When rookie tight end Gerald Everett showed up for his first day of training camp, he did so with a bang. Not because he made spectacular catches in practice, or because he pulled up in a Lamborghini. He simply made a strong statement that will be difficult to back up.

“I think that we complement each other very well,” Everett said last month. “Tyler is more of a big-body tight end, so I feel like we could be better than the Redskins tight ends, if I can say that.”

That brief quote caught the attention of fans, and more importantly, his head coach. Sean McVay, who obviously coached the Redskins’ tight ends, shrugged off the bold statement, and has used it as motivation.

However, Everett is standing by his claim that he and Tyler Higbee can be better than Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis.

“I definitely do, seven days out of the week,” Everett said, according to Alden Gonzalez of ESPN. “I don’t have any regret. Jordan and Vernon are great tight ends, both Pro Bowlers, but I feel like our group is just as good. If not, we can be better.”

Everett has had a strong camp, making some really nice catches on a regular basis. He also showed off his athleticism against the Cowboys, making defenders miss in the open field – a trait that’s synonymous with Reed in Washington.

Despite the fact that he’s impressed coaches thus far, he’s still not a polished product. Tight end is one of the toughest positions to make the jump from college to the NFL, so the learning curve will be steep.

McVay is excited about the group’s potential, though, given the progress his tight ends have made this offseason.

“I think when you look at the growth that you’ve seen from Gerald Everett since he got here, the way Tyler Higbee and Temarrick Hemingway have played,” McVay said. Obviously a consistent, productive player in Cory Harkey. I think it’s a credit to (tight ends coach) Shane (Waldron) and he’s done a great job with those guys.”

Surpassing Reed and Davis will be near-impossible in Year 1, but Everett and Higbee have a great deal of potential.