Rams depth chart battle: Brycen Hopkins vs. Gerald Everett

Can Los Angeles Rams rookie tight end Brycen Hopkins take Gerald Everett’s job?

The Los Angeles Rams took a shot on the tight end position in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft when they selected Big Ten tight end of the year Brycen Hopkins out of Purdue.

In a relatively light class at the tight end position, the value of Hopkins in the fourth round was a pretty sweet deal for the Rams.

Hopkins was absolutely tremendous over the past three seasons for Purdue, and made an impact as a freshman four years ago as well with four touchdowns on just 10 catches for the season.

He finished his time as a Boilermaker with 130 receptions, 1,945 yards, and 16 touchdowns. After a solid showing at the Scouting Combine, Hopkins could have easily been a top 100 pick but the value of the tight end position was a bit down in this year’s draft class.

Hopkins’ role with the Rams in 2020

Hopkins is currently projected as the TE3 on the Rams’ depth chart behind Tyler Higbee and 2017 second-round pick Gerald Everett.

Higbee was third on the team in targets last season at 89 and Everett was fifth with 60.

Everett has been solid in his first three seasons in the NFL out of South Alabama, catching 86 passes for 972 yards and seven touchdowns. He is coming off of a season in which he set a career mark with 37 receptions and the Rams obviously like him as their TE2 with Higbee.

But in the NFL, no one’s job is safe and Hopkins has the tools to make an impact year one in the NFL.

Both Hopkins and Everett are athletic playmakers at the tight end position, and the Rams will be able to move them around the offensive formation to utilize them as athletic mismatches.

Entering a contract year, the pressure is on Everett now more than ever. He will have to solidify himself as the number two and fend off a talented young rookie to make sure he gets a strong contract offer in free agency in the 2021 offseason.

The tight end position is always really tough for rookies to transition from college to the pros, but Hopkins has tremendous hands and runs really good routes, and it wouldn’t be surprising for him to be one of the most impactful day three picks from the 2020 class.