Each weekday, theRams.com will be taking a look around the internet for the top Rams headlines of the day. Here's a look at what's out there for Friday, June 14 about your Los Angeles Rams.
SURPRISE STANDOUT?
Tight end Gerald Everett seemed to make an impact play every day during OTAs and plenty of people noticed. Head coach Sean McVay said during the offseason program that he felt like that game has been slowing down for the third-year TE. And now ESPN's Lindsey Thiry has named Everett the surprise standout of the spring.
From Thiry: A second-round pick in 2017, Everett has had a few standout moments in his young career, including a 39-yard catch in the NFC Championship Game, but he has not been consistently called upon in coach Sean McVay's offense. Through the offseason program, Everett was a clear standout as a target for quarterback Jared Goff. "The game is slowing down for him," McVay said. "He's just continuing to progress and take steps." Everett will compete in a group that also includes fourth-year tight end Tyler Higbee.
Everett has caught 49 passes for 564 yards with five touchdowns in his first two seasons. For the complete list of surprise offseason standouts, click here.
COULD A VETERAN GET CUT?
ESPN also compiled a list of veterans most likely to get cut at the end of training camp for each team. But the Rams were one of two teams without a realistic candidate.
Again, from Lindsey Thiry: The Rams are in a unique situation, with no veterans who will enter training camp on the roster bubble. Before the start of free agency, the Rams declined to pick up the option on center John Sullivan's contract and released linebacker Mark Barron; otherwise, both players would have been in danger of being cut for financial reasons. As the roster is constructed, each veteran is expected to play a valuable role that is not expendable.
Currently, second-year offensive lineman Brian Allen is slated to take over at center, and second-year linebacker Micah Kiser appears penciled in to take over for Barron in the Rams' base 3-4 scheme.
JUST MISSING THE LIST
Pro Football Focus put out a list of the NFL's 50 best players heading into the 2019 season, and — surprise — defensive tackle Aaron Donald was No. 1 on the list.
But the site has also published a list of the players who just missed the list, and Rams left tackle Andrew Whitworth is one such player, coming in at No. 52.
_Whitworth's best may be behind him as he enters the 2019 season at 37 years old, but the longtime stalwart – even in decline – is still one of the best offensive tackles in the game. He earned an impressive 86.1 overall grade while also logging 88.5 and 78.4 pass-blocking and run-blocking grades, respectively, with the Rams in 2018. _
Whitworth has started each game of consequence since the Rams singed him prior to the 2017 season. He'll turn 38 in December during his 14th year in the league.
For the rest of the list of players who just missed the cut, click here.
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