A new tight end could do wonders for this offense...

[PARAM]

It'd be nice to have one that can lay blocks like D Washington from Georgia. If he truly wants to establish the run, that's one way to go.

He could last until #37 and we could take him if we don't take an Edge or trade down (which I hope we do to pick up a 4th).

Edge, TE, RB and C could be our first few picks.

 

[Angry Ram]

I believe a 4'th is quite reasonable considering his relatively low base salary and just turning 30 y.o. jmo.

Nah. Probably a 6th. One in like 2025 or something.

 

[dang]

I dont think Higbee is HOF worthy, but compared to the rest of the league, he's better than most.
I'd rather they sign him to a reasonable extension over trading or cutting him. There are some stud TE's that can legit step in to the #2 TE role in a 12 set with Higs. I'd love to see them add a knock the snot out, inline TE and let Higs roam a bit. Hopkins is a total waste

I’m no analyst but it seems Higbee was a decent safety valve but not a weapon this year. In addition, it seemed a good chunk of the middle of the year we saw a sluggish, stone-handed TE. Perhaps he was injured. He definitely contributed at the end of the season but the season was over. I believe we saw the peak of Higbee several years ago and I’d like to see much more of a 2 TE set. So I’d be in favor of trading Higbee for a 4th.

 

[El Chapo Jr]

He could last until #37 and we could take him if we don't take an Edge or trade down (which I hope we do to pick up a 4th).

Edge, TE, RB and C could be our first few picks.

Yeah there are definitely a lot of directions to go. Think we'll have a slightly better idea after the FA period.

 

[Mojo Ram]

The only issue I have with Higs is that he’s another one of those players who always seems to be dinged up. Starts and leaves games as well as being OUT for a handful of games.

Love the player though. Solid tier 2 guy in the league IMO.
We could do much worse as a pass catching TE.

I agree that we need better point of attack blocking TE’s to compliment him. No one has stepped up in that role under McVay’s watch.

Im hoping the team tries to get away from their TE model and adds some physicality.

 

[Riverumbbq]

The only issue I have with Higs is that he’s another one of those players who always seems to be dinged up. Starts and leaves games as well as being OUT for a handful of games.

Love the player though. Solid tier 2 guy in the league IMO.
We could do much worse as a pass catching TE.

I agree that we need better point of attack blocking TE’s to compliment him. No one has stepped up in that role under McVay’s watch.

Im hoping the team tries to get away from their TE model and adds some physicality.

Yet blocking TE/FB Roger Carter didn't get a single offensive snap last season.

 

[Neil039]

Little tired of project TEs or hybrid players who never pan out.

 

[WestCoastRam]

Little tired of project TEs or hybrid players who never pan out.

Well you're in luck, it's a historic class!

 

[Memento]

Tucker Kraft please!

 

[El Chapo Jr]

Tucker Kraft please!

I did like his physicality but that was against inferior competition. Can he do that in the NFL? No idea

 

[dieterbrock]

So I’d be in favor of trading Higbee for a 4th.

And have no TE on the roster? That doesnt make sense to me. Hopkins and Blanton are both awful

 

[Merlin]

Yeah. Move Higs and an ugly position group becomes uglier. We need to keep him around and draft a TE that McVay will put on the field with him. Even if it is just on occasion.

 

[fanotodd]

And have no TE on the roster? That doesnt make sense to me. Hopkins and Blanton are both awful

I don’t even consider moving Higbee until AFTER the Rams draft a TE and the guy shows in camp he’s ready to start. That scenario is less likely to happen than the rookie possibly overtaking Higbee for the #1 spot at some point during the season. Heck, he might have to start because Higbee gets hurt again.

Say what you want about Higbee, but he’s been holding his starting job for a couple of reasons and one is he’s been the only reliable blocker at the position.

Even if Hopkins steps up this year, he’s gone the next. The Rams DO have to draft/acquire a TE on a rookie deal this year.

 

[Loyal]

Tight End has never been a strong position for the Rams, while I’ve been alive. It seems like every one we have gotten in the past has had serious flaws or is really just a blocker. We have never had a Tony Gonzales or a Gronk. When we draft one, it normally disappoints me because it seems like a wasted move. JMHO.

 

[OntarioRam]

I'd stay away from TE with our 2nd round pick.

