Perhaps second-year Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee won’t have all these expectations to turn into the next Jordan Reed.
That pressure instead may fall on Mississippi tight end Evan Engram.
The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal (h/t turfshowtimes.com) reported that Engram, who had 65 receptions for 926 yards and eight touchdowns last year for the Rebels, is scheduled to visit the Rams, along with the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears.
ESPN’s 2017 NFL Draft Rankings labels the 6-foot-3, 234-pound Engram as the No. 39 overall top pick. He would provide adequate value for the Rams, whose first pick in April’s draft is in the second round, No. 37 overall. CBSSports.com has Engram at No. 29 overall, which would make him a better value pick for Los Angeles.
Rams general manager Les Snead already has indicated a preference to take an offensive weapon with their first pick to help second-year quarterback Jared Goff. And what Engram lacks in size at the tight end position, he makes up for in speed.
According to NFL.com, Engram runs a 4.42-second 40-yard dash.
In its evaluation of Engram, NFL.com reported that defenses will have to use a defensive back to cover him, adding, “Has true vertical speed to attack the seams. Competitive, athletic runner after the catch. Springy leaper. Jumped out of the gym to snare a touchdown over the head of a Georgia defender. Able to pluck balls low, high, and behind him.”
Engram, however, has trouble working back to the ball and posting up defenders. He also suffers some drops and has yet to develop into a reliable blocker, according to NFL.com.
Still, it calls him a solid second- to third-round pick and compares him to Reed, the gifted Washington Redskins tight end who flourished the last two seasons under the tutelage of Rams head coach Sean McVay, who was then the Redskins’ offensive coordinator.
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