Since the disastrous 2017 season is finally over for the New York Giants, they can now thankfully look ahead towards regaining credibility to the franchise. Here are the 2017 team awards to wrap it up for Evan Engram, Landon Collins and more.
There are very few positives to take away from a season that saw everything go wrong, but even a 3-13 New York Giants team deserves to divvy out team awards.
Here are the 2017 Giants team awards:
Offensive Player of the Year: Evan Engram
The Giants should have taken an offensive lineman with their first pick of the 2017 draft, but Engram had a phenomenal rookie season as he led all rookie tight ends in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns.
His six receiving touchdowns set a franchise record for a rookie tight end. He was the only Giants offensive player that deserved NFL Pro Bowl consideration, especially when you factor in he had more receptions and receiving yard than Jimmy Graham, who was named to the Pro Bowl.
Engram may have missed out on going to the Pro Bowl this year, but based on when we saw this season he’ll make several trips there.
WHAT THE… ???@EvanEngram @Giants #GiantsPride #OnlyInTheNFL pic.twitter.com/XTgFhWoYKJ
— NFL UK (@NFLUK) December 4, 2017
Defensive Player of the Year: Landon Collins
Collins was the lone Giant that was named to the Pro Bowl. For the second year in a row, he led the team in tackles with 104 while snagging two picks.
Collins was plagued by injuries all season but he gutted it out and played through the pain until he fractured his forearm in Week 16 against the Arizona Cardinals.
He registered 15 tackles in back to back weeks in weeks 11 and 12 cementing himself as one of the best safeties in the league.
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Evan Engram
Engram was the offensive player of the year, so, of course he’ll be the offensive rookie of the year.
Defensive Rookie Player of the Year: Calvin Munson
Injuries to the Giants linebackers gave Munson more playing time than he expected. He finished fifth on the team in tackles and recorded two sacks. His best performance came in the Giants 12-9 overtime victory in Week 11 against the Chiefs (13 tackles).
Performance of the Year: Orleans Darkwa week 17 vs. Redskins
In what turn out to be his last game as a Giant, Darkwa showcased the best game of his career in the season finale. He ran the ball 20 times for a career high 154 yards and a touchdown. His 75 yard touchdown on the Giants second offensive play of the game was also a career high.
WATCH: #NYGiants strike first with @OrleansDarkwa‘s 75-YARD touchdown run! (PAT blocked, NYG 6, WAS 0) pic.twitter.com/6o42FHyCSR
— New York Giants (@Giants) December 31, 2017
Most Inspirational Player: Eli Manning
In what was the most difficult season of his 14th season, one that saw him benched, crushing his consecutive game streak while playing behind a poor offensive line and losing his best receiver in Odell Beckham Jr. in Week 5, Eli Manning remained positive and gave it his all to win every game.
He embodied what being a great Giant is all about.
