The Rams trusts the future to untested young players, including Stetson Bennett

WR Jordan Whittington

Almost all collegiate wide receivers strive to perfect their ball catching skills, and try to perfect their separation skills during route running to augment their ability to pile up huge numbers of receiving yards throughout a season. But just like the NBA also rewards strong defense from basketball players as that is a far more difficult skill to find among rookies, the NFL, more importantly, the LA Rams, reward wide receivers who do all of the other tasks asked from the position at the NFL level.

And former Texas wide receiver Jordan Whittington checks all of the boxes.

Despite competing in just two preseason games, Whittington ended the preseason with 126 yards, the fourth-best receiver performance in all of the NFL. And I needn't remind you that he caught passes exclusively from QB Stetson Bennett, a quarterback who was away from the game for nearly a year.

His performance was so impressive that some NFL analysts and Fantasy Football gurus began to project Whittington as high as a WR3 for fantasy football.

While that is all a bit overly optimistic for 2024, it is bound to happen at some point in Jordan Whittington's NFL career. But not as a WR3 option. Whittington can block, create separation, catch passes in traffic, fight for abundant amount of yards after a catch, run crisp and precise routes, and can even carry the football for the occasional jet sweep.

Some viewed his production at the University of Texas and his speed and sought WR help elsewhere. The Rams front office viewed his ability to block, to embrace the dirty jobs on offense that most receivers shy away from, and knew instantly that he would work in this offense.

His preseason excellence did not come at the cost of scrubs who would not make their respective teams. Whittington made many catches against starters and rotational defensive backs likely to be on the football field in nickel and dime packages. And Bennett managed to find him 11 times.

Whittington has a bright NFL career ahead of him.