One of the first moves the Los Angeles Rams made this offseason was the signing of tight end Colby Parkinson. It came as a surprise to many because the Rams already had Tyler Higbee, Davis Allen and Hunter Long, but with Higbee’s knee injury and the lack of experience from Allen and Long, the Rams saw an opportunity to add an experienced tight end to the mix.
Parkinson is entering his first season with the Rams but he should already be viewed as one of their more important players on offense. He’s a good blocker and was an underutilized receiver in Seattle, but he’ll get an opportunity to catch passes in the Rams offense this season.
Here’s why he ranks 20th on our list of the Rams’ 24 most important players for 2024.
How he got here
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Parkinson was one of the Rams’ first free-agent signings this offseason, inking him to a three-year deal worth $22.5 million. He joins Los Angeles after spending four years with the Seahawks. Originally, Parkinson was drafted by Seattle in the fourth round in 2020, going 133rd overall out of Stanford.
2023 stats
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17 games (1 start) with Seahawks: 34 targets, 25 catches, 247 yards, 2 TDs
Projected role
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The Rams didn’t give Parkinson $22.5 million to sit on the bench and be a reserve tight end. He’s going to get opportunities to contribute right away as either the starter or No. 2 option, depending on Tyler Higbee’s health. Given the timeline of HIgbee’s injury, it’s reasonable to think Parkinson will be the top tight end on the depth chart in Week 1.
Sean McVay said this offseason that Parkinson will “add real value” to the Rams offense, seeing him as a good blocker and a receiver with a wide catch radius. Whether it’s as the primary tight end or backup when Higbee returns, Parkinson is going to contribute this season.
Why he's important
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Had Higbee not gotten hurt, the Rams probably wouldn’t have signed Parkinson to a three-year deal. They just gave Higbee a two-year extension last September, signing him through 2026, so they were in good shape at tight end before his ACL/MCL injury.
Knowing how long that injury can take to recover from, Parkinson is likely to be a key piece on offense. He’ll make it so that the Rams don’t have to rely on Davis Allen or Hunter Long as their top tight end, giving them a veteran who has played meaningful snaps in the NFL before.
Higbee can now take it slow with his rehab and not rush back out of necessity because the tight end position should be just fine in the meantime thanks to Parkinson.
Rams' 24 most important players for 2024
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