History shows you do not need to invest a 1st or a 2nd round pick to secure a good TE.

Travis Kelce (3rd round pick), George Kittle (5th round pick), Mark Andrews (3rd round pick), and Darren Waller (6th round pick) were not super early draft picks. Gronkowski was a 2nd round pick, but you have to go all the way back to 2010 for that. Vernon Davis immediately comes to mind as well, but he was drafted all the way back in 2006 (and how often do we want the Rams picking 6th overall?!).

When you do draft a TE early, it seems they are just as likely to disappoint for their draft slot as they are to live up to it. TJ Hockenson at 8th overall was a huge bust for that draft slot (although has had an okay career in absolute terms). OJ Howard at 19th overall was a huge bust. Kyle Pitts at 4th overall is also looking like a huge bust for that draft slot (but Atlanta is such a mess that it is hard to judge young Pitts just yet).

The highest pick I can recall working out at TE in recent years for giving fair value for his draft slot is David Njoku, who taken at the end of round 1. Ertz and Goedert would likely be the two main data points in favor of using a 2nd round pick on a TE. But as both were drafted by the Eagles in round 2, I am not confident reading into their draft selections as data points - more likely, IMO, is that Philly is simply good at scouting and developing the position.

So in short, it seems like a 3rd round pick is more than good enough to grab a good TE. And be it due to luck, the Rams not scouting and/or developing the position well, or the Rams' offense simply not maximizing TEs.... the Rams have been committing that level of draft resource to TE already without overwhelming success (although I do quite like Higbee).

Higbee was a 4th round pick, but he fell in the draft due to off-the-field concerns. He would have been a 3rd round pick otherwise. Coming out of college, many scouts had him ranked as the 2nd best TE in the draft class, behind Hunter Henry. He was unanimously regarded as a top 3 TE that year (some scouts had Austin Hooper ahead of him).

Gerald Everett was a relatively high 2nd round pick (44th overall). He was the 4th TE taken in that year, behind OJ Howard (bust), Evan Engram (seemed to be a big bust, taken in the 1st round / 23 overall, until a resurgence this year in Jacksonville, so time will tell), and David Njoku (very good player). Again, good-but-not-great.

The Rams also took Brycen Hopkins in round 4 in 2020. His career is still young but it does not appear he will be hugely impactful.

If this year's TE class is very strong, all the more reason we can wait on the position, IMO. Go elsewhere in round 2.

 

[RamsSince1969]

Higbee has the best first down and touchdown celebrations on the team. How dare you suggest we get rid of that crowd pleasing entertainment value.

 

[Merlin]

The saving grace with Higs is he is on an appropriate contract for what he brings. He doesn't disrupt the business model. So like with Hav the team is more prone to move on to lower hanging fruit to trim up this underperforming roster.

If they move him it means there has been some kind of issue behind the scenes. But I would be surprised.

 

[Memphis Ram]

IMO, the greatness of Cooper Kupp in the slot has had an effect on TE usage in McVay's offense. He didn't go from Jordan Reed to forgetting about the effect one can have in the slot. Remember how Higbee went off that year Kupp went down? It's probably why the Gerald Everett selection was made, but Kupp has just been so good there.

Getting too pass happy has also had an effect. I see why Stafford didn't have much of a rushing attack in Detroit. Coaches fall in love with his arm talent and focus more on the passing game than the running game.

Whomever, the Rams get at TE, it would nice if they considered blocking more than they normally would. IMO, one issue with the rushing attack is oftentimes, the WRs seem to block better than the TEs.

 

[Merlin]

Tight End has never been a strong position for the Rams, while I’ve been alive. It seems like every one we have gotten in the past has had serious flaws or is really just a blocker. We have never had a Tony Gonzales or a Gronk. When we draft one, it normally disappoints me because it seems like a wasted move. JMHO.

Yes. If there is any karma in this universe we should be poised to hit big on a TE. If McVay can do that he will reap enormous dividends because Kupp is already a large TE type weapon in this attack but he can also line up all over the formation to include outside the hash. So adding a threat at TE who doesn't get his ass whooped on the edge in the run game would be a revelation for Sean.

 

[Memphis Ram]

BTW, I think that if the Rams put 15-25 pounds on Skowronek, he'd make a decent TE.