Is Brycen Hopkins ready to step up as Rams' No. 2 tight end in 2022?

Is Brycen Hopkins ready to step up as Rams' No. 2 tight end in 2022?

With Johnny Mundt gone, there’s a void at TE2 on the Rams’ roster. Is this the year Brycen Hopkins finally ascends to that position?

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Is Brycen Hopkins ready to step up as Rams' No. 2 tight end in 2022?​

Brycen Hopkins was supposed to be the player to replace Gerald Everett at tight end when he inevitably left in free agency. The Rams drafted him to be that type of player in 2020, knowing Everett might be on his way out before the 2021 season.

It didn’t work exactly to plan, with Hopkins playing a total of 61 snaps in his first two years in the NFL and catching only one pass for 9 yards in 10 games played. The Rams have been patient with him, however, and Hopkins started to show some promise in the Super Bowl when he caught four passes for 47 yards as the top tight end with Higbee sidelined due to injury.

Can Hopkins carry over that momentum into 2022? He’ll once again get the opportunity to be the Rams’ No. 2 tight end, just as he had last year. Johnny Mundt, who was the TE2 last season, signed with the Vikings in free agency, opening the door for Hopkins for the second year in a row.

Hopkins won’t necessarily face a ton of competition for that job. Kendall Blanton is the other tight end who will be battling for the backup role at tight end, and he was the Rams’ preferred choice at that spot after Mundt got hurt.

Blanton played 11 games, made two starts and played 21% of the offensive snaps. He came alive in the playoffs, catching all seven of his targets for 75 yards and a touchdown, picking up five first downs – outperforming Hopkins. But it was Hopkins who contributed the most in the Super Bowl, which was a surprising development.

Heading into 2022, it’s anyone’s guess who will win the job as Higbee’s backup. But what we do know is how important that role is. Higbee is pretty durable but he hasn’t played a full season since 2018. Not to mention, the Rams like to have a capable blocker as their No. 2 tight end when they deploy 12 personnel with two receivers and two tight ends on the field together.

Neither Hopkins nor Blanton is a particularly good blocker, but Hopkins made a couple of key blocks in the running game during Super Bowl LVI. It’s not a lack of effort, but rather a need to improve his technique when it comes to sealing off defenders when the Rams run the ball outside.

Los Angeles would probably prefer if Hopkins beat out Blanton as the No. 2 tight end, hopefully validating the team’s decision to draft him in the fourth round two years ago. Sean McVay won’t complain so long as one of the two step up, but Hopkins might have the slightly better opportunity to after his performance in the Super Bowl.

 

[Kupped]

Hopkins isn't enough of a blocker to be the backup #1 TE.. but he may get more snaps than that guy.. but if Higbee gets hurt.. his true backup will get more snaps than Hopkins, imo. Hopkins just isn't enough of a blocker at this point, imo.

I'm not as sold on Blanton as others and think a blocker who can move around the formation will be more important to the group than keeping him.

 

[Mister Sin]

The thought of having potentially 4 productive TE’s is music to my ears

 

[RamDino]

It is pretty simple but there are plenty of guys who couldn’t get on the field cuz they couldn’t do it.

I did not mean that blocking is simple. I meant that if he can't block, he will simply not see the field. Sorry about that... I'm not a great writer, but you guys already know that -lol.

And why not try Skow at tight end? He can certainly block and he might be a tough match-up for linebackers and/or safeties. OF course Harris and/or Tutu or someone else would have to step up to relieve the 3 starters.

 

[OldSchool]

Not sure he’s shown enough to give us confidence in him being #2 TE. I too would like a draft pick.

 

[Merlin]

This TE group might not have a big media hype guy at the top but it's a class with some really intriguing options for us. Main thing here is even if the Rams do draft a guy he's unlikely to help us all that much as a rook. So this pick might be with expectation of replacing Higs after the season.

I've seen us linked to Likely (Coastal Carolina) but he reminds me a bit of Everett, where he's gonna need to live up to his talent. I don't know about you guys but I'm tired of the athletes who have been finding their ways into our drafts (guys like Burgess and Jefferson) but who lack that spark of production that some players just seem to have. I'm not gonna go so far as to look hard at who was QB and all that, but we did that with Jefferson and guess what he's still the same guy who disappears and sits back waiting for the fucking ball to get to him in the endzone in the biggest game imaginable.

