Quick spin through the WR & TE roster

[Merlin]

The more I look at this part of the roster the more intriguing it gets. Might be a move or two pending from an early signing to get ahead of big pay requirement to a trade. Either way figured it was worth a look so buckle up and get ready for color-coded skill position madness...

Key

Everything's good
Good for the club but potential for holdout
Pending FA
FA in two years

Wideouts

WR1 Cooks - Poised to rack up insane numbers in horns.
WR2 Woods - Outperforming contract, can do it all.
WR3 Kupp - If he stays healthy will light this league on fire; which means Rams will want to sign after season.
WR4 Reynolds - What is his future in horns? Rams acknowledge he is a starter.

Hodge - Plus size, strength and hands, in-work on routes, has already contributed some in big games.
Natson - Returns, and in-work as a slot depth option.
Thomas - Plus size, seems to be making a big push in last camp.
Webster - Started camp well and seems to be pushing for a roster spot.
Proehl - Returns, longshot to make roster.
Bachmann - Longshot to make roster.
Lloyd - Longshot to make roster.

Looking at the above it would not surprise me if they were to lock someone up early in order to save some cash down the road. Kupp would be cheaper now vice after he lights this league on fire this season. Hodge (who is the Rams lowest paid player) could probably be had relatively cheap, same with Thomas. Not sure if Thomas has been running as a gunner for us, but in the past he has.

Would not surprise me if they were to trade someone given the need with some teams at the position. This would happen after some preseason games where that player shows well.

Tight Ends

TE1 Higbee - Is he finally growing into all that talent?
TE2 Everette - Is he going to take the starting gig?

Mundt - Solid depth player who can get busy on teams or be counted on in base offense.
Blanton - One of three vying to take Mundt's job
Brown - One of three vying to take Mundt's job
Brooker - One of three vying to take Mundt's job (have read that he looks sluggish)

When you consider how long TEs take to develop, well, that is why I wanted them to draft someone this year. Didn't happen, they brought in some long athletes to compete for the third spot as UDFAs.

Both Higs and Everette have looked great thus far in camp which is a good thing. The assumption is Everette wins the job, but that might not happen in fact if both continue showing so well we are going to see a dip in 11 personnel percentage of snaps. Assumption is also that Higs will leave in FA.

Would not surprise me if they were to lock up one of the two top TEs now with an extension. IMO it would be very shrewd to do that and lessen the need to coach up a new draft pick next year or chase the position in FA when it's so pricey and they expect to be locking Goff up.

 

[den-the-coach]

Tyler Higbee is underappreciated on this board IMHO...Two years ago, he dropped some passes, however, last year had some big catches and is an outstanding blocker...I expect a big year out of both Higbee & Everett...Johnny Mundt seems to be the guy everyone thinks they can beat out, until they don't.

Mike Thomas could have a huge preseason and become the 6th WR as on special teams, he's also an asset as a gunner.

 

[I like Rams]

We need some TE depth, we have WR depth for days. Whos that big WR we grabbed as a UDFA? Real big dude with good hands. He had "TE in the making" written all over him.

 

[bluecoconuts]

I don't think Woods will hold out, especially after the Rams gave him a free raise this year. Straight up raise, no added years. That's how you take care of a guy who's been putting in the work, and I bet Woods will pay it forward by not holding out.

 

[ReekofRams]

We need some TE depth, we have WR depth for days. Whos that big WR we grabbed as a UDFA? Real big dude with good hands. He had "TE in the making" written all over him.

Sorry buddy I just went through the Rams roster and couldn’t find anyone close to what you’re describing. Maybe he was already cut.

 

[FrantikRam]

Tyler Higbee is underappreciated on this board IMHO...Two years ago, he dropped some passes, however, last year had some big catches and is an outstanding blocker...I expect a big year out of both Higbee & Everett...Johnny Mundt seems to be the guy everyone thinks they can beat out, until they don't.

Mike Thomas could have a huge preseason and become the 6th WR as on special teams, he's also an asset as a gunner.

Both Higs and Everett had pretty outstanding seasons last year - both caught a high percentage of passes thrown, very few drops, and Higbee's blocking is a huge part of the offense. I've been confused as to why people think that position needed to be upgraded - with Gurley, Cooks, Woods and Kupp, no TE is going to be featured.

 

[I like Rams]

Sorry buddy I just went through the Rams roster and couldn’t find anyone close to what you’re describing. Maybe he was already cut.

Yea someone made a thread about him and a highlight vid, but i cant think of his name for the life of me. Thanks for giving a second look through the roster.

 

[PhillyRam]

Yea someone made a thread about him and a highlight vid, but i cant think of his name for the life of me. Thanks for giving a second look through the roster.

I made that thread... I think his name was Sumpter... Looked good.... Of course he was cut a week later.

 

[den-the-coach]

Sorry buddy I just went through the Rams roster and couldn’t find anyone close to what you’re describing. Maybe he was already cut.

Fendi Onobun

 

[I like Rams]

I made that thread... I think his name was Sumpter... Looked good.... Of course he was cut a week later.

Lol well there we go. Thanks for chiming in, it was bugging me that i couldnt rememeber his name.

 

[ReekofRams]

Fendi Onobun

I thought he was last year?

