Rams rookie pass catchers have major preseason opportunity

If you’ve been waiting to see Max Klare and C.J. Daniels take the field for the Los Angeles Rams, your wait is finally almost over.

With a slew of Rams expected to sit out the preseason opener against the Kansas City Chiefs Saturday, younger potential contributors will get a chance to shine. Klare and Daniels, two draft picks who have generated plenty of intrigue this offseason, will be at the top of the list of the most interesting players actually taking the field.

Klare may need the reps as much as any Rams skill-position player, if for no other reason than the fact his position room is arguably the deepest on the whole roster. Los Angeles will use plenty of tight ends this season, but with the likes of Colby Parkinson, Tyler Higbee, Terrance Ferguson and Davis Allen already ahead of him on the depth chart, playing time will likely be scarce this year barring injury or an extreme showing in the lead-up to Week 1.

Still, there’s a reason the Rams spent a Day 2 pick on Klare this year. He was a productive player at both Ohio State and Purdue, and he’s got obvious receiving upside, even if he’s not your prototypical in-line, blocking “Y” tight end. It can’t possibly hurt his quest for playing time if he shows out against the Chiefs (or New Orleans Saints or Los Angeles Chargers after that).

Daniels is currently listed as a third-stringer on the Rams’ depth chart, unsurprisingly so, but the rookie from Miami has been turning heads since he first got to the team facility. He’s an older rookie at 24 years old, but he brings decent size to the field at 6-foot-2 and 197 pounds (one inch taller and seven pounds lighter than Davante Adams, for comparison) and has a well-rounded skill set that complements the star receivers, Adams and Puka Nacua, well.

One of the biggest talking points of the offseason regarding the Rams’ roster and depth has been the third receiver spot. While Jordan Whittington is a fine option for the role and Konata Mumpfield is also ahead on the depth chart for now, Daniels’s upside offers a tantalizing prospect for an L.A. offense that’s always looking for more firepower. He might not leap into a true backup role just on the back of his preseason performances, but this is a chance for him to show why a player with his ceiling deserves more opportunities when the games really matter.

Of course, this won’t be an exact replica of what we could see from Klare and Daniels if the offense was at full strength. Matthew Stafford and the other main offensive weapons almost certainly won’t see any action Saturday or throughout the preseason. Even Sean McVay is taking a backseat.

That actually offers an interesting dynamic for the passing game, since these two pass catchers will try to shine and break through the heavy traffic in front of them on the depth chart while getting targeted by Stetson Bennett and Ty Simpson, two guys currently in the heat of the backup quarterback battle. It goes without saying that there’s a lot riding on the passing attack over the next few weeks.

But this is why these games do matter. These are valuable snaps and moments for guys who may not be on the roster bubble but who will have limited chances to earn regular-season playing time. Pay close attention to Nos. 86 and 6 when the Rams face the Chiefs.