The TE that I really like, who has the "Merlin stamp of approval" for a guy who fits what we need, is Cole Turner (Nevada). But we'd need him to slide to us round 3 late and tbh if you want a TE in this league you'd better move up and get him because these guys are coveted. So I doubt he gets to us. But this is a guy with the rangy catch radius and body control/hands we want to pair with Stafford.

But more likely would be a guy like Ferguson (Wisconsin). Who is solid all around and probably better than people think he is in a lot of ways. Ferguson is probably the guy who makes the most sense given what we need, which is someone who can run the blocking game if Higs misses time, but barring that will get to work building into that guy who fits a key role in 2023.

 

[PARAM]

This TE group could be the deepest position in the draft. Some guys who could be available at #104, #142 and lower.

95	Greg Dulcich	UCLA	Jr	TE	3	6-4	243
97	Charlie Kolar	Iowa St.	Sr	TE	4	6-6	252
106	Jake Ferguson	Wisconsin	Sr	TE	5	6-5	250
117	Isaiah Likely	C. Carolina	Sr	TE	6	6-4	245
124	Cade Otton	Washington	Jr	TE	7	6-5	250
131	Jelani Woods	Virginia	Jr	TE	8	6-7	259
164	Chigoziem Okonkwo	Maryland	Sr	TE	9	6-2	238
171	Jalen Wydermyer	Texas A&M	Jr	TE	10	6-5	255
201	Cole Turner	Nevada	Sr	TE	11	6-6	246
215	James Mitchell	Virginia Tech	Jr	TE	12	6-4	249
229	Grant Calcaterra	SMU	Sr	TE	13	6-4	241
277	Jeremiah Hall	Oklahoma	Sr	TE	14	6-2	239
288	Chase Allen	Iowa St.	Sr	TE	15	6-6	251

 

[Merlin]

Some Cole Turner (who had a strong Senior Bowl btw):

View: https://youtu.be/ZOQZModMadY


Isaiah Likely:

View: https://youtu.be/c_4UAlPU1bM


Jake Ferguson:

View: https://youtu.be/FBwCN5mL9sQ

 

[Memento]

There's three tight ends in this class I really love: Cade Otton, Jalen Wydermyer, and Chigoziem Okonkwo. Of course, I'd be fine with Woods, Calcaterra, Ferguson, Turner, and Dulcich, so long as we draft a tight end in the mid rounds to be Higbee's eventual replacement.

 

[Merlin]

Wydermyer is interesting for sure. He took a huge hit with his 40 time at his pro day (5 secs) but watch him on film he looks like a guy who will outperform where he gets drafted. I could see the Rams taking him.

Otton looks like an all-around type like Ferguson to me. Where maybe he didn't get fully utilized. I'd be fine with him too.

Pass on Okonkwo though. I won't want some undersized move guy who's gonna eat snaps and disappoint. I'd prefer someone who will at least win in blocks while he disappoints in the pass game. Of course McVay probably fuckin loves him some undersized speedy TEs. But he's gotta look out for his QB now and big targets with catch radius seem like the way to go.

 

[dieterbrock]

TE is a notoriously difficult position for rookies to learn. A 3 year learning curve is not uncommon.

I find this to be completely false. With 4 year contracts, no position has the luxury of a 3 year learning curve. What tight end has had as slow of a start as Hopkins? I cant think of any...
Fact is, the Rams had visions of creating packages for him, to play right away. And he couldnt even dress....
All faith in the Rams and what they do, but the way the TE position has been handled is just puzzling to me.
I think without a doubt the Rams will add to the TE room, and I wouldnt be surprised if they sign a vet AND draft somebody. Folks have to keep in mind, there is a second wave of free agency in a sense because there will be some cuts made after the draft and in pre-season.

 

[RamDino]

I find this to be completely false.

Tyler Higbee is a good example. Tight End can be a difficult position to learn. And, hopefully, Brycen Hopkins will learn how to block this year, if that is what is holding him back from playing.

