LA Rams: Tight end Tyler Higbee could have career high season

And then there was one. For the past several years, the LA Rams have toggled the play of tight ends Gerald Everett and Tyler Higbee in the offense almost interchangeably. The result was a balanced use of both, which had the benefit of not overworking either. But it was also a bit of an artificial ceiling, as neither Higbee nor Everett could command enough passes to be thrown in their direction to find himself ascending to the Top-5 tight ends in the NFL.

Much like the running attack of 2020, the LA Rams offense enjoyed solid production from the tight end position. Unfortunately, the team seems to use two or more players to get the job done, whereas other NFL teams use just one. And that creates a conundrum. There was a healthy competition between teammates Everett and Higbee, because at the end of each season together, they were nearly identical in targets and offensive snaps.

Of course, Gerald Everett broke the tie by signing on with the rival Seattle Seahawks, which gives the primary tight end role to Tyler Higbee by default in 2021.  Now, the question is what will that mean in terms of Higbee’s production and role with the offense? Broke the tie? More like bolted to the nearest, interested division rival and pretended that that was where he wanted to be all along.

But that could likely prove to be fortuitous for the LA Rams. You see, they have Tyler Higbee now, no longer fettered to the share and share alike mantra that appeared to hamper his upside severely for the LA Rams. Now, he will be paired up with the likes of Johnny Mundt primarily, and some combination of Kendall Blanton, Jacob Harris, Brycen Hopkins, and Kyle Markway.

No matter who the other tight end is on the football field, the veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford will look at Higbee’s way first and foremost. That hierarchy of progressions will translate into a handy sum of passes coming Higbee’s way. Unless something goes drastically wrong, his better than 70 percent completion rate over the past three years and his historic average of 11.1 yards per reception will pile up the receiving yardage in big chunks this year.