2017 NFL Draft Daily Chicago Bears Target: Ole Miss Tight End Evan Engram
With the 2017 NFL Draft right around the corner, we take a look at another possible target for the Chicago Bears. Athletic tight end Evan Engram is up next.
Which 2017 NFL Draft targets will end up in the Windy City with the Chicago Bears? We still have over a week until we know the answer to that question, but we can still look ahead at logical targets for the team. Up next is athletic receiving tight end Evan Engram out of Ole Miss.
Engram is not much of a blocker. He is never going to be a full-time inline blocker. However, he has a ridiculous combination of skills that will make him an incredible threat as a receiver. Engram is an extremely talented player who would fit in well with the Bears as a move tight end to pair with the strong blocking tight end, Dion Sims.
In his senior season at Ole Miss, Engram caught 65 passes for 926 yards and eight touchdowns. He was named first-team All-SEC at the tight end position, beating out Alabama’s O.J. Howard. Most in the draft community consider Howard to be the top tight end in the 2017 NFL Draft class and a potential top five pick.
Engram was productive in college, but he really put on a show for scouts at the combine. Listed at 6-foot-3, 234 pounds, Engram ran an incredible 4.42 40-yard dash; far and away the best time at his position. His 36-inch vertical leap, 6.92 three-cone drill and 4.23 20-yard shuttle were also among the best at his position. Simply put, Engram is a big, fast and athletic tight end who has a ton of upside at the next level.
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The Bears have already shown interest in Engram, having the athletic tight end in for a visit over a week ago, according to Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times. Engram’s speed and athleticism combination make him a big-time receiving threat at the next level. He shows the ability to stretch the middle of the field and make plays after the catch.
After his impressive combine, Engram could easily sneak into the first round. If that happens, I doubt the Bears are involved. They are not going to take him with the third overall pick. That being said, I could see the talented tight end slipping to the early second round. If that ends up being the case, Engram is a solid bet to be squarely on the Bears’ radar.
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His upside at the tight end position is impressive, making him an exciting potential target for Mike Glennon and whoever the Bears find to be their quarterback of the future. Zach Miller is a good football player, but he does not have the upside of someone like Engram. A combination of Engram and Sims at tight end could be deadly for the Chicago Bears.