Gerald Everett is a potential cap casualty the Detroit Lions should watch

As other teams consider their options to trim cap money, tight end Gerald Everett stands out a a potential cap casualty who makes a lot of sense for the Detroit Lions.

The Detroit Lions are in good shape in terms of the salary cap, in the top half of the league in cap space right now and with moves out there to add more space. But there is, as always, a chunk of teams who aren’t in as good a shape.

The Los Angeles Chargers are currently almost $20.3 million over the salary cap (according to Over The Cap). Daniel Popper of The Athletic (subscription required) has outlined some potential cap casualties for the Chargers, including tight end Gerald Everett.

Everett set career-highs in receptions (58), targets (87) and yards (555), while tying his career-high for touchdowns (four), this season with the Chargers over 16 games. His production is on an upward trend, from 41 catches with the Los Angeles Rams in 2020 to 48 catches for the Seattle Seahawks in 2021 to the 58 catches this season.

Gerald Everett is a potential cap casualty for the Detroit Lions to watch

The Chargers can clear $4.25 million in cap space by cutting Everett before or after June 1. He shouldn’t have much trouble finding a new team if he’s cut, but the Lions are certainly one who should be keeping an eye on his status with the Chargers.

Lions’ tight ends set the single-season franchise record for touchdowns from the position this season (12). But that was driven somewhat by spike weeks (three touchdowns by Shane Zylstra in Week 16), and the Lions should be eyeing potential options for a talent upgrade this offseason.

Everett was a second-round pick (No. 44 overall) by the Rams in 2017 out of South Alabama. Lions general manager Brad Holmes was the Rams director of college scouting then, so there’s inherent past familiarity there–for better, or perhaps worse.

Everett has never put it all together through six NFL seasons. But he has also been a better than 60 percent snap rate player just once in his career, so there would seem to still be some untapped potential there.

It would not be expensive to sign Everett if he becomes available, and it probably won’t have to be more than a one-year deal. That would be ideal for the Lions, and he’d be a needed talent upgrade to the tight end depth chart.