Evan Engram is headed for free agency, but to hear him talk he probably isn't going very far. He's hoping to return to Jacksonville, and it seems likely the feeling will be mutual. The tight end is coming off his best season.
Engram in 2022 set career highs in both catches (73) and yards (766). Moreover, he caught nearly 75 percent of the passes thrown his way, which was much, much better than any of his seasons with the Giants. Yes he was working with a better quarterback in Trevor Lawrence, but Engram also struggled with drops during his tenure in New York. Wherever you want to place the blame/credit, Engram went from having one of the worst catch rates at his position in New York to one of the best in Jacksonville.
Table shows all tight ends with 60-plus targets in a season since Engram entered the league in 2017. With the Giants, he was responsible for two of the three worst seasons at the position in terms of catch rate, as well as the 20th-worst in his last season in New York.
With Jacksonville, he finished just short of 20 best seasons in that regard over the last six seasons, including the 5th-best in 2022. Big difference.
| TIGHT END CATCH RATES, 2017-2022 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | Tgt | Rec | Yds | TD | Catch% |
| 2018 | Austin Hooper, Atl. | 88 | 71 | 660 | 4 | 80.7% |
| 2022 | Dallas Goedert, Phil. | 69 | 55 | 702 | 3 | 79.7% |
| 2019 | George Kittle, S.F. | 107 | 85 | 1053 | 5 | 79.4% |
| 2022 | Noah Fant, Sea. | 63 | 50 | 486 | 4 | 79.4% |
| 2022 | Robert Tonyan, G.B. | 67 | 53 | 470 | 2 | 79.1% |
| 2018 | Kyle Rudolph, Min. | 82 | 64 | 634 | 4 | 78.0% |
| 2021 | C.J. Uzomah, Cin. | 63 | 49 | 493 | 5 | 77.8% |
| 2019 | Tyler Higbee, LAR | 89 | 69 | 734 | 3 | 77.5% |
| 2019 | Austin Hooper, Atl. | 97 | 75 | 787 | 6 | 77.3% |
| 2017 | Benjamin Watson, Balt. | 79 | 61 | 522 | 4 | 77.2% |
| 2019 | Darren Waller, Oak. | 117 | 90 | 1145 | 3 | 76.9% |
| 2022 | Hayden Hurst, Cin. | 68 | 52 | 414 | 2 | 76.5% |
| 2021 | Gerald Everett, Sea. | 63 | 48 | 478 | 4 | 76.2% |
| 2020 | George Kittle, S.F. | 63 | 48 | 634 | 2 | 76.2% |
| 2021 | Pat Freiermuth, Pitt. | 79 | 60 | 497 | 7 | 75.9% |
| 2019 | Jason Witten, Dall. | 83 | 63 | 529 | 4 | 75.9% |
| 2021 | Noah Fant, Den. | 90 | 68 | 670 | 4 | 75.6% |
| 2021 | George Kittle, S.F. | 94 | 71 | 910 | 6 | 75.5% |
| 2017 | Austin Hooper, Atl. | 65 | 49 | 526 | 3 | 75.4% |
| 2021 | Dalton Schultz, Dall. | 104 | 78 | 808 | 8 | 75.0% |
| 2022 | Evan Engram, Jac. | 98 | 73 | 766 | 4 | 74.5% |
