I’m not a big Gerald Everett fan. Not enough impact plays, and too many drops.
He’s short for a tight end (6-foot-3), making it harder for him to be anything special at coming down with passes in contested situations. He’s not one of those big bodies who tends to catch passes even when he’s covered.
There was the pivotal fourth-quarter play early last year at Arrowhead, where Everett and Justin Herbert read things differently the goal line, with the ensuing interception returned for a game-winning touchdown. Everett has never been a great scorer, with 16 touchdowns in 92 career games. (He’s never caught more than 4 TDs in a season.)
Everett’s best game last year came in the playoffs, with him catching 6 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown at Jacksonville. But I don’t think he’ll build on that. The Chargers are a lot better at wide receiver now, with both Keenan Allen and Mike Williams healthy, and better talent behind them (Josh Palmer is more experienced now, and they drafted a wide receiver in the first round).
The Rams drafted Everett in the second round in 2017. In six years, he’s never averaged better than top-15 numbers among tight ends. He averaged 3.6 catches for 35 yards in 16 games last year, with 4 TDs and a 2-point conversion. Everett the previous season averaged 3.2 catches for 32 yards in 15 games with the Seahawks, also with 4 TDs.
Everett has had issues with drops, including 9 last year. Over the last three years, 27 tight ends have had the opportunity to catch at least 100 passes. Of that group, Everett ranks last in drops (19 drops versus 147 receptions).
In my eyes, he grades out as a second tight end in a typical fantasy league, but not a guy I’m expecting to draft.
The rundown of those 27 tight ends appears below, with three of the seven best at avoiding drops over the last three years signing with new teams in the offseason. (Robert Tonyan signed with the Bears, while Hayden Hurst and Mike Gesicki signed with the Panthers and Patriots.)
| DROP RATES, TIGHT ENDS (last 3 years) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | No | Rec | Drop | Pct |
| Robert Tonyan, G.B. | 124 | 123 | 1 | 0.8% |
| Hunter Henry, LAC-N.E. | 156 | 151 | 5 | 3.2% |
| Noah Fant, Den.-Sea. | 188 | 180 | 8 | 4.3% |
| Dallas Goedert, Phil. | 164 | 157 | 7 | 4.3% |
| Hayden Hurst, Atl.-Cin. | 140 | 134 | 6 | 4.3% |
| Pat Freiermuth, Pitt. | 129 | 123 | 6 | 4.7% |
| Mike Gesicki, Mia. | 166 | 158 | 8 | 4.8% |
| David Njoku, Cle. | 119 | 113 | 6 | 5.0% |
| George Kittle, S.F. | 189 | 179 | 10 | 5.3% |
| Logan Thomas, Was. | 137 | 129 | 8 | 5.8% |
| Darren Waller, L.V. | 202 | 190 | 12 | 5.9% |
| Travis Kelce, K.C. | 327 | 307 | 20 | 6.1% |
| Cole Kmet, Chi. | 147 | 138 | 9 | 6.1% |
| Tyler Conklin, Min.-NYJ | 147 | 138 | 9 | 6.1% |
| Mark Andrews, Balt. | 254 | 238 | 16 | 6.3% |
| Rob Gronkowski, T.B. | 107 | 100 | 7 | 6.5% |
| T.J. Hockenson, Det.-Min. | 229 | 214 | 15 | 6.6% |
| Dalton Schultz, Dall. | 212 | 198 | 14 | 6.6% |
| Austin Hooper, Cle.-Ten. | 134 | 125 | 9 | 6.7% |
| Tyler Higbee, LAR | 190 | 177 | 13 | 6.8% |
| Zach Ertz, Phi.-Ari. | 171 | 157 | 14 | 8.2% |
| Jordan Akins, Hou. | 107 | 98 | 9 | 8.4% |
| Jonnu Smith, Ten.-N.E. | 105 | 96 | 9 | 8.6% |
| Kyle Pitts, Atl. | 105 | 96 | 9 | 8.6% |
| Dawson Knox, Buff. | 133 | 121 | 12 | 9.0% |
| Evan Engram, NYG-Jac. | 204 | 182 | 22 | 10.8% |
| Gerald Everett, LAR-Sea.-LAC | 166 | 147 | 19 | 11.4% |
—Ian Allan