5 LA Rams playing for their jobs at training camp

TE Brycen Hopkins

Another position battle that appears to be heating up rapidly is the tight-end position. The LA Rams ended the 2022 NFL season with just two tight ends on their roster: Tyler Higbee and Brycen Hopkins. But a series of offseason moves have ballooned the number of tight ends on the Rams roster to six. And that spells trouble for Brycen Hopkins.

Hopkins is entering his fourth and final season on his rookie contract. So far, he has been targeted 16 times, catching 12 passes for 165 yards and zero touchdowns. Regardless of the cause, that is pedestrian production, and something that does not scream 'Play me,' to the Rams coaches this season.

Too much too little too late to try again with you

The problem is, Hopkins has struggled to get playing time. He is not a blocking tight end, so he is overlooked when it comes to 12-personnel packages. And while he was presumed to be the backup to starting tight end Tyler Higbee, he did not suit up when Higbee was injured in 2021. Instead, the team sent Kendall Blanton onto the football field. And just for the record, Blanton was waived mid-season in 2022.

You have to wonder just how far down the Rams depth chart Brycen Hopkins has fallen with a Rams roster that now boasts six tight ends. The Rams traded for TE Hunter Long, drafted TE Davis Allen, and then proceeded to sign both TE Christian Sims and TE Nikola Kalinic.

While some incentive for the Rams to promote Hopkins in order to optimize his value in the 2024 NFL Free Agency market, I no longer believe that to be compelling enough to keep him around if he loses his spot on the Rams depth chart. The Rams have six tight ends, and I expect them to keep no more than three. Unfortunately, simply from the numbers game, this could be the end for Brycen Hopkins.