LA Rams: One last look at the young receivers as training camp winds down

Jacob Harris

Officially tracking on the tight end path, Jacob Harris is getting far too many early mentions by training camp reports over touchdowns scored and by head coach Sean McVay not to be a factor in 2021. Even if second-year Brycen Hopkins does slide into the vacated spot of Geral Everett (and that seems unlikely so far), the Rams will still have a spot for Harris as well, particularly in red-zone packages.

In 2020, the LA Rams carried four tight ends on the active roster. This year, the Rams have six players competing, but I’m only warm and fuzzy on three. Tyler Higbee and Johnny Mundt are definitely on the roster. The third tight end in my view is likely Harris.

Harris has been active in the passing game, and in special teams, and so far has appeared to be performing well enough in both roles.

Jacob Harris is turning heads and pleasantry surprising some folks. Of course, we know how that can work. A guy gets a lot of positive reports, the season starts, and then… nothing. The good news is that Harris will have a role all season long in special teams as a coverage guy. While it’s not catching a football in the end zone, it will keep him on the roster and keep him active on the team. Eventually, he will be deployed as a red zone target for Matthew Stafford.

After Stafford finds him in the end zone once, there will be no looking back. Stafford will look for Harris again. And again. I think Harris makes the 53 man roster. I haven’t read or seen much from Brycen Hopkins so far, and the early push by Kendall Blanton seems to have subsided after football pads went on.