The Los Angeles Rams head coach has seemingly taken a little heat the last few months regarding one of his smallest receivers. Tutu Atwell, the Rams’ speedy 2021 second-round pick, has not seen the field as much as some fans would like.
Sean McVay Knows He Needs to Utilize Tutu Atwell More
Talking to Stu Jackson of therams.com, “I think the fans are accurate in that I haven’t done a good enough job of utilizing him,” McVay said of Tutu Atwell.
From the day Atwell was drafted, there were concerns about his size. Many evaluators felt the 5’9″, 165-pound receiver could hold up under regular usage in the NFL. However, Atwell had a stretch through Weeks 3-7 in 2024, where he caught 20 passes for 284 yards. Thanks to this stretch, Atwell set new career highs in games played (17), receptions (42), receiving yards (562), and catch rate (67.7%) last season.
“I think when you look at his body of work, when he’s been able to play, especially in some of the times that he was playing when Cooper [Kupp] was on IR, there was a lot of production,” McVay said. “And if you project that over the course of 17 games, you just watch what he was able to do.”
Thanks to showings like that and McVay’s confidence in him, the Rams signed Atwell to a one-year contract worth $10 million, with five million dollars guaranteed.
“He’s matured as a young man. I love the person, getting to know him, and I think that he’s only getting better. He’s 24 years old. I thought he really improved his route detail for a smaller guy. He’s got a good catch radius; he catches the ball outside of his frame really well. He’s an explosive player that people know about. He creates separation.”
This makes Atwell a nice complement to Puka Nakua’s precise route running, excellent hands, and Davante Adams’s ability to create separation and win contested catches. With Atwell locked into the mix, Rams quarterback Matt Stafford has a diverse set of weapons to throw to, with each player bringing something different to the table.
“When you look at the times when (Atwell’s) been able to play, whether that be because some people were out or not, he has produced, and he’s delivered, and we’re looking forward to seeing more of that ascension,” McVay said.
“He’s going to be on the field a lot more, particularly in a lot of those three-receiver sets where, when he’s been on the field, he’s done a really good job. And like I said, if you project that over the course of 17 games, and hopefully you’re in the right to play afterward, I think that’s going to be something that’s well worth the investment we made in him.”
McVay’s stance is excellent news for Atwell, who just needed a chance to prove himself with heavier usage. Now, Atwell has the opportunity to take the next leap on what could be an even more potent Rams offense.