Giants Breakout Candidate Has Strong Words About Evan Engram

He’s a breakout candidate because he’s bulked up and is ready to catch the right kind of passes from Russell Wilson, but the most unexpected reason tight end Theo Johnson can make a leap for the New York Giants in 2025 is the influence of former Big Blue starter Evan Engram.

The first-round pick in the 2017 NFL draft never stayed healthy nor consistent enough to be highly rated in a Giants uniform, but Engram has been helping Johnson succeed. Last year’s fourth-round pick revealed he benefited from Engram’s example while attending the annual Tight End University.

Johnson also talked about what he gleamed from San Francisco 49ers All-Pro George Kittle, per John Fennelly of Giants Wire. Kittle’s words of wisdom helped Johnson, as did “just seeing how Kittle brings the physicality in the run game and also in the pass game, top of the route stuff, using his body really well, having that body control. I think that’s something I took out of his speeches, especially in the classroom stuff.”

Loftier praise was reserved for a former Giant, with Johnson admitting, “I learned a lot from Evan Engram, how he moves and stuff, how smooth and fluid his movements are. I learned a ton from both of those guys and many others as well.”

Following Engram’s example may sound strange to many Giants fans. They endured frustrating glimpses of talent, but without the necessary maturation into stardom, before Engram became a more prolific playmaker elsewhere.

Giants Retain High Hopes for Theo Johnson

A quartet of Giants tight ends attended Tight End U’ in late-June, but Johnson’s education has the bigger implications for the team. Following Kittle’s lead as a blocker and getting bigger is are good places to start for a 6-foot-6, 264-pounder strangely lacking physicality at times, but Johnson’s still expected to become the safe pair of hands between the numbers this offense needs.

Ideally, Johnson will emerge as a credible complement to the outside threat posed by wide receivers Malik Nabers and Darius Slayton. That’s the theory, but Johnson is yet to meet expectations.

Part of the ex-Penn State product’s problem has been reeling in catches. Johnson dropped five passes as a rookie, per Pro Football Reference. The 24-year-old also averaged a mere 1.03 yards per route run, according to Player Profiler.

What the Giants need is for Johnson to get vertical more often. Fortunately, it’s one of his core skills, and something Wilson can exploit, thanks to the 10-time Pro Bowl quarterback’s habit for targeting tight ends to stretch the seams.

Unlocking Johnson’s full range as a receiver would help the Giants finally replace Engram’s roving skills and hybrid role.

Giants Still Haven’t Truly Replaced Evan Engram

He rarely showed his best for Big Blue, despite a Pro Bowl campaign of sorts in 2020, but Engram fit a profile the Giants still need. Namely, a “joker” style moving target who can strike from multiple spots within formations.

The Giants couldn’t find the right formula for Engram, and he didn’t enjoy his time at MetLife Stadium. It took the Jacksonville Jaguars and then-head coach Doug Pederson to unleash Engram for 73 catches in 2022, then 114 receptions a year later.

Those numbers didn’t save Engram from being released by a new regime, but he’s been scooped up by a contender, the Denver Broncos. They are getting a player among the most prolific at his position since trading in his Giants colors, per PFF DEN Broncos.

The Giants are still searching for a tight end who can match those numbers. They believe it’s Johnson, but what he’s learning from the game’s best needs to show up on the field more often.