Kendall Blanton is by no means a household name. He’s not even a starter in the NFL. But his release over the weekend was a complete surprise to Rams fans everywhere.
He was the Rams’ backup tight end last year, filling in when Tyler Higbee missed time either due to COVID or injury. He was expected to remain either the second or third tight end this year, which is an important spot given Higbee’s injury history.
But the Rams cut ties with him not at the final stage of roster trimming, but merely when they went down from 85 to 80 players on Saturday. That’s disappointing news for Blanton, but it’s a good sign for two other players: Lance McCutcheon and Jacob Harris.
McCutcheon and Harris are two of the Rams’ biggest receivers. They’re by no means locks to make the roster, but their size gives them a great chance to earn a spot on the 53-man squad – especially now that Blanton is gone.
For Harris, he’s a WR-turned-TE-turned-WR. He played wideout in college but converted to tight end briefly last year before going back to wide receiver this season. He needs to improve as a blocker, but at 6-foot-5, he has the frame to seal off defenders.
Harris showed that with a big block against the Texans on Friday night.
Pancakes for breakfast. 🥞
👨🍳 @JacobHarris87 pic.twitter.com/HXbqqp3ORl
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) August 20, 2022
That’s not a 5-foot-10 cornerback he laid out. It’s a 6-foot-4 defensive end.
With Harris’ position flexibility, the Rams can line him up at tight end if needed. It won’t be perfect, but that versatility is important and was probably a factor in the decision to cut a tight end like Blanton.
Sean McVay even said the Rams have players who can essentially take on the role of a tight end, mentioning Cooper Kupp and even backup offensive linemen. It’s more about the responsibilities than it is the player, at least for the backups.
McCutcheon isn’t as big as Harris, but at 6-foot-3 and 202 pounds, he’s capable of blocking defenders in the running game. He won’t replace Blanton, of course, but with one fewer tight end on the roster, there’s one more spot for a wide receiver to be kept.
Kupp, Allen Robinson, Van Jefferson, Tutu Atwell, Ben Skowronek and Brandon Powell are all almost guaranteed to make the team. Harris should, too. That means the Rams will probably carry at least seven receivers – eight if McCutcheon makes the cut. Now, the Rams could conceivably keep just two tight ends with Higbee and Brycen Hopkins, knowing how infrequently they utilize two-tight end sets anyway.
It’s unlikely McCutcheon will slip through waivers if he gets cut before Week 1. That means the Rams may not be able to keep him on the practice squad. That should certainly influence their decision when weighing who to cut next week.
Though Harris and McCutcheon play a different position than Blanton, one more roster spot that wasn’t expected to be available is now open. That’s good news for both of them.
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