The Rams are getting rid of Tavon Austin. Not a surprise; he hasn’t done enough to merit the big contract he signed prior to the 2016 season – not even close. Doesn’t catch the ball well enough, and hasn’t made enough big plays.
For most of his time with the Rams, they tried to throw him short passes, hoping he could break loose for long gains. But that’s tough to do. He’s not a great route runner or catcher of the football (especially in traffic or in contested situations), and it’s not easy running away from NFL defensive backs.
The Rams pretty much gave up on him last three, making him their fourth (sometimes even fifth) receiver behind Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp and Sammy Watkins. He ended up playing more as a reserve running back rather than a wide receiver.
For most of his five years with the Rams, Austin caught short passes near the line of scrimmage, but rarely did he do much of anything with them, averaging only 8.7 yards per catch.
Over the last three years, the Rams threw 215 passes his way, but those generated just 123 catches and 1,029 yards – under 5 yards per pass play. That’s almost 2 yards (per play) behind all 62 of the other wide receivers around the league who’ve seen at least 200 passes. He’s been completely ineffective.
YARDS PER PASS ATTEMPT (last 3 years) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Tgt | Rec | Yards | Avg | TD |
Julio Jones, Atl. | 480 | 307 | 4,724 | 9.8 | 17 |
Sammy Watkins, tms | 218 | 127 | 2,070 | 9.5 | 19 |
Adam Thielen, Minn. | 252 | 172 | 2,387 | 9.5 | 9 |
Brandin Cooks, tms | 360 | 227 | 3,393 | 9.4 | 24 |
Rishard Matthews, tms | 256 | 161 | 2,402 | 9.4 | 17 |
Doug Baldwin, Sea. | 344 | 247 | 3,188 | 9.3 | 29 |
DeSean Jackson, tms | 239 | 136 | 2,201 | 9.2 | 11 |
Antonio Brown, Pitt. | 510 | 343 | 4,651 | 9.1 | 31 |
Marvin Jones, tms | 313 | 181 | 2,847 | 9.1 | 17 |
Willie Snead, N.O. | 221 | 149 | 1,971 | 8.9 | 7 |
A.J. Green, Cin. | 375 | 227 | 3,339 | 8.9 | 22 |
T.Y. Hilton, Ind. | 398 | 217 | 3,538 | 8.9 | 15 |
Michael Thomas, N.O. | 270 | 196 | 2,382 | 8.8 | 14 |
Tyler Lockett, Sea. | 206 | 137 | 1,816 | 8.8 | 9 |
Ted Ginn, tms | 262 | 151 | 2,278 | 8.7 | 18 |
Terrance Williams, Dall. | 232 | 149 | 2,002 | 8.6 | 7 |
Kenny Britt, tms | 226 | 124 | 1,939 | 8.6 | 10 |
Keenan Allen, LAC | 255 | 175 | 2,181 | 8.6 | 10 |
Stefon Diggs, Minn. | 291 | 200 | 2,472 | 8.5 | 15 |
Odell Beckham, NYG | 368 | 222 | 3,119 | 8.5 | 26 |
Travis Benjamin, tms | 262 | 149 | 2,210 | 8.4 | 13 |
Allen Hurns, Jac. | 237 | 138 | 1,992 | 8.4 | 15 |
DeVante Parker, Mia. | 233 | 139 | 1,908 | 8.2 | 8 |
Amari Cooper, Oak. | 358 | 203 | 2,903 | 8.1 | 18 |
Kenny Stills, Mia. | 249 | 127 | 2,013 | 8.1 | 18 |
Robert Woods, tms | 241 | 154 | 1,946 | 8.1 | 9 |
Dontrelle Inman, tms | 204 | 118 | 1,639 | 8.0 | 8 |
Jamison Crowder, Wash. | 280 | 192 | 2,240 | 8.0 | 12 |
Mike Wallace, tms | 280 | 163 | 2,238 | 8.0 | 10 |
John Brown, Ariz. | 229 | 125 | 1,819 | 7.9 | 12 |
Pierre Garcon, tms | 292 | 191 | 2,318 | 7.9 | 9 |
Alshon Jeffery, tms | 308 | 163 | 2,417 | 7.8 | 15 |
Mohamed Sanu, tms | 226 | 159 | 1,750 | 7.7 | 9 |
Jermaine Kearse, tms | 259 | 155 | 2,005 | 7.7 | 11 |
Mike Evans, T.B. | 457 | 241 | 3,528 | 7.7 | 20 |
Danny Amendola, N.E. | 202 | 149 | 1,550 | 7.7 | 9 |
Allen Robinson, Jac. | 303 | 154 | 2,300 | 7.6 | 20 |
Jeremy Maclin, tms | 272 | 171 | 2,064 | 7.6 | 13 |
Eric Decker, tms | 236 | 143 | 1,784 | 7.6 | 15 |
Golden Tate, Det. | 383 | 273 | 2,893 | 7.6 | 15 |
