New York Giants tight end Evan Engram speaks to the team’s website about moving forward without wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
When the New York Giants traded wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to the Cleveland Browns in March, many fans wondered how the air attack would change.
Quarterback Eli Manning did not have his favorite receiver on the roster for the first time since the Giants drafted him in 2014. How in the world are the Giants going to live a quality football life?
One of the more-quiet guys on the Giants roster is tight end Evan Engram. For the first time, Engram will not have Beckham as a teammate. The 2017 first-round draft pick spoke to the Giants official website about the move and how the Giants will move forward.
When asked about his initial reaction to the Beckham trade, Engram stated “I’m not a fan of the game, I’m on the team, so I can’t really be shocked or surprised. This league is a crazy business. At the end of the day, I‘m still a New York Giant. I was in the middle of my training, and I know it was big news and everyone was talking about it, but I was focused on bettering myself and bettering my team, and going forward with the guys we have.”
One aspect that critics may overlook is the number of offensive weapons the Giants truly have. Even without Beckham, the Giants still have Engram, receivers Sterling Shepard and Golden Tate, running back Saquon Barkley, and potentially multiple receivers in the Corey Coleman–Russell Shepard–Bennie Fowler group.
Options are a huge aspect for an effective passing game. Engram believes Big Blue has a multitude of weapons, even without a star receiver like Beckham.
“I think Odell is a one-of-a-kind talent.,” Engram said. “I think he’s the best receiver in the league, hands down, but we got guys ready to step up. We got guys ready that are here now that are going to come in here and make this team better. Like you said, the message to the locker room is for guys to prepare and get ready for the big opportunities that are going to come with him gone.”
Engram will be looking to experience a healthier and more productive season than he did in 2018. Despite catching 45 balls for 577 yards and three touchdowns, Engram missed five games due to knee and hamstring injuries.
