Fans have been trying to wrap their head around the Rams’ decision to waive Kendall Blanton on Saturday. It’s not necessarily the fact that Blanton was waived, but the timing of it.
This was just the second wave of cuts, and the team opted to keep tight ends such as Jared Pinkney and Roger Carter Jr. over Blanton – a tight end who played a sizable role in their postseason run last year. Sean McVay offered somewhat of an explanation for the move, saying it wasn’t related to the Rams’ desire to keep more wide receivers.
He told reporters it’s a “total separate thing.”
When asked if the decision to waive TE Kendall Blanton was made as a necessity to keep more wide receivers on the initial 53-man roster, McVay said it was "a total separate thing."
Based on evaluation of what they've seen from the tight end position.
— Stu Jackson (@StuJRams) August 20, 2022
McVay added that it’s about finding the best ways to utilize the 11 players on the field, and that the Rams have other options when it comes to aligning players at tight end.
In addition to Tyler Higbee and Brycen Hopkins, who McVay said he’s been impressed with, they can use Cooper Kupp in that sort of blocking role attached to the formation.
After waiving Kendall Blanton, Sean McVay praises Tyler Higbee and points out that many guys in the Rams' offense can and will do the job of a "tight end" depending on the play. Everyone from Cooper Kupp to a backup O-lineman.
— Greg Beacham (@gregbeacham) August 20, 2022
With Blanton gone, the Rams might keep only Higbee and Hopkins at tight end, knowing they also have Jacob Harris if they want to keep him on the 53-man roster, too.