Tyler Higbee is on the brink of history this week. Higbee is two touchdowns away from setting the record for most touchdowns as a tight end in Rams history. He would be passing Damone Johnson with 19 touchdowns over the life of his career. Higbee is the all-time leader in receiving yards and receptions for a Rams tight end.
Rams History
The tight ends throughout the Rams’ history have been sub-par. Only three have recorded over 2,000 receiving yards in their time with LA. Last season, Higbee became the all-time leader for receptions and receiving yards by a tight end in franchise history. In doing so, he passed Billy Truax and Lance Kendricks, continuing to shatter the record weekly.
Rams tight ends have been used lightly over the years. From funny-sounding names such as Brandon Manumaleuna to Roland Williams, both join Higbee as fourth-round draft picks by the Rams. Higbee stands out over the rest. Not only is he a big, physical man. He can catch just about anything. Over the last four seasons, Higbee has hauled in over 70% of his targets.
Higbee’s Production History:
In 2022, Higbee is second on the team in targets behind Cooper Kupp. I know, surprise, right? Kupp leads the team in targets again. That’s neither here nor there, though. Tyler Higbee is on pace to have more catches and yards than he had last season. In 2021 he topped off with 560 yards on 61 catches. At this current rate, he could finish 2022 with over 1,000 yards.
Safety Blanket:
He is acting as a safety blanketalmost as much as Cooper Kupp has this season. He is targeted on 25% of Matthew Stafford’s pass attempts. Combined, however, Kupp and Higbee make up 61% of Stafford’s targets this season. By season’s end, Higbee will be the Rams’ all-time leader in touchdown catches by a tight end.
Higbee leads all tight ends in targets and receptions in 2022. He trails three other tight ends in yards, but that’s not a surprise considering who he’s trailing. Travis Kelce, Mark Andrews, and TJ Hockenson. All three are considered top receivers for their offenses and produce at high levels each season. They’re difficult after the catch and are hard to take down on the first tackle. To be included in the same breath as they are playing on an offense with Cooper Kupp speaks volumes about how well Higbee has played this season.
Drafted in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft, Higbee sat behind Lance Kendricks during his rookie season. In the following two seasons, he split snaps with Gerald Everett as the number one tight end. Over that period, Higbee combined for just 587 yards on 49 catches with three touchdowns. He finally broke out in 2019 with 69 catches for 731 yards and matching his two-year touchdown total.
Higbee saw his production totals drop by nearly half in 2020. In 2021 he found his groove again, catching 61 passes for 560 yards. The now sixth-year tight end has seen himself as the go-to tight end for Sean Mcvay. With Everett being history in 2020, Higbee now gets the majority of snaps. Higbee has made the most of his opportunities in his time as the number one, combining for 87 catches and 804 yards.
Prediction:
I predict he gets one this week vs. the Dallas Cowboys to tie the record. In three games vs. Dallas, he averages eight targets and six catches. However, he’s yet to record a touchdown; I think that changes this Sunday. In week six, I predict the record breaker. Number 19 will come at home in SOFI stadium before the bye week. Failing to find the endzone in any contest this season, he’s due for a breakthrough.
If you liked this article. Check out another article. “Super Cooper: Rams Safety Blanket”
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