4 Rams who may already be guaranteed cuts before preseason finale vs. Texans

(3) - TE Hunter Long

While positive reports and updates about veteran tight end Hunter Long continue to surface, the optics on his production are simply not keeping pace with those glowing reports. When the team decided to sign free agent tight end Colby Parkinson to the roster to compensate for the ACL injury inflicted on veteran TE Tyler Higbee, the die were already cast. At that moment in time, either Colby Parkinson or second-year tight end Davis Allen had to fail to meet expectations. Or Hunter Long had to dramatically exceed expectations.

Neither has happened.

What has happened is the fact that all tight ends not named Colby Parkinson have seen some level of work in the preseason. Per Pro Football Focus, the performance of the Rams tight ends have been as follows:

• TE Davis Allen - 2 catches, 5 targets, 13 receiving yards, 60.8 2024 preseason grade
• TE Hunter Long - 0 catches, 2 targets, 0 receiving yards, 47.7 2024 preseason grade
• TE Nikola Kalinic - 2 catches, 2 targets, 34 receiving yards, 77.1 2024 preseason grade
• TE Miller Forristall - 3 catches, 3 targets, 20 receiving yards, 1 TD, 64.7 2024 preseason grade

While you cannot base a decision of this magnitude on one preseason performance, even if it encompasses two games. But his is just one data plot to an NFL career that had yet to prove Hunter Long can catch the football. Even former blocking tight end Johnny Mundt had the capability of catching passes when targeted.

Hunter Long has either been injured, ineffective, or both since joining the Rams. As such, parting may be such sweet sorrow. But in this case, I am confident that it is necessary. Not only for the Rams, but for the player as well.