Los Angeles Rams General Manager Les Snead talks on the field before a game. File photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI |
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THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- It was never a secret the Los Angeles Rams were open for business if someone wanted to lure them out of the 37th pick in the NFL Draft - their first selection overall - with a tempting offer.
So it was no shock when the Rams happily moved back seven slots to pick No. 44 while picking up an extra third-round pick in the process. All courtesy of the Buffalo Bills, who had their eye on East Carolina wide receiver Zay Jones who, incidentally, the Rams were routinely tied to leading up to the draft.
What is a surprise is who the Rams ultimately chose when their turn finally came around, although doing some sleuth work into the background of new head coach Sean McVay maybe it isn't any big surprise at all.
The Rams decided on South Alabama tight end Gerald Everett, who projects as a move-around weapon that McVay can utilize in his tight end-centric West Coast passing attack.
Green was a semifinalist for the John Mackey Award presented to the top tight end in college football and was a first-team All-Sun Belt Conference selection after finishing with 49 catches for 717 yards.
The 6-foot-4, 239-pounder only played one season of high school football - as a senior - before playing two years in junior college. He played one season at Alabama-Birmingham, but when the Jaguars canceled their football program he ended up at South Alabama.
And blossomed.
The Rams obviously noticed, inviting him to Los Angeles as one of the 30 players teams are allowed to bring to their facility.
And while their primary need coming into the draft was wide receiver, in Green they get a weapon that projects as an ideal fit in McVay's offense.
McVay spent the last three years as the Washington Redskins offensive coordinator and helped groom Jordan Reed into a Pro Bowl tight end. Over the last three years, Reed has 203 catches for 2,103 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Everett is hopeful he can help deliver that kind of production.
And then some.
"I think I bring the complete package of a tight end," he said. "Definitely a vertical threat first, but also being a willing blocker in the run game - just being able to create that mismatch at any point of time in the game."
He is looking forward to making the move west.
I'm happy, I'm excited right now. I just can't wait to get out to Los Angeles," he said. "And help the Rams win games and do whatever is asked of me to do - whether it be special teams, or receiver, or tight end, it doesn't matter. I just want to contribute to the organization and help them win games."
The Rams added another piece to McVay's offense early in the third round by selecting highly productive Eastern Washington wide receiver Cooper Kupp, who finished his college career with 428 catches for 6,464 yards and 73 touchdowns.
"I've played against some very good football players and I have played against some very good teams, as well, and I've been able to produce in both situations," Kupp said. "I believe I prepared to be the best when I step on the field and that's not going to change moving up to the NFL. I pride myself on that preparation and what it takes to be great. If people want to question that, that's fine. I'm just going to go and do what I do and I believe that that opinion will change soon."
The Rams concluded their first day by selecting Boston College safety John Johnson.
