New York Post

Even with Engram, drafting TE Pitts can work for Giants

- By PAUL SCHWARTZ

Play them together.

Keep Evan Engram. Select Kyle Pitts with the No. 11 pick in the NFL draft. Put them on the field at the same time and give the Giants two tight ends capable of making explosive plays, putting stress and strain on opposing defenses as they’re forced to find ways to deal with two bigger-bodied pass-catchers.

“Well, in a perfect marriage somehow Ja’Marr Chase finds his way down there, but I don’t see that happening,’’ NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah told The Post. “Kyle Pitts is going to be probably one of my top players in the whole draft as well. Man, you can do a lot of things out there, with him and Engram, you’d have a unique skill set at that position.’’

Pitts averaged 17.9 yards per reception last season at Florida, hauling in 12 touchdown passes, and at 6-foot-6 and 246 pounds he falls in line with the size-speed terrors at tight end who often have great success at the NFL level. He might be on the board when it comes time for the Giants to make their first-round pick, especially if Chase and the Alabama wide receiver duo of Devonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle are taken in the first 10 picks.

Pitts might be the next big thing, but history shows a great NFL tight end does not have to be a premium draft pick. What do Travis Kelce, George Kittle, Darren Waller and Zach Ertz have in common, besides great production? None were firstround picks. Neither was Rob Gronkowski, taken in the second round by the Patriots in 2010.

The emphasis for the Giants this offseason is to obtain playmakers for an offense that finished 31st in scoring in 2020. Waddle or Smith would instantly raise the talent pool in the receivers room. They would also instantly provide more support for Daniel Jones, entering his third NFL season with something to prove, than he was given in his first two years.

The receiver pool is considered even deeper this year than in 2020, when the talent stream was stocked with pass-catchers.

“Last year in the second round we saw Chase Claypool go, Tee Higgins, Michael Pittman, Laviska Shenault, all those guys were second-round picks,” Jeremiah said. “The year before was A.J. Brown and DK Metcalf. College football is pumping out receivers, that isn’t going to be an issue.”

One receiver Jeremiah likes above some of the others: Kadarius Toney from Florida, Pitts’ teammate. Last season, he had 70 receptions for 984 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Gators.

“There’s going to be receivers littered throughout this draft,” Jeremiah said. “You could be in a situation if you really want a receiver you could trade back and get some extra picks and still get a really good player.”

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