After being tested all year, Rams’ TE depth looks strong in 2022

[Memento]

Interesting take on Higbees cap number. I think our offense is better with him in it but at that number?

Higbee's 2022 cap number: $8,050,000

Higbee's dead cap number: $2,850,000

Rams' estimated cap space: -$21,623,914



My models love later-round tight ends in this draft class. Not to say any of them should be expected to immediately replicate Higbee's production, but again, we're not just thinking of the one-for-one tradeoff here. This is about the big picture, how everything affects the broader roster and spending. Higbee carries the eighth-highest cap hit at the tight end position, while the Rams currently have the fourth-worst cap situation, at more than $21 million in the red. According to Next Gen Stats, Higbee just posted a career-low 5.3 air yards per target in 2021, down from 7.5 in 2016-2020.

I doubt that we trade Higbee this year; nobody currently on the roster is ready to replicate his production for 2022. Either way, he won't be on the team in 2023. He'll be thirty then, and we'll have hopefully drafted an elite tight end and maybe dealt Higbee for a pick.

 

[Riverumbbq]

Interesting take on Higbees cap number. I think our offense is better with him in it but at that number?

Higbee's 2022 cap number: $8,050,000

Higbee's dead cap number: $2,850,000

Rams' estimated cap space: -$21,623,914



My models love later-round tight ends in this draft class. Not to say any of them should be expected to immediately replicate Higbee's production, but again, we're not just thinking of the one-for-one tradeoff here. This is about the big picture, how everything affects the broader roster and spending. Higbee carries the eighth-highest cap hit at the tight end position, while the Rams currently have the fourth-worst cap situation, at more than $21 million in the red. According to Next Gen Stats, Higbee just posted a career-low 5.3 air yards per target in 2021, down from 7.5 in 2016-2020.

As I've stated in the past, I believe Higbee becomes trade bait following the 2022 season. Bringing in a young free agent TE2 now gives McVay more options than just 11 personnel sets for 2022, especially in a year where OBj is likely on IR and while Woods' ACL injury is getting back on track. jmo.

 

[PhillyRam]

The depth is okay. The high-end talent is not. If Higbee goes down for any length of time, we're simply screwed. Blanton and Hopkins would make a fantastic 3rd string tight end battle, but we need to draft someone with a lot of potential if we can't find one in free agency (and no, I don't see Njoku as an answer because he'll simply cost far too much; he's young, has oodles of potential, etc.)

My choices are Otton or Wydermyer. Both of them aren't available at the moment (they're late second/high third picks, and that's not counting the Combine where both of them will be there), but they're weapons that I would trade for. Why? Because I don't see Higbee on this team after the 2022-2023 season. He'll be thirty years old with a lengthy injury history.

Either way, an elite tight end is something we'll absolutely need.

Too many other needs in the secondary, LB, and possibly the OL... Even more DL depth would be good to have.

So I doubt anything happens at TE in the draft unless someone's unexpected falls that they can't pass up.

Go get a solid all around vet TE in FA. That guy can replace Mundt. Maybe someone chasing a ring jumps at the chance to come here.

Otherwise beef up OL & the secondary. Those were the two leaky areas in the playoffs. Need more push in the run game and depth at S & CB.

Also, would like to see more speed in the backfield. Somebody that threatens the edge. They couldn't do that very often this yr.

 

[MachS]

The entire TE room of the Rams could be upgraded. No offense to Higbee but he’s not a top tier TE. I don’t recall Higs nickname but I think I’d call him ‘crash’. The rest are all replaceable.

I agree that I’d like to see a TE picked in this draft but I’d like an all around TE. Consider that many tight ends are picked in rounds 3-5.

Yea I'm not mad at Higs. He's an above average pro I'd say, definitely not elite or top tier. Solid in both the run and passing game. But it would be great to seriously start thinking about our future TE. This is the draft to target one in the middle rounds.

 

[kmramsfan]

Agreed

Rams did sign a primary blocking TE in Kyle Markway who is a very good blocker. The resigning of UFA TE Johnny Mundt will add to the blocking ability of this TE unit.

This offense should have a number of pass-catchers returning to this team that missed the SB or parts of.....in Robert Woods, OBJ, Tyler Higbee, Johnny Mundt, TuTu Atwell, Kendal Blanton & Jacob Harris.