 

[Merlin]

Both Higs and Everett had pretty outstanding seasons last year - both caught a high percentage of passes thrown, very few drops, and Higbee's blocking is a huge part of the offense. I've been confused as to why people think that position needed to be upgraded - with Gurley, Cooks, Woods and Kupp, no TE is going to be featured.

Any player who is good enough will be featured enough to put up good stats. I have a lot of respect for Higs and what he does as an all-around TE. But he's not a difference maker, or hasn't been that, so he doesn't get play design where he's high enough as a read to get those stats.

Stick a younger Gronk or one of the current top TEs around the league on this roster and you can bet they'd be a top read in many situations, and high enough that they're gonna get catches and yards.

I'm really excited about the TEs this year btw. But the point of my post is really the business side, a look at the roster and the decisions that are looming and might be made sooner than later. Both positions have a lot of decisions looming, even though wideout is absolutely loaded.

 

[Merlin]

I don't think Woods will hold out, especially after the Rams gave him a free raise this year. Straight up raise, no added years. That's how you take care of a guy who's been putting in the work, and I bet Woods will pay it forward by not holding out.

I hope you're right. And re: the raise my understanding is it was the bonuses he earned in his contract rolled together. But I'm not really knowledgeable in that stuff so maybe someone else can weigh in on that.

 

[kurtfaulk]

I hope you're right. And re: the raise my understanding is it was the bonuses he earned in his contract rolled together. But I'm not really knowledgeable in that stuff so maybe someone else can weigh in on that.

i read that the rams just turned his incentives into base salary. he was probably gonna reach them anyway the way he's been playing. just a little more security for him, if he gets nicked up for a couple of weeks he won't miss out on that money.

.

 

[Riverumbbq]

If John Wolford continues to impress, he and last years back-up QB Brandon Allen could make Blake Bortles expensive trade bait for a team in need should an injury befall them. Same goes for WR's Josh Reynolds (4'th rd.) or Mike Thomas (6'th rd.). Most any middle to late round prospects who makes good on a team with solid depth can inspire speculation for becoming a tradable asset, ... it's just nice to be one of those teams that have quality depth again.

 

[PhillyRam]

Lol well there we go. Thanks for chiming in, it was bugging me that i couldnt rememeber his name.

Actually he is in the CFL now...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Sumpter

 

[rams1fan]

Both Higs and Everett had pretty outstanding seasons last year - both caught a high percentage of passes thrown, very few drops, and Higbee's blocking is a huge part of the offense. I've been confused as to why people think that position needed to be upgraded - with Gurley, Cooks, Woods and Kupp, no TE is going to be featured.

Red zone target

 

[oldnotdead]

If you count JoJo as a WR the Ram's carried 6. But in reality since Jojo couldn't run routes the way Ram WR's are expected to run them he was a WR in name only. So for game purposes they carried 5 and I expect them to carry the same 5 this year unless the returner is also a WR in which case they would carry 6. But in all honesty I think Nick Scott will probably end up being the returner. He has the speed and hands and experience at returner to do the job. This saves them a roster spot for an extra oline or defender or anyone else who might shine in preseason.

5 Roster WR in September:

Woods, Cooks, Kupp, Reynolds and Hodge.

TE's will be the same as well unless Brooker can shine in pre-season. He's got good hands, good length, but he must play faster than he timed. The Rams TE's are under rated. Higbee and Everett are both very good and as they have proved, they can impact a game. The Rams can play 12 personnel with both of them on the field and probably improve their run game and still play action pass with Everett running mid level Y routes and Higbee running the short Y routes like digs, outs and slants. Don't be surprised if they use 12 personnel more often as it will protect Goff and improve their run game. Unlike most teams, the Rams have two good pass catching TE's. This is why they really only need to carry 5 WR's.

Or they can go 21 personnel with Henderson running the jet sweep motion. That will raise the threat level for the defense and they will be forced to honor it.

Bottom line is I don't see any changes in the WR's or TE's unless someone shines in pre-season.

 

[A.J. Hicks]

I thought I'd just put this here.

I was just watching MJD and Sarina interview Everett and Higbee.

Before asking a question to Everett Sarina says something about his tattoos representing something and him knowing everything about space (I assume outer space).

Anyways he responds by saying we aren't going to get into that right now.

I hadn't heard anything like this before. I did a quick search but came up empty.

Is Gerald Everett really interested in space? Studying it, etc? Anyone know?

 

[LA_Rams_#29]

It's going to be interesting to see once the preseason games start because we have a couple of battles possibly for WR depth..

Mike Thomas is once again playing well in practice... I think best case scenario for him..he would provide more upside than Hodge...even though Hodge has played well and really earned his spot last year. … Hodge then not being a return guy like Natson or Webster would be at risk if Thomas continues to show he deserves a spot.

we probably have a battle between Natson and Webster... IF Webster shows to be at least as good a return guy...He may have a chance because his college numbers were really solid as a WR....and we seem to like guys from Eastern Washington....

the other thing is what role Nick Scott or Henderson may have as return men... Scott as the punt returner and/or Henderson returning kicks means you really won't need that 6th WR spot as a return man...

Im looking forward to see how all this hashes out...