As part of the 2021 NFL preview of The Post, we look at what the Giants could do at each position. Saturday Tight end.
Let’s get this straight: Kyle Pitts won’t be on the Giants’ box at number 11. So there’s no point in fantasizing about him – unless something really wild happens at the top of this draft.
Pitts is one of those potential “generational athletes” who used to get to the draft in a few years and now seem to appear more and more often. Did I lower the bar to what it actually means “generational”? However, Pitts looks like the next in line in terms of an NFL mismatch, and the Giants would be crazy not to consider him. But it looks like he left before he made his choice.
The tight room is crowded, with Evan Engram and newly signed veteran Kyle Rudolph (who needs leg surgery) 1-2 in position. Kaden Smith and Levine Toilolo’s returns offer depth and, in Smith’s case, an interesting potential.
Engram is heading for the final year of his contract, after the Giants chose his option for the fifth year. This will be a huge season for him. His talent is undeniable, but his hands betray him at the wrong time and, too often, he is in the middle of bad things on the field. Rudolph, 31, has slowed down, but it should be a reliable option in the red zone. Toilolo had to take a pay cut to stay on the list, and his place is weak.
Maybe it makes sense to make a shot on day 3 with a pass-catcher like Tre ‘McKitty (Georgia) or Quintin Morris (Bowling Green).