So this 2022 Ram team is NOT depleted of valid NFL caliber receivers however, the blocking of the TE unit is highly questionable at this time. This area needs to be vastly improved by whoever is assigned as our new TE coach.

The Rams have excellent starters AND depth all across the board when it comes to receivers and TE's.
I remember when we had nobody that you would consider a threat anywhere on the roster.
Denario Alexander ...... Donnie Avery

 

[FrantikRam]

We've developed Blanton and Hopkins and they played well on the biggest stages.

Harris may still be viewed as a hybrid.

Higbee is a good all around TE.

If the value is there in the 5th or later, cool. But feels unlikely we would choose a rookie over cheap vets who we've developed AND have played well in the NFCCG/Super Bowl, so that rookie would have an uphill climb to make this roster.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Yea I'm not mad at Higs. He's an above average pro I'd say, definitely not elite or top tier. Solid in both the run and passing game. But it would be great to seriously start thinking about our future TE. This is the draft to target one in the middle rounds.

To think what this offense could be with a guy like Kelce, or Kittle.

 

[LA1980]

Higbee is great and should be valued by Rams fans. You cannot have the best player in the league at all 22 positions, it is silly to think so. He is easily a top 2nd tier league te at a good salary. Be appreciative for what we have when they are definitely not a problem. In fact, his and Stanford’s rapport was very good, very fast, and should take a big leap in their second year. I expect big things.

 

[Rams43]

The best time to draft a TE (or any other position) is when that position is deep in the draft. In this way one gets good value even though it may be a ‘next year’ player. This TE class is reportedly deep so if our scouts are sharp we might get a gem. Remember, Kittle was a fairly late pick so you never know.

Hell, almost all of our drafted players are in the ‘next year’ column.

Now, this does not preclude signing a solid FA at TE at all, probably a tier 2 or 3 guy. Rams might do both things, tbh. We dodged some bullets at TE in playoffs and certainly SB.

 

[Antonius]

Brycen Hopkins got a lot of crap from fans for not seeing the field during the season.

But he may have saved the Super Bowl for us

On Kupp’s 4 and 1 sweep, he made a crucial block to seal the edge, enough for Kupp to turn up field and get the first

That was my favorite unsung play of the game, and I look forward to seeing him get an opportunity

 

[MachS]

To think what this offense could be with a guy like Kelce, or Kittle.

Yea McVay wanted Everett to be that guy but it definitely didn't pan out. Staff loved throwing to TEs in Detroit too, hopefully we'll get luckier with the next one we take.

Brycen Hopkins got a lot of crap from fans for not seeing the field during the season.

But he may have saved the Super Bowl for us

On Kupp’s 4 and 1 sweep, he made a crucial block to seal the edge, enough for Kupp to turn up field and get the first

That was my favorite unsung play of the game, and I look forward to seeing him get an opportunity

Brycen was legit in the SB man for sure. He gave us a spark when we needed one and they were taking Kupp away. Really he was just reliable and able to get open 1-on-1 with coverage rolled to Kupp. I'm sure the kid will have a lot more confidence heading into next year after playing well in the biggest game of his life. People underestimate confidence in athletes...if you play well in the highest pressure situation of your life it can springboard you forward. Like Hopkins, Ernest Jones, A'shawn. Whereas if you fail in that moment you might never be the same again confidence wise. I feel like this is a part of what happened to Goff after the SB. But yea I loved Hopkins' block on the 4th&1 play too. We have some big wild card offensive weapons next year in Tutu, Harris, and Hopkins. Any of them could develop into good players, all of them...none of them. Who knows..

 

[fearsomefour]

Before the playoff run I had TE as a draft need....I don't anymore.
I think Blanton really showed well in the playoffs. His blocking has evolved from non existent to ok in a short period of time. He certainly has been a try hard guy at least.
Hopkins looked very smooth and natural running routes. He sealed the end on the key Kupp 4th down run. No idea about a bigger body of work as a blocker.
I would keep 4 TEs.
Higbee
Blanton
are locks I think
the last two spots come down to Mundt, Hopkins and Harris (along with whomever is on the practice squad).
Harris could also be classified as a WR to allow him and two other TEs being kept.