| 2018 | Zach Ertz, Phil. | 156 | 116 | 1163 | 8 | 74.4% |
| 2017 | Jack Doyle, Ind. | 108 | 80 | 690 | 4 | 74.1% |
| 2022 | Dawson Knox, Buff. | 65 | 48 | 517 | 6 | 73.8% |
| 2020 | Darren Waller, L.V. | 145 | 107 | 1196 | 9 | 73.8% |
| 2021 | Dallas Goedert, Phil. | 76 | 56 | 830 | 4 | 73.7% |
| 2020 | Tyler Higbee, LAR | 60 | 44 | 521 | 5 | 73.3% |
| 2021 | T.J. Hockenson, Det. | 84 | 61 | 583 | 4 | 72.6% |
| 2017 | Hunter Henry, LAC | 62 | 45 | 579 | 4 | 72.6% |
| 2022 | David Njoku, Cle. | 80 | 58 | 628 | 4 | 72.5% |
| 2022 | Cole Kmet, Chi. | 69 | 50 | 544 | 7 | 72.5% |
| 2020 | Travis Kelce, K.C. | 145 | 105 | 1416 | 11 | 72.4% |
| 2017 | Jason Witten, Dall. | 87 | 63 | 560 | 5 | 72.4% |
| 2022 | Travis Kelce, K.C. | 152 | 110 | 1338 | 12 | 72.4% |
| 2019 | Hunter Henry, LAC | 76 | 55 | 652 | 5 | 72.4% |
| 2021 | Tyler Higbee, LAR | 85 | 61 | 560 | 5 | 71.8% |
| 2019 | Travis Kelce, K.C. | 136 | 97 | 1229 | 6 | 71.3% |
| 2018 | Trey Burton, Chi. | 76 | 54 | 569 | 6 | 71.1% |
| 2020 | Dalton Schultz, Dall. | 89 | 63 | 615 | 4 | 70.8% |
| 2020 | Dallas Goedert, Phil. | 65 | 46 | 524 | 3 | 70.8% |
| 2017 | Kyle Rudolph, Min. | 81 | 57 | 532 | 8 | 70.4% |
| 2018 | Evan Engram, NYG | 64 | 45 | 577 | 3 | 70.3% |
| 2021 | Tyler Conklin, Min. | 87 | 61 | 593 | 3 | 70.1% |
| 2021 | Mark Andrews, Balt. | 153 | 107 | 1361 | 9 | 69.9% |
| 2022 | George Kittle, S.F. | 86 | 60 | 765 | 11 | 69.8% |
| 2018 | Vance McDonald, Pitt. | 72 | 50 | 610 | 4 | 69.4% |
| 2021 | Dawson Knox, Buff. | 71 | 49 | 587 | 9 | 69.0% |
| 2018 | Travis Kelce, K.C. | 150 | 103 | 1336 | 10 | 68.7% |
| 2021 | Travis Kelce, K.C. | 134 | 92 | 1125 | 10 | 68.7% |
| 2022 | Austin Hooper, Ten. | 60 | 41 | 444 | 2 | 68.3% |
| 2019 | Tyler Eifert, Cin. | 63 | 43 | 436 | 3 | 68.3% |
| 2017 | George Kittle, S.F. | 63 | 43 | 515 | 2 | 68.3% |
| 2017 | Jesse James, Pitt. | 63 | 43 | 372 | 3 | 68.3% |
| 2022 | Zach Ertz, Ari. | 69 | 47 | 406 | 4 | 68.1% |
| 2017 | Travis Kelce, K.C. | 122 | 83 | 1038 | 8 | 68.0% |
| 2017 | Tyler Kroft, Cin. | 62 | 42 | 404 | 7 | 67.7% |
| 2017 | Austin Seferian-Jenkins, NYJ | 74 | 50 | 357 | 3 | 67.6% |
| 2018 | Jared Cook, Oak. | 101 | 68 | 896 | 6 | 67.3% |
| 2017 | Zach Ertz, Phil. | 110 | 74 | 824 | 8 | 67.3% |
| 2018 | C.J. Uzomah, Cin. | 64 | 43 | 439 | 3 | 67.2% |
| 2022 | T.J. Hockenson, 2TM | 129 | 86 | 914 | 6 | 66.7% |
| 2017 | Delanie Walker, Ten. | 111 | 74 | 807 | 4 | 66.7% |
| 2022 | Tyler Higbee, LAR | 108 | 72 | 620 | 3 | 66.7% |
