5 LA Rams players who are unlikely to return in 2021

Tight end talk

The LA Rams seem to want to have talented tight ends on the roster. Talented enough to block and catch passes. And from what the Rams paid Tyler Higbee, the team is willing to pay for that talent. But after the tight end arrives, the playbook seems to ignore throwing the ball to the tight end.

Tight end Gerald Everett has far more talent than the LA Rams offensive game-planning uncovered. He has an ability to block at a near offensive lineman level. He can catch the ball rather well. And he can even run routes that challenge defense at short, intermediate, and long-range depth.

Like many of the weapons in the LA Rams system, Everett is forced to adapt to what the Rams want to do, rather than the offense adapting to what Everett can do. Why make that distinction? Well, some offenses will adapt to the strengths of players, and if Everett is brought aboard that type of offense, the sky is the limit.  What do I mean?

Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce was targeted 145 times in 2020, caught 105 passes for 1,416 yards and 11 touchdowns. Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller was targeted 145 times, caught 107 for 1,186 yards and nine touchdowns. Gerald Everett was targetted 62 times for 41 completions that resulted in 417 yards and one touchdown. The point is not to suggest that Everett is a league leader, but to illustrate just how little use he gets in the Rams passing game.

As the featured tight end, Everett should expect 85-90 targets. That should ballpark him in the 750-900 yards range with six touchdowns. What is that worth?  Certainly more than the LA Rams are willing to spend, that’s for sure.

All five veterans have contributed to the Rams’ success. But with the team facing limited cap space, a need to develop young players, and the available depth, there is less than a 50/50 chance of any of these players returning to the team.