 

[OC--LeftCoast]

You all can say what you may about his blocking, but I’ll tell you this, when it counted the most, SB win or lose on the line, his 4th and short block on Kupps jet sweep for a first down, I’d challenge anyone on ROD to bring up a better executed clutch drive sustaining block than Brycen Hopkins in Rams TE history

 

[kurtfaulk]

.

Hopkins played lights out in the superbowl. Made some catches, got some 1st downs, huge block on 4th down. He did his part to help the Rams win the superbowl.

Hopefully he can use the confidence of that performance to propel himself into a consistent contributor moving forward.

.

 

[So Ram]

Hopkins isn't enough of a blocker to be the backup #1 TE.. but he may get more snaps than that guy.. but if Higbee gets hurt.. his true backup will get more snaps than Hopkins, imo. Hopkins just isn't enough of a blocker at this point, imo.

I'm not as sold on Blanton as others and think a blocker who can move around the formation will be more important to the group than keeping him.

Wow - anyway that’s all good. I just know what Blanton did in the playoffs was pretty good without Higbee.

Like I’ll keeep saying I was Hopkins biggest doubter coming out of training camp.I have many of reasons now appreciate this young man’s journey as a Ram.

 

[So Ram]

.

Hopkins played lights out in the superbowl. Made some catches, got some 1st downs, huge block on 4th down. He did his part to help the Rams win the superbowl.

Hopefully he can use the confidence of that performance to propel himself into a consistent contributor moving forward.

.

I don’t think hope is going to be that word.Hard work & attitude will be.

He got a little into himself & has eaten a lot of humble pie.To think he won’t get better is on him(Hopkins’s).

What he has earned is Trust with The Rams organization & stepped up on the biggest stage.

Copper Kupp was amazing don’t get me wrong,but HENDO,Sko, & Hopkins all made big plays. Still think Hendo’s 3rd down catch was almost as important as Kupps 4th dwn play & Hopkins consistency on those catches.

Playing within the offense was a cool thing to see.I’d never have thought Hopkins had 4 catches. Stafford needed that. Go back & look at Akers & Sony.

I could right up a play in the sand right after a big first down catch late in the game. I believe it was a 1st dwn & The Rams ran it left to D. Hen.

—The play call would have been something like the Green Bay game with Laizero.How ever that was it would have figured out how the FS was bitting.Whatever way he was coming up I’d have slipped Hopkins up & past him at an angle he couldn’t recover.
Play action was so set up!!! I was yelling play action,play action,play action,play action. To the point of a 3 yard loss. If that doesn’t tell you something.It was there,but 2022 is going to be fun.
I see Wade is coming back. Classic- love that guy. Love where The Rams are at. Staley will have an amazing team. Raheem Morris is such a RAM!!

Wade was the best though. What he did for The Rams Franchise can NEVER be stated enough. Class act all the way. Really helped Sean Mcvay be a better coach. —Thanks Kevin Demoff

 

[OnceARam]

Our TE's are a testament to our draft and develop strategy that allows us to pay top dollars to players who have higher levels of positional value.

As good as a healthy Higbee is, for example, he's still not going to get close to the productivity of the WRs. I think the guys we have are developing, so why not stay the course and draft elsewhere given that they're all on long term contracts.

 

[I like Rams]

I think the Super Bowl will be a huge boost of confidence for Hopkins. I don't see how you can play your best game ever, on the biggest stage at the most important time in your career, and drop off playing reg season games. Hopefully he works out, we need him.

 

[bubbaramfan]

In two weeks of TC last summer, Blanton couldn't block and Hopkins couldn't catch so its no wonder they didn't get much playing time during the regular season.

 

[PARAM]

Is it the run game design is foreign to college TE's and for some, may take a while to "get"? Higbee is a good blocker but Mundt was THE guy in the run game. Everett wasn't any good until year 3 or 4 and then left a lot to be desired.. And in the 5 years McVay has been here we've only had Carrier (2017), Higbee, Mundt, Everett, Blanton and Hopkins.

 

[Allen2McVay]

Brycen Hopkins ... you can't stop him ... you can only hope to contain him.