Veteran tight end Zach Miller hasn’t found a new home thus far in free agency, but he has now set up his first reported visit. Miller has scheduled a meeting with the Rams on Sunday, according to Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Miller, who spent the 2015 season with the Bears, could still return to Chicago, as reports indicated that the two sides had resumed negotiations on Tuesday night — the club is looking to trade Martellus Bennett, so Miller, if re-signed, could take over as the Bears’ No. 1 tight end.. But the Rams would make a lot of sense for Miller, especially after the club released fellow tight Jared Cook earlier this month. Los Angeles still has Lance Kendricks on the roster, but the team doesn’t have a lot of other reliable receiving options, so Miller could add another dynamic in the passing game.
Not to be confused for former Pro Bowler Zach Miller, who spent time with the Raiders and Seahawks, this Zach Miller had an improbable comeback to the NFL in 2015 after not having appeared in a game since the 2011 season due to various injuries. The former sixth-round pick, who came into the season having recorded 45 career receptions, set new career highs by grabbing 34 balls for 439 yards and five touchdowns in 2015.
The 31-year-old Miller isn’t a great run-blocker, though, and neither is Kendricks, and with the Rams set up to field a run-based offense led by Todd Gurley, Los Angeles might look to find a tight end who could be an asset in that part of the game, especially given that its offensive line ranked in the bottom-third of the league in adjusted line yards in 2015. Cook, for all his faults, was a top-15 run-blocking tight end last season, per Pro Football Focus.
Earlier this offseason, Miller was said to be seeking $5MM annually, and while that figure may seem high, it could be a bit more palatable now that Dwayne Allen, for example, was able to score $7MM per year. Miller is the best tight end remaining on the free agent market, as Antonio Gates, Coby Fleener, Allen, and Ladarius Green have all signed new contracts.
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