http://www.espn.com/blog/los-angele...2017-draft-picks-analysis-for-every-selection
Alden Gonzalez
Round 2, No. 44 overall: Gerald Everett, TE, South Alabama
My take: The Rams traded down from 37th overall with the Bills in order to gain an additional third-round pick. This pick fills their biggest immediate need, especially when you consider just how crucial tight ends are for new coach Sean McVay. No team received more yards out of the tight end position than McVay's Redskins last season, and his hope is Everett develops into his new
Jordan Reed.
Everett, at 6-foot-3 and 239 pounds, was a four-year starter who bounced around in college and didn't begin playing football until his senior year of high school. Over his past two years at South Alabama, he caught 90 passes for 1,292 yards and 12 touchdowns, being named All-Sun Belt Conference each season.
Everett brings speed, athleticism and ball skills that make him a mismatch against linebackers and safeties. He needs to improve as a blocker, but he can be an immediate weapon for franchise quarterback
Jared Goff.
How he fits: Everett joins
Tyler Higbee, a fourth-round pick last year, to give the Rams two young pass-catching tight ends who can line up on the outside. This position became a major need after the Rams cut ties with veteran
Lance Kendricks earlier this offseason. Their three pass-catching tight ends -- Everett, Higbee and
Temarrick Hemingway, a sixth-round pick last year -- have combined for 11 NFL receptions but will get a chance to prove themselves immediately.
The Rams have finished last in the NFL in yards each of the past two seasons. They need more talent at receiver, but
Tavon Austin signed a long-term extension last year,
Robert Woods was signed in free agency, and
Pharoh Cooper was a fourth-round pick in 2016.
http://www.espn.com/espn/now?nowId=21-0649768954134271494-4
No one got more out of tight ends last year than Sean McVay did with Washington. With Lance Kendricks released earlier this offseason, McVay needed another TE to pair with Tyler Higbee, a fourth-round pick from last season. Like Higbee, Everett has size, is a major threat in the passing game and needs to develop as a blocker. McVay hopes Everett is his new Jordan Reed.
http://www.espn.com/espn/now?nowId=21-0649778947445233543-4
TE Gerald Everett, the 44th overall pick, flew out to Los Angeles for a top-30 visit and for a private workout with the Rams, meeting Jared Goff along the way. On what he brings, Everett told local reporters, "I think I bring the complete package of a tight end. Definitely a vertical threat, but also being a willing blocker in the run game. And just being able to create that mismatch at any point in time in the game."
