Turf Show Times
Should Rams target Kyle Pitts as a Tyler Higbee replacement?
The Los Angeles Rams had a resurgence of youth on the defensive side of the ball after losing a number of veterans in the last few years and they would be smart to do the same to the offensive in 2025. Offseason rumors are already circulating in regards to Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp’s future with the organization, maybe it is time to add Tyler Higbee to that list.
According to Sportrac, Higbee is on contract through 2026 with a cap hit of $9,600,000 in 2025. If the Rams were to cut him before June 1st, LA would save $3,398,714 and $5,398,714 if he were traded with even more savings if he is traded/cut after the trade line. Besides the savings, Les Snead and Sean McVay have already told us how they feel about their veteran tight end after attempting to move up in last year’s draft to nab Brock Bowers but were beaten to the punch by the Las Vegas Raiders.
Higbee’s issues have not been on the field but rather it has been his ability to stay available. He suffered a gruesome hit from Kirby Joseph in LA’s Wild Card matchup against the Detroit Lions that sidelined him for the majority of this season. He did catch three touchdowns in the five games he was available in and also played a huge role in the Rams’ comeback attempt against the Philadelphia Eagles, but even then his health was in question after suffering a chest contusion the week prior. Higbee was sidelined due to injury in 2021 during the team’s Super Bowl victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Snead could look to the draft to find his tight end of the future. PFF’s top three prospects include Tyler Warren from Penn State (projected 13th), Colston Loveland from Michigan (projected 29th), and Gunnar Helm from Texas (projected 47th).
He could also try to find a proven camaraderie through a trade with recent buzz surrounding the potential departure of Kyle Pitts from the Atlanta Falcons. Pitts finished with 1,026 yards receiving in his rookie debut season but has failed to come close to that number since.
“He’s entering his last year of his contract, fifth-year option, $10 million,” explains James Palmer with Bleacher Report, “I’m just looking at the way things went in Atlanta. The progression of targets went Drake London, Bijan Robinson, Darnell Mooney, Kyle Pitts. Are you going to give a massive contract extension to a fourth overall pick who has underperformed?
Higbee has been a foundational piece to the Los Angeles after being drafted the same year that McVay took over coaching duties. How the team feels about him is easily captured in his first touchdown after coming back from his torn ACL/MCL in Week 16.
However, Snead and McVay have not been afraid to move away from their Captains for business reasons and there is no reason they wouldn’t move on from Higbee if given the chance...