| 2020 | Noah Fant, Den. | 93 | 62 | 673 | 3 | 66.7% |
| 2022 | Gerald Everett, LAC | 87 | 58 | 555 | 4 | 66.7% |
| 2022 | Tyler Conklin, NYJ | 87 | 58 | 552 | 3 | 66.7% |
| 2019 | Dallas Goedert, Phil. | 87 | 58 | 607 | 5 | 66.7% |
| 2021 | Hunter Henry, N.E. | 75 | 50 | 603 | 9 | 66.7% |
| 2020 | T.J. Hockenson, Det. | 101 | 67 | 723 | 6 | 66.3% |
| 2017 | Charles Clay, Buff. | 74 | 49 | 558 | 2 | 66.2% |
| 2019 | Jared Cook, N.O. | 65 | 43 | 705 | 9 | 66.2% |
| 2020 | Gerald Everett, LAR | 62 | 41 | 417 | 2 | 66.1% |
| 2017 | Julius Thomas, Mia. | 62 | 41 | 388 | 3 | 66.1% |
| 2021 | Zach Ertz, 2TM | 112 | 74 | 763 | 5 | 66.1% |
| 2020 | Mark Andrews, Balt. | 88 | 58 | 701 | 7 | 65.9% |
| 2020 | Jimmy Graham, Chi. | 76 | 50 | 456 | 8 | 65.8% |
| 2017 | Rob Gronkowski, N.E. | 105 | 69 | 1084 | 8 | 65.7% |
| 2020 | Austin Hooper, Cle. | 70 | 46 | 435 | 4 | 65.7% |
| 2020 | Logan Thomas, Was. | 110 | 72 | 670 | 6 | 65.5% |
| 2019 | Mark Andrews, Balt. | 98 | 64 | 852 | 10 | 65.3% |
| 2018 | Rob Gronkowski, N.E. | 72 | 47 | 682 | 3 | 65.3% |
| 2019 | Zach Ertz, Phil. | 135 | 88 | 916 | 6 | 65.2% |
| 2021 | Mike Gesicki, Mia. | 112 | 73 | 780 | 2 | 65.2% |
| 2018 | George Kittle, S.F. | 136 | 88 | 1377 | 5 | 64.7% |
| 2019 | Evan Engram, NYG | 68 | 44 | 467 | 3 | 64.7% |
| 2022 | Cade Otton, T.B. | 65 | 42 | 391 | 2 | 64.6% |
| 2022 | Juwan Johnson, N.O. | 65 | 42 | 508 | 7 | 64.6% |
| 2022 | Mark Andrews, Balt. | 113 | 73 | 847 | 5 | 64.6% |
| 2021 | Cole Kmet, Chi. | 93 | 60 | 612 | 0 | 64.5% |
| 2020 | Hunter Henry, LAC | 93 | 60 | 613 | 4 | 64.5% |
| 2022 | Pat Freiermuth, Pitt. | 98 | 63 | 732 | 2 | 64.3% |
| 2018 | Jordan Reed, Was. | 84 | 54 | 558 | 2 | 64.3% |
| 2022 | Dalton Schultz, Dall. | 89 | 57 | 577 | 5 | 64.0% |
| 2020 | Hayden Hurst, Atl. | 88 | 56 | 571 | 6 | 63.6% |
| 2018 | David Njoku, Cle. | 88 | 56 | 639 | 4 | 63.6% |
| 2019 | Greg Olsen, Car. | 82 | 52 | 597 | 2 | 63.4% |
| 2020 | Jonnu Smith, Ten. | 65 | 41 | 448 | 9 | 63.1% |
| 2021 | Evan Engram, NYG | 73 | 46 | 408 | 3 | 63.0% |
| 2017 | Jared Cook, Oak. | 86 | 54 | 688 | 2 | 62.8% |
| 2020 | Mike Gesicki, Mia. | 85 | 53 | 703 | 6 | 62.4% |
| 2017 | Cameron Brate, T.B. | 77 | 48 | 591 | 6 | 62.3% |
| 2017 | Vernon Davis, Was. | 69 | 43 | 648 | 3 | 62.3% |
| 2021 | Kyle Pitts, Atl. | 110 | 68 | 1026 | 1 | 61.8% |
| 2021 | Rob Gronkowski, T.B. | 89 | 55 | 802 | 6 | 61.8% |
| 2018 | Jimmy Graham, G.B. | 89 | 55 | 636 | 2 | 61.8% |
| 2017 | Eric Ebron, Det. | 86 | 53 | 574 | 4 | 61.6% |