 

[OnceARam]

Interesting take on Higbees cap number. I think our offense is better with him in it but at that number?

Higbee's 2022 cap number: $8,050,000

Higbee's dead cap number: $2,850,000

Rams' estimated cap space: -$21,623,914



My models love later-round tight ends in this draft class. Not to say any of them should be expected to immediately replicate Higbee's production, but again, we're not just thinking of the one-for-one tradeoff here. This is about the big picture, how everything affects the broader roster and spending. Higbee carries the eighth-highest cap hit at the tight end position, while the Rams currently have the fourth-worst cap situation, at more than $21 million in the red. According to Next Gen Stats, Higbee just posted a career-low 5.3 air yards per target in 2021, down from 7.5 in 2016-2020.

I think there is more fire than smoke to this. Higbee can't seem to stay healthy either...

 

[CGI_Ram]

Put me in the camp seeing opportunity to add more at TE.

@Elmgrovegnome yeah, imagine this offense with Kelce or Kittle, type. Whoa!

 

[So Ram]

Put me in the camp seeing opportunity to add more at TE.

@Elmgrovegnome yeah, imagine this offense with Kelce or Kittle, type. Whoa!

Could have had him & Kupp. Higbee was a steal once he got healthy & took care of his court date & settlement for beating a guy..

One of my weirdest experiences was when Demoff was coming at me pissed off. Mundt & Everett we’re hurt & Higbee was dropping everything in training camp.
I thought The Rams needed more depth there & let him know about it.He takes Rams football & personnel personal.He knows the roster as good if not better than Sean Mcvay at times.Don’t get him upset,Demoff is an animal when it comes to The Rams.

 

[So Ram]

I also have no opinion on the TE’s right now. Hopkins sure stepped up $ has another 2 seasons.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Higbee is great and should be valued by Rams fans. You cannot have the best player in the league at all 22 positions, it is silly to think so. He is easily a top 2nd tier league te at a good salary. Be appreciative for what we have when they are definitely not a problem. In fact, his and Stanford’s rapport was very good, very fast, and should take a big leap in their second year. I expect big things.

Consider 4 years of a controllable (contract) rookie Tight End that is better than Higbee. That is likely what they envisioned with Hopkins and then Harris. How long is the Rams window open anyway?

 

[LA1980]

Consider 4 years of a controllable (contract) rookie Tight End that is better than Higbee. That is likely what they envisioned with Hopkins and then Harris. How long is the Rams window open anyway?

Sure, better is always good, but for every kittle, there are a hundred Hopkins. draft a tight end in the 4th and 5th and hope they perform, or at least become capable backups, sure. just don’t sell Higbee’s value or worth short, IMO.

I think windows are tied to coaches and quarterbacks, and I think 5 years is conservative and really, I am excited to see McVay select his own an down the road. That said, if McVay bolts, all bets are off.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Sure, better is always good, but for every kittle, there are a hundred Hopkins. draft a tight end in the 4th and 5th and hope they perform, or at least become capable backups, sure. just don’t sell Higbee’s value or worth short, IMO.

I think windows are tied to coaches and quarterbacks, and I think 5 years is conservative and really, I am excited to see McVay select his own an down the road. That said, if McVay bolts, all bets are off.

So I guess there is no use in trying. Lol, Higbee is a decent TE, yes. But he is getting older, has had injuries and can be improved upon. The Rams searched for an upgrade two years in a row: Hopkins can’t block and Harris ended up being more receiver than TE and doesn’t have great hands.

That tells me that they view Higbee more optimally in the Mundt role and want an upgrade at pass catcher.

Mundt, Blanton, Hopkins are all replaceable. Higbee is not equal to many other top tight ends in the league.

 

[Allen2McVay]

I guess I like Higbee a lot more than some posters here.

Has missed a total of three games in six seasons. Just one in each of prior three years.

Solid all-around and versatile in my opinion. Can be in-line, in the slot and split-out. Can get down-field and run a little after the catch. Good receiver and blocker. Not a top-tier-TE but a solid second-tier player. Recall Aikman commenting on how complimentary Bowles was about Higbee prior to the Divisional Round Game.