Is this the year LA Rams pass more to TE Johnny Mundt?

The LA Rams have specific players who have become typecast in terms of what role the team will use that player. But perhaps no player is more typecast than that of tight end Johnny Mundt. And with the perception firmly entrenched in the minds of the majority of the NFL that Mundt is a blocking tight end, is it time to pass to him?

Johnny Mundt has played in the NFL for four seasons. The LA Rams signed him after the 2017 NFL Draft from the University of Oregon, and Mundt has found his niche on the offense as the player who lines up anywhere and blocks everywhere. Four seasons and he’s been targeted just 12 times.  He’s caught nine of those passes for 84 yards. But he had a bit of flash in 2020, catching four of four passes for 53 yards and averaging 13.25 yards per catch.

So the question now is, should the Rams target Mundt more?

After all, the Rams have used Mundt to block from virtually everywhere on the football field. He’s been a staple of the Rams special teams. But the 6-foot-4 233-pound Mundt has not convinced the team that he can be valuable in the passing game.

Mundt can be a go-to guy

Funny, but he certainly stepped up when the Rams needed him against the Chicago Bears. He caught three of three passes in that game for 48 yards. It was his career-high and appeared to be an indication that the team was willing to get Mundt more active in the passing game. But the Rams never threw to him again. Not one more pass.

One of the tough concepts to wrap my head around sometimes is the claim that the Rams need a more explosive offense. Well, that’s a chicken versus an egg argument, isn’t it? After all, is that scoring slump a result of less effective players on the field? Or was it a lack of innovation to make better use of that talent?

If a tight end catches everything thrown his way, why suddenly cut him off for the rest of the season? Johnny Mundt lines up anywhere, blocks everywhere. Now it’s time for the LA Rams to make use of him in the passing game. He’s been typecast as a blocking tight end for long enough. Time to see what he can give the Rams with the ball in his hands.