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

[Ram65]

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.

The more coaches' tape that I see from Youtube etc. the more I realize how intricate the passing game is. OBJ was buried in Cleveland apparently it was Baker Mayfield and the Browns, not OBJ's ability. Stafford has great chemistry with Kupp who gets the higher targets. Even Robert Woods was feeling a little left out earlier in the year. In the scheme of the Rams Higbee had a good year. He managed to get solid PT with knee and back issues. He is a solid blocker and versatile as you stated. His salary for production is on par with Kelsey and Kittle. Kittle is going to be $16+M on Whiners cap.

George Kittle | NFL Contracts & Salaries | Spotrac.com

George Kittle contract and salary cap details, full contract breakdowns, salaries, signing bonus, roster bonus, dead money, and valuations.

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Higbee's cap hit in 2021 was less than $6M

Here are all the TE's salary/cap hits if anyone is interested just click the name.

2024 NFL Rankings

Listing the top salaries, cap hits, cash, earnings, contracts, and bonuses, for all active NFL players.

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Here are all the TE stats.

Week 2 Proj Fantasy Football Stats - TE Points

Week 2 Proj Football stats for TE. Get complete stats for players from your favorite team and league on CBSSports.com

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He is a solid TE on team that has great WRs so he isn't the focal point in the passing game. Higbee has two more years remaining on his contract at a very reasonable price. I highly doubt he is going anywhere else this off-season.

 

[Rams43]

I think it’s a stretch to continue to call Harris a TE.

I think that he’s a very tall WR, pure and simple. He needs to perfect his route running and D recognition plus improve his blocking skills, but what young WR doesn’t need to do all of those things?

I think a healthy Harris is already a nightmare to defend and we all know how Stafford loves to put up contested balls for tall receivers.

Harris just might develop into a serious weapon for the Rams.

 

[Merlin]

I think it’s a stretch to continue to call Harris a TE.

Well McVay said he's not a TE. So I think you're safe there.

 

[Soul Surfer]

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.

How amazing is this?

Players with great hands AND down-filled blocking ability.

Another reason we can be just as good next year.

 

[Merlin]

Before the playoff run I had TE as a draft need....I don't anymore.

I'm the opposite. Last offseason I was content with Higs as TE1 and Mundt as TE2. I mean we all knew it would be nice to upgrade Mundt but there was reasonable expectation that maybe Hopkins would push for a spot and worst case scenario we see continuation of high 11 sets.

This year I think a TE upgrade could really help us and for one reason: we have a different QB. One thing I didn't do prior to the 2021 season was consider the way the QB tendencies might drive passing game fits. Stafford loves to throw contested balls up. At the very least he needs guys who will attack the ball. Want to know what so many weapons in this pass game have in common? Sitting back and waiting on the ball in the air. I love Woody but he's not aggressive to the ball nor a guy you bet on to come down with a contested catch. Neither is Higs. This is one of the reasons why Odell felt like such a revelation in this offense, his awareness of the ball and body control plus those hands to come down with it added fades and sideline route lethality to the Rams offense.

Now what is interesting in all this is that guys like Harris or Skow might be able to develop that ability as both are big bodied dudes who are still learning fundamentals. So we don't actually need a TE passing game upgrade unless they decide to cut or trade Higs (which IMO is unlikely: $8M for what he gives us is a bargain). That's not to say that I overlook the work both Skow and Harris will need to do on their hands and route technique while also being core teams guys. But we've had some others do that and move on to helping this team outside of ST.

Bottom line is I think the Rams need to retool as they go with their weapons to optimize the QB. They have a pretty loaded WR room if they add Odell, so a good way to add more size/hands is at TE depth. Just keep an eye out in the draft for a TE with great hands and focus for contested catches, doesn't have to be a guy with a great forty time either.

 

[fearsomefour]

I'm the opposite. Last offseason I was content with Higs as TE1 and Mundt as TE2. I mean we all knew it would be nice to upgrade Mundt but there was reasonable expectation that maybe Hopkins would push for a spot and worst case scenario we see continuation of high 11 sets.

This year I think a TE upgrade could really help us and for one reason: we have a different QB. One thing I didn't do prior to the 2021 season was consider the way the QB tendencies might drive passing game fits. Stafford loves to throw contested balls up. At the very least he needs guys who will attack the ball. Want to know what so many weapons in this pass game have in common? Sitting back and waiting on the ball in the air. I love Woody but he's not aggressive to the ball nor a guy you bet on to come down with a contested catch. Neither is Higs. This is one of the reasons why Odell felt like such a revelation in this offense, his awareness of the ball and body control plus those hands to come down with it added fades and sideline route lethality to the Rams offense.

