When Evan Engram is healthy, he performs at the level of a top-10 tight end in the league, if not better. Though he has dealt with injury problems that have hampered his young career up to this point, the Ole Miss grad has posted some great numbers in a small sample size. When averaged out over a 16-game season, Engram's stats are indicative of what he could achieve as a starting tight end: 72 receptions, 831 yards and six touchdowns. Last season, all of those numbers would have been within the top six at the position, meaning he has the potential to be an undisputed TE1 in a good offense.
In joining the 49ers, though, he'd be the TE2 behind the monstrous George Kittle. That doesn't mean they're not looking at him as a legitimate offseason target, though.
According to Vincent Frank, an NFL reporter for Forbes, San Francisco has been looking at the Giants' tight end in recent talks.
Not sure about Burton for the 49ers. Will say they have sniffed around for a TE2 behind Kittle and have shown interest in Evan Engram trade. Whether draft, trade or FA, 49ers will add a TE.
— Vincent Frank (@VincentFrankNFL) April 17, 2020Kittle is a tremendous receiving threat and one of the best blocking tight ends, if not the best blocking tight end, in all of football. However, given Engram's wide receiver-type speed -- he ran a 4.42 40-yard dash -- and his 6-3, 240-lb. frame, he would fill a need for the 49ers after they lost Emmanuel Sanders in free agency. The Niners could address their receiver issue with their first round pick of the draft this year, as they acquired the Colts No. 13 overall pick in a trade for DeForest Buckner, but adding Engram could allow them to look for a potential Buckner replacement with that same selection.
The Giants receiving corps has both depth and youth, as Darius Slayton proved to far outplay his fifth round value, and both Sterling Shepard and Golden Tate proved to be useful weapons in Daniel Jones' arsenal while Engram missed half the season with an injury.
That's the biggest knock on Engram, as he has missed 13 games over the past two seasons and has left early in ones he has suited up for. Several lower body injuries, including ones to his foot, MCL and hamstring, may lower his importance to the Giants and thus reduce his trade value. Though he was previously a first round pick, it doesn't seem likely that the 49ers would give up one of their own in return for his services alone.
