How about that performance from LA Rams TE Kendall Blanton?

Blanton playoff performance creates answers and questions

The LA Rams had a solid role player in Blanton throughout the regular season. Young, quick, physical, he had everything that the Rams could want from a young tight end in the 2021 NFL season. That would not be the case as the LA Rams entered post-season play. In the playoffs, the Rams would need everything that each and every player on the football field could deliver.

So what could peak Blanton deliver? We were about to find out.

The LA Rams were rather effective in the Wildcard Round against the Arizona Cardinals. In that game, Blanton played for 12 offensive snaps, but purely in a blocking role. He was not targeted in that game.

Blanton shows his true mettle

Against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs, circumstances were much different. Blanton was only called upon to play eight offensive snaps, yet he was targeted twice. He caught both passes, including a touchdown pass that would prove to be the margin of victory.  A solid showing for a young man who continued to fight for playing time.

The ‘clincher’ occurred in the NFC Championship Game when starting TE Tyler Higbee was injured early in the game, and the Rams called upon Kendall Blanton to step up. Their opponents, the San Francisco 49ers, did not see Blanton as much of a receiving threat and gave him minimal focus.

Big mistake. Huge.

Blanton caught five of five passes thrown his way for 57 yards, including making crucial first downs as the Rams fought their way back to the lead. Even Pro Football Focus sat up and took notice, awarding Blanton a postseason grade of 75.0.

The LA Rams face a decision to extend Johnny Mundt for 2022, or to let him test free agency and simply go with Kendall Blanton? Will the performance of Blanton make Brycen Hopkins expendable for next year? Will the Rams draft a tight end again? Or will the triad of Tyler Higbee, Jacob Harris, and Kendall Blanton be enough for the 2022 roster?

The Rams have one more very important game to play. But Kendall Blanton has given the LA Rams front office plenty to think and smile, about.