It's make or break for LA Rams WR Tutu Atwell in his contract year

It's not you, it's this offense

I hate to place so much finality to a single NFL season, but for fourth-year veteran WR Tutu Atwell, I truly do not see any other way to state the facts. Tutu Atwell is entering his fourth and final season of his rookie contract. To date, he has caught 57 of 102 passes thrown his way for 781 yards and four touchdowns. He has also rushed 14 times for 65 yards and one touchdown. His longest reception was 62 yards. His longest run was 22 yards.

Those numbers so far fall far below expectations for the 52nd overall selection of Round 2 of the 2021 NFL Draft.

I have never been one to blame Tutu Atwell for the Rams miss to select Kansas City Chiefs outstanding center Creed Humphrey in the 2021 NFL Draft. The error (if you feel the need to place blame for that oversight) falls solely on the Rams front office. But at the same time, the offense has never seemed to find a suitable niche role for Atwell. And he is not the first to seem misplaced in this offense.

The Rams hold wide receivers in such high regard because the demands on players who truly fit this offensive system are not as forgiving as we may have come to believe. Veteran WR Allen Robinson was one and done with the Rams, despite flourishing in other offenses. Young wide receivers like Van Jefferson and Ben Skowronek seemed to hold great promise and potential. But that potential found only limited success in this offense.

It seems that the cost of greatness is more expensive than estimated.