Arizona Cardinals NFL Draft Preview: Evan Engram
By Jeremy Meek
Evan Engram could be a great fit in the Arizona Cardinals offensive scheme
This year’s NFL Draft class features a very good group of players at the tight end position. As NFL teams have found great success featuring athletic tight ends creating match-up nightmares, it has become an even more important position. Evan Engram is one of the highly rated player at the position in the 2017 class, and will catch the eyes of many teams.
The Arizona Cardinals have been terrific offensively for the past several seasons, Good quarterback play from Carson Palmer, a future Hall of Fame receiver in Larry Fitzgerald, and a scheme that favors down the field throws have allowed the offense to thrive. One position, however, that hasn’t found a lot of success is the tight end spot.
The last time a Cardinals tight end had even 500 yards receiving was Freddie Jones in 2003. Last season, Jermaine Gresham was the leading tight end, with 391 yards and 2 touchdowns. Gresham is a free agent this off-season, and if he isn’t re-signed, there’s a big hole in the offense waiting to be filled.
More from Raising Zona
- Arizona Cardinals: Could Eric Bieniemy come to the desert?
- Would Jonathan Gannon be a good fit for the Arizona Cardinals?
- Arizona Cardinals: Budda Baker right in his take regarding the next coach
- Arizona Cardinals: 3 reasons new coach should want to work with Murray
- Arizona Cardinals special teams could be completely revamped in 2023
Engram is the kind of tight end that could be attractive to the Cardinals management. He’s technically a tight end, but he has many of the traits of a wide receiver. His speed makes him a deep threat, and his hands and ability to go up and get the ball make him a potential NFL star.
At 6’3″ and 236 pounds, he’s not as big as most NFL tight ends. He does, however, play big. His combination of speed and athleticism makes him impossible for a linebacker to cover, and his size makes him a difficult match-up for a cornerback.
Stats show he can convert his talent to numbers too. In his final season at Mississippi, he recorded 65 receptions for nearly 1,000 yards and 8 touchdowns. The totals may have been even higher if quarterback Chad Kelly hadn’t missed the end of the season with an injury.
Next: Ten Potential Targets from the Senior Bowl
The Cardinals offense has been very good. As Palmer nears the end of his career, they’d love for it to be better. Adding a player like Engram, that not only stretches the field, but makes for a mismatch for the opposing defense on every play. If they want him they’ll need to hope he falls to them on day two, which might not happen. If he’s there when they pick in the second round, they should seriously consider taking him.