Now what is interesting in all this is that guys like Harris or Skow might be able to develop that ability as both are big bodied dudes who are still learning fundamentals. So we don't actually need a TE passing game upgrade unless they decide to cut or trade Higs (which IMO is unlikely: $8M for what he gives us is a bargain). That's not to say that I overlook the work both Skow and Harris will need to do on their hands and route technique while also being core teams guys. But we've had some others do that and move on to helping this team outside of ST.

Bottom line is I think the Rams need to retool as they go with their weapons to optimize the QB. They have a pretty loaded WR room if they add Odell, so a good way to add more size/hands is at TE depth. Just keep an eye out in the draft for a TE with great hands and focus for contested catches, doesn't have to be a guy with a great forty time either.

Good post and good points.
The redone passing game could defiantly benefit from a big physical type of receiver, I agree.
I think Skow is an ideal depth receiver for McVay.
Big, physical, willing blocker who contributes on special teams.
If Odell comes back that WR room is very deep.

 

[Kupped]

Just rewatched the last SB drive... I'm convinced the 4th and 1 run was designed to go outside.. Hopkins got blown up.. but made a good adjustment to ride the DE out of the play. He's just not a point of attack blocker.. at all.
I think they need a beast blocker as their #2 TE with Hopkins being a guy who is the 2nd TE in a lot of two passing sets, if that makes sense.

 

[ausmurp]

This draft is insane on TE talent. Not a ton of elite guys at the top, but it's been said there will be numerous NFL starters found in rounds 3-5 of this draft. I like our depth currently but would love to see us draft a stronger blocking type TE with upside who can replace Mundt.

100% agree, but not just blocking. Keep drafting until we find that TE who can block AMD catch, be an every down TE. Too predictable if you need to switch out to a blocking TE for run plays. No more < 4 ypc, let's fix that.

Kelce, Little, and so many other starting TEs we're mid to late rd draft picks. We just need to focus on and find one, and McVay is so damn good at it I'm sure he will eventually.

 

[Merlin]

Just rewatched the last SB drive... I'm convinced the 4th and 1 run was designed to go outside.. Hopkins got blown up.. but made a good adjustment to ride the DE out of the play. He's just not a point of attack blocker.. at all.
I think they need a beast blocker as their #2 TE with Hopkins being a guy who is the 2nd TE in a lot of two passing sets, if that makes sense.

I agree TE is a need. And yes the blocking responsibilities are the biggest issue and probably why they reversed course with Harris as a TE. They realized oh shit we need a little more physicality here, which tbh is McVay's blindspot wrt player evaluation. And that role hurt them all season long as a hit/miss issue so an add to that room who is a sound blocker at a minimum would be wise and would help this offense a ton.

Now that said schematically they can carry an extra OL on gameday vice that depth TE and do like they did with Boom having the big guy handle the blocking duties. But when you do that the team can disregard him on delayed releases and the pattern in general which makes it easy on the defense.

Ideal approach IMO is a midround TE who has great size/physicality but also good hands. Don't care if he's slow. Just come in and block in year one with the occasional delayed release in the redzone. They're gonna have to give up things like RAC that they usually look for (that was one of Everett's strengths coming out) and raw athleticism because the well rounded big dudes go off the board too fast. Find a guy with some of those flaws but prioritize blocking and contested catches. And btw not sure if there are any guys who fit that, as I have not been focused at all on college ball, didn't even watch the Senior Bowl practices which normally are a highlight for me lol.

 

[Kupped]

I agree TE is a need. And yes the blocking responsibilities are the biggest issue and probably why they reversed course with Harris as a TE. They realized oh shit we need a little more physicality here, which tbh is McVay's blindspot wrt player evaluation. And that role hurt them all season long as a hit/miss issue so an add to that room who is a sound blocker at a minimum would be wise and would help this offense a ton.

Now that said schematically they can carry an extra OL on gameday vice that depth TE and do like they did with Boom having the big guy handle the blocking duties. But when you do that the team can disregard him on delayed releases and the pattern in general which makes it easy on the defense.

Ideal approach IMO is a midround TE who has great size/physicality but also good hands. Don't care if he's slow. Just come in and block in year one with the occasional delayed release in the redzone. They're gonna have to give up things like RAC that they usually look for (that was one of Everett's strengths coming out) and raw athleticism because the well rounded big dudes go off the board too fast. Find a guy with some of those flaws but prioritize blocking and contested catches. And btw not sure if there are any guys who fit that, as I have not been focused at all on college ball, didn't even watch the Senior Bowl practices which normally are a highlight for me lol.

Exactly how I view the positional need.

I don't care about this guy being a true threat in the passing game.. just someone who can block and catch the ball when thrown to him. A guy who may make teams think it's a run.. but who can slip through for a sit-down gain of 4 on a third and 3.