- Joined
- May 8, 2014
- Messages
- 39,715
Been kicking around what I think the Rams might do this offseason at TE, so figured why not throw it out there and let you animals savage it. Plan here is to go through options in roster reduction, FA additions, and the draft, and then make the call on what I expect them to do. Here we go!
Roster numbers, first off, tend to be an average of 3 league wide, and of course varies depending on quality of relative positions. So for purposes of this discussion we'll assume that 4 will be the end strength of the TE room.
Roster returns / Roster cuts
Kendricks was a starter and had his best season, but the problem with this dude is he's a six year veteran and nothing special. His greatest value is his versatility and particularly in the run game, but he is not a guy you can count on in many ways to include holding onto the MFing ball. $3.75m is not an enormous amount of money, but when it's being paid to a guy who probably doesn't factor into the teams' long-term plans it's probably too much. Thus I expect him to be cut.
Harkey is a depth option who is solid as a blocker and completely non-dynamic in the passing game. But he's a solid teams guy and is only going to be making $1.3m, so I expect the Rams to keep him around and give him a look in camp.
Higbee is one of the most talented TEs we've had on the roster in years in terms of raw ability. I watched a lot of WKU due to Doughty and Tyler is an outstanding passing game weapon that had two risks coming out: health issues and an alcohol related incident. His rookie season didn't see him show he could remain healthy, but he did keep his nose clean. Obviously the team has high hopes for him, for good reason.
Hemingway was the incredibly raw athlete addition last year. This guy's a real unknown, and I think come camp he's gonna be fighting for his life to retain a roster spot, but the new regime might be able to make something of him. They'll keep him around obviously and give him a look.
Williams was a UDFA who stuck around a bit on the Pats' roster before we got him. Pre-draft I expected him to be drafted, and really liked him as a big bodied and good hands guy, which I felt we needed for the passing game. I still like him and think he might be a surprise with some good coaching. He'll get a look either way in camp.
Wilson I know nothing about as a TE. Not sure he's gonna be able to compete with these other guys, most of whom are going to be ahead of him mentally. Huge dude though, and will get a look I presume in camp.
So in summary with Kendricks being cut I think they will be sitting at 5 not counting the FA and draft.
Free Agency
The TE group is extremely underwhelming in FA. If I had to put one of those guys as the top option I would go with Trey Burton who is young and who has shown some things spelling Ertz. But personally I don't think the Rams can afford to bring in a guy like him when chances are he'll be outperformed by Higbee, who is in his second season now and is much more talented.
Now, there are some guys we could bring in to be insurance or depth options, like Vernon Davis who is long in the tooth but knows the offense McVay will install. But there's really not anyone who represents an improvement over what the Rams have and if I were stacking the roster I'd steer clear of anyone who isn't a bargain basement type contract addition.
My expectation in FA is that the Rams stand pat at TE.
Draft
The TE class this year in the draft is excellent. There's quality at the top and throughout. There's size, athleticism, whatever you want. The question, though, is what do the Rams want?
Answer: they want a TE who can master the option route.
Now, that's easier said than done. The TE position first off is one of the toughest to adjust to the NFL, as proven by rookie production numbers. That said if the TE is used primarily in the passing game as a weapon and not required to block frequently, then I do think the adjustment can be faster. And again that would be a guy they feel can be a quick study as an option route threat.
Many will expect McVay to be looking at the Jordan Reed types due to his Redskins connection. But guys who master the option route aren't only the athletic types. There are guys like Reed, but there are also guys like Witten who are much bigger. Really the key is that the guy can play smart, get up on top of the DB to see what the coverage is, and then react correctly. IMO this staff is going to choose a guy they feel can do that. Here's my guess on the options:
Howard - Nice fit, but is gonna go too high.
Njoko - Not a smart player and has too many drops, is not a fit for where they'd have to take him.
Engram - Versatile and an option for the Rams if he's there at their round 2 pick.
Shaheen - Big and powerful, lower competition, hard to say with this guy, tough one.
Hodges - Raw as blocker and route runner, but a freak, risky at our round 2 pick, solid round 3+.
Everette - Small hands, focus drops, not a fit for where they'd have to take him.
Butt - Underrated IMO, smart player who executes, definite fit for rounds 3+.
Leggett - "Lazy Leggett" says it all lol, some team will fall in love and he'll bust. Not a fit.
Way it looks to me the sweet spot for TE is going to be that round 3 pick, which will have competition from CB, DE, Center as need/value pick options.
Prediction
I think the final TE roster will look something like this:
1. Higbee. I suspect he's going to respond exceptionally well to this staff and emerge as a strong option route weapon who can also stretch it deep down seams.
