the field and now has the contract to live up to as a rookie.