https://theathletic.com/3198849/2022/03/20/chargers-agree-to-terms-with-te-gerald-everett-to-serve-as-jared-cooks-replacement/

Chargers agree to terms with TE Gerald Everett to serve as Jared Cook’s
replacement

By Daniel Popper

The Chargers agreed to terms with tight end Gerald Everett on Sunday,
his agency confirmed on Twitter. The deal is for two years and $12
million with $8 million guaranteed, according to NFL Network, and the
contract can be worth up to $13.5 million with incentives.

How he fits

Jared Cook was the Chargers’ top tight end in 2021, but with the
34-year-old hitting free agency, Chargers general manager Tom Telesco
said at the combine that he would “have to add to” the tight end room at
some point. Everett is that addition, and he’ll slide in immediately
atop the tight end depth chart. Cook, who turns 35 in April, filled a
hole last season and helped bring along a young tight end group that
included Donald Parham, Stephen Anderson and Tre’ McKitty.

The Everett signing allows the Chargers to get younger at the position.
Everett is slightly smaller than Cook — 6-foot-3 versus 6-foot-5 — but
he is a weapon in the passing game. That will be his primary role in the
offense. Everett is not a particularly strong run blocker, but neither
was Cook.

2022 impact

Parham had an encouraging 2021 season, catching 20 passes on 27 targets
for 190 yards and three touchdowns. He also showed significant strides
as a blocker, both in the run and pass games. But the Chargers still
feel like he has some developing to do, particularly as a blocker,
before he’s ready to be relied on as the top tight end on the roster.
Meanwhile, in his rookie season, McKitty showed the physicality and
desire to be a tight end blocking specialist in offensive coordinator
Joe Lombardi’s offense.

Adding Everett gives the Chargers needed depth and youth at tight end.
This group has a lot of potential. The last remaining question at this
position: Do the Chargers bring back Stephen Anderson? They have the
salary cap space to do it, and Anderson was an important
jack-of-all-trades last season, lining up as a fullback, in line and
detached.

History

Everett was drafted by the Rams in the second round in 2017 and spent
the first four seasons of his career in Los Angeles, so this is a
homecoming of sorts. He signed with the Seahawks in free agency last
year and set career highs in targets (63), receptions (48), receiving
yards (478) and touchdowns (four). Staley was the defensive coordinator
for the Rams in 2020, which was Everett’s final season with the team

Cap update

Everett’s 2022 cap hit should end up somewhere between $5 million and
$6.5 million depending on how much of the guaranteed money is signing
bonus versus base salary. If we project the cap hit at $5.5 million, I
have the Chargers at $11.058 million in spending space and $18.058
million in effective space, using figures from OverTheCap. The spending
space factors in the money needed to pay draft picks as well as a $7
million budget for in-season moves and carryover. The effective space
factors in only the money needed to pay draft picks. I am currently
projecting three 2022 cap hits — for DL Austin Johnson, DL Christian
Covington and Everett — as the full contract details are not yet
available. The Chargers still have space to use, so keep an eye out for
an Oday Aboushi re-signing.

Outlook

Telesco telegraphed this move, so I expected the Chargers to be active
in the tight end market. The Chargers signed Cook to a very reasonable
deal last offseason, and he was productive. He had experience in
Lombardi’s Saints-inspired scheme and helped with the offensive
transition, too. But I think it’s smart to get younger. The Everett
contract is not necessarily outstanding value, but it is in line with
some of the other tight end deals signed this offseason. C.J. Uzomah
signed with the Jets for $8 million in average annual value. Tyler
Conklin also signed with the Jets for $7 million in average annual
value. Mo Alie-Cox’s extension with the Colts came in at $5.85 million
in average annual value. Everett is coming off his best season as a pro.
With Justin Herbert throwing him the ball, and with the weapons the
Chargers have elsewhere on offense, Everett is in a good position to
continue to ascend as a player.

