LA Rams 5 regressing players who must show up big after bye week

TE Everett

The LA Rams made use of tight ends in their offense very effectively in 2019. With the success of Tyler Higbee last year, the hope was that the Rams would be getting solid mileage out of both him and teammate Gerald Everett this season. For many, that would be an ideal offensive arrow for the Rams quiver this season, particularly in light of how the teams entire offense seemed to struggle against zero blitz defenses in 2019.

More defenders rushing the quarterback has been a documented Achilles Heel for the Sean McVay offense.  While quarterback Jared Goff has been showing sporadic signs of improvement, the team has not exactly helped him along the way.  All the while, the Rams have been primarily alternating their tight ends on offense between Higbee and Everett. Everett was hoping for a breakout season this year.  But like Reynolds mentioned in the previous slide, his production has waned over the last three games.

Future considerations

The LA Rams have a crowded roster with tight ends this year. So far, the Rams have stuck to one tight end on the field at a time. That many tight ends mean that the Rams have diluted the production at the position, and that means that Gerald Everett will not be turning many heads this season at this rate.  But the Rams have a chance to turn the corner, play a higher percentage of 12-package plays on offense, and take the initiative on their opponents.

Gerald Everett is still within reach of an outstanding season. With only 27 targets in the first half of this season, he’s scored a touchdown and gained 228 yards. If the Rams could increase that to 50 targets in the second half of the season, he would project to nearly 700 yards and four touchdowns.  Even if he slips away via the NFL Free Agent market, he would be in line for a decent enough contract, perhaps one that would place the Rams into consideration for a fifth-round compensatory pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.