In the 2021 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Rams made a baffling (then, and even more so now) decision to draft wide receiver Tutu Atwell in the second round. Atwell, an undersized but speedy wide receiver, was envisioned as a Desean Jackson-like player who would add a different element to the Rams' offense. We're still waiting for that to happen.
Atwell missed the team's Super Bowl run battling injuries but has played in 2022 and 2023. He has yet to cross the thousand-yard mark in his career and has just five touchdowns. Now heading into the final year of his rookie contract, there's no player on the Rams facing a bigger make-or-break year. Pro Football Network's Lorenzo Reyna agrees:
"While the Rams feature an embarrassment of riches at WR, Atwell has yet to put up the production that made him the Rams’ first pick of 2021 before their Super Bowl run.
The former second-rounder did deliver his best production in Year 3, but he’s on the final year of his rookie deal and also has Demarcus Robinson vying for WR3 duties next to Nacua and Cooper Kupp."
Atwell has become one of the team's biggest draft misses (that is saying something, given their track record of results). He's become virtually phased out of the offense and special teams and was replaced by Demarcus Robinson as the WR3. His speed adds a different element compared to the rest of the Rams' wide receiver room, but it doesn't much matter if he doesn't stay on the field.
In an offense gearing up to run the ball early and often, Atwell's size is a liability on the field. Rookie wide receiver Jordan Whittington might overtake him in snaps at this rate, given his blocking and special teams ability. Sitting as the WR4 (and maybe WR5) without any special teams value is a tough spot to argue for his value, especially for a former second-round pick.
With Atwell approaching the final season of his rookie deal (and likely his last year in LA), it might be better off for both sides to find a fresh start. I would look to see if Atwell holds any trade value across the league, as it's doubtful he would fetch meaningful capital as a compensatory free agent.