On Sunday, March 20, 2022 at 6:59:09 PM UTC-7, Robin Miller wrote:
> https://theathletic.com/3198849/2022/03/20/chargers-agree-to-terms-with-te-gerald-everett-to-serve-as-jared-cooks-replacement/
>
>
> Chargers agree to terms with TE Gerald Everett to serve as Jared Cook’s
> replacement
>
> By Daniel Popper
>
>
> The Chargers agreed to terms with tight end Gerald Everett on Sunday,
> his agency confirmed on Twitter. The deal is for two years and $12
> million with $8 million guaranteed, according to NFL Network, and the
> contract can be worth up to $13.5 million with incentives.
>
>
> How he fits
>
> Jared Cook was the Chargers’ top tight end in 2021, but with the
> 34-year-old hitting free agency, Chargers general manager Tom Telesco
> said at the combine that he would “have to add to” the tight end room at
> some point. Everett is that addition, and he’ll slide in immediately
> atop the tight end depth chart. Cook, who turns 35 in April, filled a
> hole last season and helped bring along a young tight end group that
> included Donald Parham, Stephen Anderson and Tre’ McKitty.
>
> The Everett signing allows the Chargers to get younger at the position.
> Everett is slightly smaller than Cook — 6-foot-3 versus 6-foot-5 — but
> he is a weapon in the passing game. That will be his primary role in the
> offense. Everett is not a particularly strong run blocker, but neither
> was Cook.
>
> 2022 impact
>
> Parham had an encouraging 2021 season, catching 20 passes on 27 targets
> for 190 yards and three touchdowns. He also showed significant strides
> as a blocker, both in the run and pass games. But the Chargers still
> feel like he has some developing to do, particularly as a blocker,
> before he’s ready to be relied on as the top tight end on the roster.
> Meanwhile, in his rookie season, McKitty showed the physicality and
> desire to be a tight end blocking specialist in offensive coordinator
> Joe Lombardi’s offense.
>
> Adding Everett gives the Chargers needed depth and youth at tight end.
> This group has a lot of potential. The last remaining question at this
> position: Do the Chargers bring back Stephen Anderson? They have the
> salary cap space to do it, and Anderson was an important
> jack-of-all-trades last season, lining up as a fullback, in line and
> detached.
>
> History
>
> Everett was drafted by the Rams in the second round in 2017 and spent
> the first four seasons of his career in Los Angeles, so this is a
> homecoming of sorts. He signed with the Seahawks in free agency last
> year and set career highs in targets (63), receptions (48), receiving
> yards (478) and touchdowns (four). Staley was the defensive coordinator
> for the Rams in 2020, which was Everett’s final season with the team
>
> Cap update
>
> Everett’s 2022 cap hit should end up somewhere between $5 million and
> $6.5 million depending on how much of the guaranteed money is signing
> bonus versus base salary. If we project the cap hit at $5.5 million, I
> have the Chargers at $11.058 million in spending space and $18.058
> million in effective space, using figures from OverTheCap. The spending
> space factors in the money needed to pay draft picks as well as a $7
> million budget for in-season moves and carryover. The effective space
> factors in only the money needed to pay draft picks. I am currently
> projecting three 2022 cap hits — for DL Austin Johnson, DL Christian
> Covington and Everett — as the full contract details are not yet
> available. The Chargers still have space to use, so keep an eye out for
> an Oday Aboushi re-signing.
>
> Outlook
>
> Telesco telegraphed this move, so I expected the Chargers to be active
> in the tight end market. The Chargers signed Cook to a very reasonable
> deal last offseason, and he was productive. He had experience in
> Lombardi’s Saints-inspired scheme and helped with the offensive
> transition, too. But I think it’s smart to get younger. The Everett
> contract is not necessarily outstanding value, but it is in line with
> some of the other tight end deals signed this offseason. C.J. Uzomah
> signed with the Jets for $8 million in average annual value. Tyler
> Conklin also signed with the Jets for $7 million in average annual
> value. Mo Alie-Cox’s extension with the Colts came in at $5.85 million
> in average annual value. Everett is coming off his best season as a pro.
> With Justin Herbert throwing him the ball, and with the weapons the
> Chargers have elsewhere on offense, Everett is in a good position to
> continue to ascend as a player.

Seems like a good signing. Here's the ESPN.com (brief) story on it...
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/33558916/los-angeles-chargers-reach-deal-free-agent-te-gerald-everett-agency-says

Los Angeles Chargers reach deal with free-agent TE Gerald Everett, agency says
play
3:36 PM PT
ESPN

Free-agent tight end Gerald Everett has agreed to a contract with the Los Angeles Chargers, his agency announced Sunday.

SportsTrust Advisors made the announcement on Instagram but did not disclose terms.

Chargers tight end Jared Cook, 34, is a free agent, and the 27-year-old Everett gives the team a chance to get younger at the position and maintain the same level of production.

In his first season as a No. 1 tight end, Everett caught 48 passes for 478 yards and four touchdowns with the Seattle Seahawks -- all career highs -- in 2021.

Cook had 48 receptions for 564 yards and four touchdowns last season.

But there were some forgettable moments for Everett, including a disastrous game in which he lost two fumbles and bobbled a would-be touchdown that resulted in an interception in a December win over the San Francisco 49ers. He also missed two games while on the COVID-19 list.

After playing behind Tyler Higbee with the Los Angeles Rams, Everett signed a one-year, $6 million deal with the Seahawks last March, reuniting with new Seattle coordinator Shane Waldron, a former Rams assistant.

Over five NFL seasons, Everett, a 2017 second-round draft pick, has caught 175 passes for 1,867 yards and 12 touchdowns in 76 regular-season games.

ESPN's Brady Henderson contributed to this report.