San Francisco 49ers: Stacking up the tight ends against the NFC West

Los Angeles Rams

Key Contributors: Tyler Higbee, Gerald Everett

It’s a little tough to get pumped up about a tight ends group who produced 610 yards and three touchdowns on just 49 receptions last year. Taken as a whole, the Rams’ tight ends group wasn’t even a viable red zone threat.

Now granted, Sean McVay‘s offensive system is more geared toward the running backs and receivers, while the tight ends are more for providing solid protection than much of anything else.

But, having a solid blocking tight end, who can also be a viable receiving target is the ideal in this day and age of the NFL’s passing league. Getting guys who can be more involved in the offense and become viable weapons who can produce, is the way many offenses are going.

Right now, the Rams have solid blocking tight ends in Tyler Higbee and Gerald Everett, but what they don’t have is that solid threat of a pass catcher.

Last year, Higbee was the team’s best, and he produced just 295 yards and two touchdowns on 25 receptions. Everett was second with 244 yards and a touchdown on 16 receptions.

This year, both players return and will likely once again, be asked to do very little in McVay’s offense.

San Francisco may have the ideal in George Kittle, who proved to be a stout pass protector at Iowa and a solid pass catcher as a rookie with the 49ers last season.

Next: Stacking Up The RB's In The NFC West

As of right now, the Rams don’t have anybody who can really compare. Granted, their offense didn’t really seem to suffer much last season, as it was one of the more explosive units in the league, but adding a solid pass catching tight end into the mix would give them another layer for defenses to account for.

And right now, although their unit is better than some, the Rams just don’t have it.