How about that performance from LA Rams TE Kendall Blanton?

There he is, LA Rams tight end Kendall Blanton, a young and hopeful player who entered the 2021 NFL season simply hoping to make a roster spot. And here we were, more than happy to take a look at him, his potential, to share his story. We’ve done it all season, looking for the overlooked. Well, we’re here to tell you, Kendall Blanton has proven his worth, folks. He’s proving it each week.

We’re here for the seldom seen, the players on the Rams roster who need someone to tell their tale. We’ve been there for offensive center Coleman Shelton, whose opportunity occurred three times this season. The result? The Rams played to a 3-0 record, and those three games just happened to be the most productive games for running back Sony Michel. No, it’s not a coincidence.

But Kendall Blanton was another story altogether. He is a 6-foot-6 260-pound tight end who was an undrafted rookie free agent signed by the team after the 2019 NFL Draft. In his draft profile, he was described as a player worth developing on an NFL roster due to his size, speed, and power. Blanton can block as well as catch passes, an attribute that would prove to be critical for the Rams in 2021.

He played one game, four special team snaps, that rookie year.  After that? The team drafted tight ends, like Brycen Hopkins and Jacob Harris, pushing Blanton to the bottom of the depth chart. He remained on the team’s radar, fortunately for both the player and the team.

Blanton’s first ‘shot’ at competing for the LA Rams occurred when the team learned that TE Johnny Mundt was injured, and would be out for the season. TE Jacob Harris was also injured and out for the season. Both injuries can in the year after TE Gerald Everett had signed on with the Seattle Seahawks.

Rams activate Blanton after Mundt lost for the season

We were there when the Rams activated Blanton from the practice squad, and we even gave the transaction a thumbs up. The move could have been viewed as minorly controversial. After all, the Rams continue to carry second-year tight end, Brycen Hopkins, on the roster, but he seems destined to ride the pine for the second consecutive season.

Blanton was destined to be infrequently used as the team’s second tight-end option. Over the course of the 2021 NFL Season, he would be targeted seven times and would catch four passes for 37 yards.  Two of those completions were good enough for the first downs. He was crucial in blocking, and his receptions were enough to keep defenses somewhat honest.

The guy who doesn’t show up in the stats

But it was not the type of performance that would ensure his future with the LA Rams organization.  Now, don’t get me wrong. Blanton is a big body whose greatest contributions do not show up on the stats sheets after a game. He has the ability to block on the line of scrimmage, scuttles defensive pursuit from the edge, and open up running lanes.

All the while, he offers the offense a passing option on the play should the situation warrant it. It was enough to get him onto the football field. But the reality is that his role as the second tight end on a team that ran their 11 personnel package 84 percent of the time (Per SharpFootballStats.com) while running their 12-personnel package  (two tight ends) just 12 percent of the time

Something had to change. Well, it did. The LA Rams made it to the NFL Playoffs. Now, would the Rams turn to Blanton as the pressure was turned up?

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.