The tight end position was an area of the roster that the Los Angeles Rams were expected to address during the 2023 NFL draft. With the 175th overall pick in the fifth round of this year’s draft, the Rams took Clemson tight end Davis Allen.
Allen wasn’t the most athletic tight end in this year’s draft class, but he does bring a positive skill set to the Rams. So what are the Rams getting in Allen upon taking him in the 2023 NFL draft?
The incoming rookie tight end spent four seasons at Clemson, combining for 88 receptions, 951 yards, and 12 touchdowns in the process. As a nearly 6-foot-6 tight end, Allen excelled at making contested catches and he has strong hands, evidenced by his minuscule 3.3% drop rate in college.
Davis Allen got up for the TD 😤@ClemsonFB pic.twitter.com/W4PpA7mMJw
— ACC Network (@accnetwork) October 30, 2021
During his collegiate career, Allen also displayed good awareness by finding holes in different coverages. On top of that, Allen is a fantastic run blocker, which is likely one of the main reasons why Sean McVay was interested in adding him during the draft.
Tight ends typically take a few years in the NFL to develop before they are prepared to handle an expanded role. In today’s league, teams are asking tight ends to do more in both facets of the offense, likely leading to a longer developmental process.
That being said, Allen is a well-rounded tight end that has plenty of experience on special teams if he’s not prepared to immediately contribute on offense. At Clemson, Allen was on the field for 501 special teams snaps and contributed seven tackles.
Another vital attribute that Allen possesses is his availability. Despite dealing with multiple injuries, Allen was active in all 54 games at Clemson and made 24 starts in his final two years for the Tigers.
At the very least, the Rams are getting a big-framed tight end that can contribute in the run game and be a reliable red-zone option. And with time, Allen could develop into a potential long-term replacement for Tyler Higbee, who is entering the final year of his current contract.