2. Williams. I think he is the other guy who responds to this staff and earns a role as Higbee's backup.
3. Harkey. Need a blocker and physical option.
4. Butt. My guess is they address the position in round 3 and bring in a guy who can do a little of everything.
Roster numbers, first off, tend to be an average of 3 league wide, and of course varies depending on quality of relative positions. So for purposes of this discussion we'll assume that 4 will be the end strength of the TE room.
Roster returns / Roster cuts
Kendricks was a starter and had his best season, but the problem with this dude is he's a six year veteran and nothing special. His greatest value is his versatility and particularly in the run game, but he is not a guy you can count on in many ways to include holding onto the MFing ball. $3.75m is not an enormous amount of money, but when it's being paid to a guy who probably doesn't factor into the teams' long-term plans it's probably too much. Thus I expect him to be cut.
Harkey is a depth option who is solid as a blocker and completely non-dynamic in the passing game. But he's a solid teams guy and is only going to be making $1.3m, so I expect the Rams to keep him around and give him a look in camp.
Higbee is one of the most talented TEs we've had on the roster in years in terms of raw ability. I watched a lot of WKU due to Doughty and Tyler is an outstanding passing game weapon that had two risks coming out: health issues and an alcohol related incident. His rookie season didn't see him show he could remain healthy, but he did keep his nose clean. Obviously the team has high hopes for him, for good reason.
Hemingway was the incredibly raw athlete addition last year. This guy's a real unknown, and I think come camp he's gonna be fighting for his life to retain a roster spot, but the new regime might be able to make something of him. They'll keep him around obviously and give him a look.
Williams was a UDFA who stuck around a bit on the Pats' roster before we got him. Pre-draft I expected him to be drafted, and really liked him as a big bodied and good hands guy, which I felt we needed for the passing game. I still like him and think he might be a surprise with some good coaching. He'll get a look either way in camp.
Wilson I know nothing about as a TE. Not sure he's gonna be able to compete with these other guys, most of whom are going to be ahead of him mentally. Huge dude though, and will get a look I presume in camp.
So in summary with Kendricks being cut I think they will be sitting at 5 not counting the FA and draft.
Free Agency
The TE group is extremely underwhelming in FA. If I had to put one of those guys as the top option I would go with Trey Burton who is young and who has shown some things spelling Ertz. But personally I don't think the Rams can afford to bring in a guy like him when chances are he'll be outperformed by Higbee, who is in his second season now and is much more talented.
Now, there are some guys we could bring in to be insurance or depth options, like Vernon Davis who is long in the tooth but knows the offense McVay will install. But there's really not anyone who represents an improvement over what the Rams have and if I were stacking the roster I'd steer clear of anyone who isn't a bargain basement type contract addition.
My expectation in FA is that the Rams stand pat at TE.
Draft
The TE class this year in the draft is excellent. There's quality at the top and throughout. There's size, athleticism, whatever you want. The question, though, is what do the Rams want?
Answer: they want a TE who can master the option route.
Now, that's easier said than done. The TE position first off is one of the toughest to adjust to the NFL, as proven by rookie production numbers. That said if the TE is used primarily in the passing game as a weapon and not required to block frequently, then I do think the adjustment can be faster. And again that would be a guy they feel can be a quick study as an option route threat.
Many will expect McVay to be looking at the Jordan Reed types due to his Redskins connection. But guys who master the option route aren't only the athletic types. There are guys like Reed, but there are also guys like Witten who are much bigger. Really the key is that the guy can play smart, get up on top of the DB to see what the coverage is, and then react correctly. IMO this staff is going to choose a guy they feel can do that. Here's my guess on the options:
Howard - Nice fit, but is gonna go too high.
Njoko - Not a smart player and has too many drops, is not a fit for where they'd have to take him.
Engram - Versatile and an option for the Rams if he's there at their round 2 pick.
Shaheen - Big and powerful, lower competition, hard to say with this guy, tough one.
Hodges - Raw as blocker and route runner, but a freak, risky at our round 2 pick, solid round 3+.
Everette - Small hands, focus drops, not a fit for where they'd have to take him.
Butt - Underrated IMO, smart player who executes, definite fit for rounds 3+.
Leggett - "Lazy Leggett" says it all lol, some team will fall in love and he'll bust. Not a fit.
Way it looks to me the sweet spot for TE is going to be that round 3 pick, which will have competition from CB, DE, Center as need/value pick options.
Prediction
I think the final TE roster will look something like this:
1. Higbee. I suspect he's going to respond exceptionally well to this staff and emerge as a strong option route weapon who can also stretch it deep down seams.
2. Williams. I think he is the other guy who responds to this staff and earns a role as Higbee's backup.
3. Harkey. Need a blocker and physical option.
4. Butt. My guess is they address the position in round 3 and bring in a guy who can do a little of everything.