Marqise Lee, Jac. | 233 | 134 | 1,744 | 7.5 | 7 |
Jordan Matthews, tms | 279 | 183 | 2,083 | 7.5 | 12 |
Emmanuel Sanders, Den. | 365 | 202 | 2,722 | 7.5 | 13 |
DeAndre Hopkins, Hou. | 517 | 285 | 3,853 | 7.5 | 28 |
Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz. | 456 | 325 | 3,394 | 7.4 | 21 |
Adam Humphries, T.B. | 206 | 143 | 1,513 | 7.3 | 4 |
Brandon Marshall, tms | 334 | 186 | 2,444 | 7.3 | 17 |
Julian Edelman, N.E. | 247 | 159 | 1,798 | 7.3 | 10 |
Devin Funchess, Car. | 232 | 117 | 1,684 | 7.3 | 17 |
Jordy Nelson, G.B. | 240 | 150 | 1,739 | 7.2 | 20 |
Demaryius Thomas, Den. | 461 | 278 | 3,336 | 7.2 | 16 |
Jarvis Landry, Mia. | 458 | 316 | 3,280 | 7.2 | 17 |
Cole Beasley, Dall. | 236 | 163 | 1,683 | 7.1 | 14 |
Brandon LaFell, tms | 270 | 153 | 1,925 | 7.1 | 9 |
Davante Adams, G.B. | 332 | 199 | 2,365 | 7.1 | 23 |
Donte Moncrief, Ind. | 208 | 120 | 1,431 | 6.9 | 15 |
Randall Cobb, G.B. | 305 | 205 | 2,092 | 6.9 | 14 |
Nelson Agholor, Phil. | 208 | 121 | 1,416 | 6.8 | 11 |
Dez Bryant, Dall. | 300 | 150 | 2,035 | 6.8 | 17 |
Anquan Boldin, tms | 206 | 136 | 1,373 | 6.7 | 12 |
Michael Crabtree, Oak. | 392 | 232 | 2,543 | 6.5 | 25 |
Kamar Aiken, tms | 221 | 119 | 1,405 | 6.4 | 6 |
Tavon Austin, LAR | 215 | 123 | 1,029 | 4.8 | 8 |
Austin does have some value as a kick returner. He scored 3 TDs on punt returns with the Rams (although none in the last two years). He also scored 9 TDs on runs for them.
Austin has finished with over 150 rushing yards in each of his five seasons. Only two other active wide receivers have run for 150 yards in a season, and they’ve each done it just once.
WIDE RECEIVERS WHO RUN (last 10 years) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | Att | Yards | Avg | Long | TD |
2015 | Tavon Austin, St.L. | 52 | 434 | 8.4 | 60 | 4 |
2009 | Josh Cribbs, Clev. | 55 | 381 | 6.9 | 37 | 1 |
2012 | Percy Harvin, Minn. | 52 | 345 | 6.6 | 39 | 2 |
2010 | Brad Smith, NYJ | 38 | 299 | 7.9 | 53t | 1 |
2017 | Tavon Austin, LAR | 59 | 270 | 4.6 | 27t | 1 |
2016 | Tyreek Hill, K.C. | 24 | 267 | 11.1 | 70t | 3 |
2014 | Tavon Austin, St.L. | 36 | 224 | 6.2 | 19 | 2 |
2009 | Brad Smith, NYJ | 18 | 207 | 11.5 | 57 | 1 |
2014 | Percy Harvin, Sea.-NYJ | 33 | 202 | 6.1 | 51 | 1 |
2008 | Josh Cribbs, Clev. | 29 | 167 | 5.8 | 27 | 1 |
2016 | Tavon Austin, LAR | 28 | 159 | 5.7 | 30t | 1 |
2013 | Cordarrelle Patterson, Minn. | 12 | 158 | 13.2 | 50t | 3 |
2010 | Jacoby Ford, Oak. | 10 | 155 | 15.5 | 71t | 2 |
2013 | Tavon Austin, St.L. | 9 | 151 | 16.8 | 65t | 1 |
2009 | DeSean Jackson, Phil. | 11 | 137 | 12.5 | 67t | 1 |
2009 | Percy Harvin, Minn. | 15 | 135 | 9.0 | 35 | 0 |
2012 | Randall Cobb, G.B. | 10 | 132 | 13.2 | 28 | 0 |
2017 | Cordarrelle Patterson, Oak. | 13 | 121 | 9.3 | 47t | 2 |
2014 | Cordarrelle Patterson, Minn. | 10 | 117 | 11.7 | 67 | 1 |
2012 | Brad Smith, Buff. | 14 | 116 | 8.3 | 35 | 1 |
2010 | Mike Thomas, Jac. | 12 | 114 | 9.5 | 33 | 0 |
2016 | Tyler Lockett, Sea. | 6 | 114 | 19.0 | 75t | 1 |
2008 | Brad Smith, NYJ | 12 | 113 | 9.4 | 36 | 0 |
2015 | Jarvis Landry, Mia. | 18 | 113 | 6.3 | 22 | 1 |
2008 | Eddie Royal, Den. | 11 | 109 | 9.9 | 71 | 0 |
2015 | Lucky Whitehead, Dall. | 10 | 107 | 10.7 | 33 | 0 |
2010 | Percy Harvin, Minn. | 18 | 107 | 5.9 | 17t | 1 |
2013 | Alshon Jeffery, Chi. | 16 | 105 | 6.6 | 38 | 0 |
2010 | DeSean Jackson, Phil. | 16 | 104 | 6.5 | 31t | 1 |
Most likely Austin will have to settle for a lesser contract somewhere. I expect that he’ll be a third fourth wide receiver for some team while also returning punts.
—Ian Allan