LA Rams: 8 players who could be gone after the 2021 NFL season

Blocking tight end

Whenever you think of LA Rams tight end Johnny Mundt, you will more likely than not envision a tight end engaged in blocking. Blocking from the traditional tight end alignment just outside of an offensive tackle, blocking from some alignment in the Rams offensive backfield, or blocking from a non-traditional tight end alignment of H-back, Y-back,  or wide alignment, regardless of the point of origin, the Rams love to get Mundt’s pads locked on a defender.

Los Angeles Rams

That’s a bit disappointing, because on the rare occasions when the quarterback targets Mundt on a route, he does a pretty respectable job of catching the ball. Over his four-year NFL career, he’s snagged nine of the twelve passes that were hurled in his direction. That has helped him to rack up 84 yards and two first downs. I love the guy, and I believe that he has far more upside potential. But for whatever reason, the Rams do not see Mundt as more than a set of extra blocking pads.

That does not bode well for Johnny Mundt, who will face the third expired contract in successive seasons. The Rams continue to bring him back to the roster at the minimum for a reason, and that reason is that they haven’t found anyone better to fill the need of an extra blocker who can catch a pass. Well, until now, that is.

The Rams drafted rookie Ben Skowronek, who is a wide receiver who also loves to block. Mundt is 6-foot-4 and 233-pounds, while Skowronek is 6-foot-3 and 220-pounds. If Skowronek proves his ability to block as valid, the Rams will likely part ways with Mundt and embrace the more versatile Skowronek next year. Of course, Mundt has an inroad to securing a spot by filling in the wake of running back Malcolm Brown, who was deadly effective at blocking on passing downs. I don’t know if Mundt will be afforded the chance to expand his role, and that could be the start of his own mini-farewell tour with the Rams this year.