Gerald Everett’s breakout with the Rams may never come.

For a tight end with so much potential and such high expectations among fans and media members, he may not have much of a future in Los Angeles after yet another disappointing season and the emergence of Tyler Higbee as the No. 1 tight end on the depth chart.

Everett missed three games with a knee injury, and in his return on Saturday night, he played just four measly snaps. He was targeted once and didn’t have a single catch, proving to be a non-factor in a must-win game for the Rams.

In the three games Everett missed – and on Saturday night, too – Higbee caught at least seven passes for 100-plus yards each week. He’s proved to be the Rams’ best tight end this season, becoming the first tight end in NFL history to catch at least seven passes for 100 yards in four straight games.

Everett has only one year left on his contract, becoming a free agent in 2021 if the Rams don’t sign him to an extension. Los Angeles already gave Higbee a new deal worth $7.25 million per year, which runs through the 2023 season.

The Rams clearly see him as a No. 1 tight end, and they’ve been using him as such in recent weeks.

So where does that leave Everett? Most likely, he’ll be back on the team for one more year in 2020, but even that’s not a certainty. He’s a tight end with a ton of potential as a receiver, which isn’t easy to find in the NFL.

It’s possible that the Rams could shop him this offseason in an attempt to recoup some of the picks they traded away to acquire players such as Jalen Ramsey, Austin Corbett and Dante Fowler Jr. In those trades alone, the Rams gave up a first-rounder (Ramsey) and fifth-rounder (Fowler) in 2020, as well as first-, fourth- and fifth-round picks in 2021.

Everett only has one year left on his contract and was a second-round pick in 2017, so the Rams aren’t going to fetch anything more than a third-round pick for him. But if they can get a fourth-rounder, should they consider it?

After reportedly seeking a sixth-round pick for Higbee last year, it’s possible the Rams would take a fourth for Everett. With Higbee paid and Johnny Mundt (a free agent in 2020, but a cheap re-sign) doing an excellent job as the No. 2 tight end dominating as a blocker, Everett’s role may not be very large next season.

The Rams already prefer not to take wideouts off the field in favor of tight ends, so with Higbee being the top option, Everett could have a hard time finding snaps next year. Trading him for a mid-round pick is not out of the question, especially with the Rams missing the playoffs and needing draft picks after wheeling and dealing the last two years.

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Gerald Everett appeared poised for a breakout season in 2019. He overtook Tyler Higbee as the top tight end on the Rams late last season, putting together strong performances down the stretch.

To begin this season, he was playing more than Higbee yet again, which is why so many fans and analysts thought he could become a consistent producer at tight end. Though he had been playing well (37 catches for 408 yards in 11 games), Everett’s breakout was put on hold in Week 12 when he injured his knee.

During his three-game absence, Higbee did something no other Rams tight end had done before: He strung together three consecutive 100-yard games. He became a focal point of the offense, but with Everett set to return on Saturday night, will that change?

That’s a question only Sean McVay can answer.

Higbee was targeted 33 times in those three games, catching 26 passes for 334 yards and a touchdown. You’d have to tally Everett’s previous seven games combined (26 catches, 321 yards and one touchdown) to match the numbers Higbee put up in three starts.

But more importantly with Everett out, the Rams went back to more of a run-first attack. Higbee and Johnny Mundt were playing a lot together prior to Sunday’s loss in Dallas, with the Rams opting for a lot of 12 personnel instead of constantly utilizing three receivers, one back and one tight end.

The result was a brief resurgence from Todd Gurley and improved play-action passing.

Can that continue with Everett returning and Higbee’s snaps potentially being limited? It remains to be seen, but there’s a good chance Higbee won’t be on the field as much as he has been. In the three games prior to Everett’s injury, Higbee played 33%, 76% and 69% of the snaps. Since then, he played 91%, 97% and 86%.

The Rams had two of their best and most balanced offensive performances against the Cardinals and Seahawks, gaining 549 yards and 445 yards, respectively, in those games. The ground game was a big factor in each win, with Higbee and Mundt doing an excellent job blocking on the edges.

Everett will get his share of snaps. He’ll probably play about 50% of the offensive plays, many of which should come with Higbee also on the field. He’s not the blocker that Higbee or Mundt are, and with the Rams trying to establish the run, it wouldn’t be unreasonable for Everett to play less than usual.

Just don’t expect him to play only a handful of snaps in his return from a knee injury. He’ll have his chances to contribute, even if it costs Higbee some production and playing time.