| 2020 | Eric Ebron, Pitt. | 91 | 56 | 558 | 5 | 61.5% |
| 2019 | Noah Fant, Den. | 66 | 40 | 562 | 3 | 60.6% |
| 2018 | Eric Ebron, Ind. | 110 | 66 | 750 | 14 | 60.0% |
| 2019 | Jack Doyle, Ind. | 72 | 43 | 448 | 4 | 59.7% |
| 2017 | Jimmy Graham, Sea. | 96 | 57 | 520 | 10 | 59.4% |
| 2021 | Darren Waller, L.V. | 93 | 55 | 665 | 2 | 59.1% |
| 2020 | Rob Gronkowski, T.B. | 77 | 45 | 623 | 7 | 58.4% |
| 2021 | Jared Cook, LAC | 83 | 48 | 564 | 4 | 57.8% |
| 2020 | Evan Engram, NYG | 109 | 63 | 654 | 2 | 57.8% |
| 2019 | Mike Gesicki, Mia. | 89 | 51 | 570 | 5 | 57.3% |
| 2017 | Evan Engram, NYG | 115 | 64 | 722 | 6 | 55.7% |
At pro-football-reference.com, you can find specific drop rates for players. The 2022 numbers for all tight ends with at least 60 targets are shown below. Engram's drop rate of just over 5 percent last year was fairly middle of the pack; just a little below-average. Best in this regard was Dallas Goedert; worst was Gerald Everett (perhaps that's why he's been with three teams the last three seasons) and a pair of rookies, Cade Otton and Isaiah Likely.
| TIGHT END DROP RATES, 2022 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Tgt | Rec | Yds | TD | Drop | Drop% |
| Dallas Goedert, Phi. | 69 | 55 | 702 | 3 | 1 | 1.4% |
| Robert Tonyan, G.B. | 67 | 53 | 470 | 2 | 1 | 1.5% |
| Noah Fant, Sea. | 63 | 50 | 486 | 4 | 1 | 1.6% |
| Logan Thomas, Was. | 61 | 39 | 323 | 1 | 1 | 1.6% |
| Austin Hooper, Ten. | 60 | 41 | 444 | 2 | 1 | 1.7% |
| Cole Kmet, Chi. | 69 | 50 | 544 | 7 | 2 | 2.9% |
| Hayden Hurst, Cin. | 68 | 52 | 414 | 2 | 2 | 2.9% |
| George Kittle, S.F. | 86 | 60 | 765 | 11 | 3 | 3.5% |
| David Njoku, Cle. | 80 | 58 | 628 | 4 | 3 | 3.8% |
| Pat Freiermuth, Pit. | 98 | 63 | 732 | 2 | 4 | 4.1% |
| Zach Ertz, Ari. | 69 | 47 | 406 | 4 | 3 | 4.3% |
| Tyler Conklin, NYJ | 87 | 58 | 552 | 3 | 4 | 4.6% |
| Juwan Johnson, N.O. | 65 | 42 | 508 | 7 | 3 | 4.6% |
| Evan Engram, Jac. | 98 | 73 | 766 | 4 | 5 | 5.1% |
| Travis Kelce, K.C. | 152 | 110 | 1338 | 12 | 8 | 5.3% |
| T.J. Hockenson, 2TM | 129 | 86 | 914 | 6 | 7 | 5.4% |
| Dawson Knox, Buf. | 65 | 48 | 517 | 6 | 4 | 6.2% |
| Tyler Higbee, LAR | 108 | 72 | 620 | 3 | 7 | 6.5% |
| Dalton Schultz, Dal. | 89 | 57 | 577 | 5 | 6 | 6.7% |
| Mark Andrews, Bal. | 113 | 73 | 847 | 5 | 8 | 7.1% |
| Cade Otton, T.B. | 65 | 42 | 391 | 2 | 5 | 7.7% |
| Isaiah Likely, Bal. | 60 | 36 | 373 | 3 | 6 | 10.0% |
| Gerald Everett, LAC | 87 | 58 | 555 | 4 | 9 | 10.3% |
--Andy Richardson