Roster Breakdown (Part 3): WR/TE
PostPosted:5 years 2 months ago
Rounding out the offense, here is my breakdown of the WR and TE positions:
Wide Receiver
Signed through 2019: Brandin Cooks, Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, Josh Reynolds, Mike Thomas
Free Agents: JoJo Natson (ERFA), Khadarel Hodge (ERFA)
The Rams are in very good shape at the WR position. Their top four guys are signed, and there seems to be a good chance that Cooper Kupp will be back at full strength next year (reports are that his surgery revealed a "clean" ACL tear with no other damage). Mike Thomas is a holdover who probably is a longshot to make the squad. Natson and Hodge are key special teams contributors. As exclusive rights free agents, they'll be back if the Rams wish to retain them.
Av's plan: Not much needs to be done here. The only tweak I'd consider is using a Day 3 pick to select someone who can be Kupp's understudy as a true slot receiver. Though Josh Reynolds was reasonably productive as Kupp's fill-in, he's not a chain-moving, safety-blanket, slot type like Kupp. A couple of sleeper names to file away are Olamide Zaccheaus, a speedy converted-RB from Virginia, and John Ursua, an ultra-productive route-runner from Hawaii. A guy like Zaccheaus could also compete for the KR/PR duties.
Tight End
Signed through 2019: Tyler Higbee, Gerald Everett, Johnny Mundt
Free Agents: None.
Another "stand pat" position. While the TE position has not emerged as a primary threat in the Rams' offense, I think there was some improvement in terms of incorporating Higbee and Everett into the passing game. The key here, though, is money. The three TEs on the roster have a total combined cap hit of only around $3.6M for 2019. With other areas of need, that's extremely cost effective.
Av's Plan: Status quo.
Wide Receiver
Signed through 2019: Brandin Cooks, Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, Josh Reynolds, Mike Thomas
Free Agents: JoJo Natson (ERFA), Khadarel Hodge (ERFA)
The Rams are in very good shape at the WR position. Their top four guys are signed, and there seems to be a good chance that Cooper Kupp will be back at full strength next year (reports are that his surgery revealed a "clean" ACL tear with no other damage). Mike Thomas is a holdover who probably is a longshot to make the squad. Natson and Hodge are key special teams contributors. As exclusive rights free agents, they'll be back if the Rams wish to retain them.
Av's plan: Not much needs to be done here. The only tweak I'd consider is using a Day 3 pick to select someone who can be Kupp's understudy as a true slot receiver. Though Josh Reynolds was reasonably productive as Kupp's fill-in, he's not a chain-moving, safety-blanket, slot type like Kupp. A couple of sleeper names to file away are Olamide Zaccheaus, a speedy converted-RB from Virginia, and John Ursua, an ultra-productive route-runner from Hawaii. A guy like Zaccheaus could also compete for the KR/PR duties.
Tight End
Signed through 2019: Tyler Higbee, Gerald Everett, Johnny Mundt
Free Agents: None.
Another "stand pat" position. While the TE position has not emerged as a primary threat in the Rams' offense, I think there was some improvement in terms of incorporating Higbee and Everett into the passing game. The key here, though, is money. The three TEs on the roster have a total combined cap hit of only around $3.6M for 2019. With other areas of need, that's extremely cost effective.
Av's Plan: Status quo.