​The tight end position has long been an unusual one for the Los Angeles Rams under Sean McVay. Despite McVay being a former tight ends coach, he didn’t lean into the role as heavily as some anticipated. That shifted in 2025, however, when the Rams leaned into 13-personnel packages and deployed three tight ends more than any other team—and saw results as a consequence of it. Colby Parkinson emerged as a focal point in those packages, serving as the Rams’ primary inline tight end for nearly the entire season. He delivered a career-best performance across several categories, finishing with 43 receptions for 408 yards and eight touchdowns. By comparison, in his previous five seasons combined, he had only five touchdowns.
Entering the final year of his $22.5 million contract, Parkinson remains a vital piece for Los Angeles, ranking No. 18 on our list. The Rams signed Parkinson to a three-year deal in 2023 after he spent his first four NFL seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. He appeared in all 17 games in his first year with the Rams, but his production was modest: 30 receptions for 294 yards and one touchdown as the team’s leading tight end. In 15 games (with 10 starts) last season, Parkinson logged 56 targets, 43 receptions, 408 yards, and eight touchdowns, signaling a breakout in a crowded tight end room that also includes Tyler Higbee, who was re-signed, and Terrance Ferguson, who is emerging as a contributor.
Parkinson is expected to be one of five tight ends who make the Rams’ 53-man roster, underscoring the depth at the position. Even with Higbee’s return and Ferguson’s ascension, Parkinson is anticipated to remain the team’s No. 1 tight end, though that doesn’t guarantee he’ll play 95 percent of the snaps. He’s likely to be the primary inline tight end and to see almost always time on the field in 13-personnel formations. In obvious passing situations when the Rams deploy 11 personnel, however, Parkinson could cede some reps to Ferguson, whose receiving skills and catch radius suggest he could operate like a de facto slot receiver. In that scenario, Parkinson might take on more blocking duties.
Yet Parkinson’s impact and rapport with quarterback Matthew Stafford should keep him a popular target in the red zone and a reliable option on short-yardage plays. Including the playoffs, Parkinson totaled nine touchdowns last season, ranking him third among all tight ends in that metric. On the downside, he also tied for the most dropped passes among tight ends, with seven. He made challenging catches look routine, but he sometimes let easier opportunities slip away.
No matter the personnel group, the Rams routinely have a tight end on the field, underscoring how essential the position is to their offense. Tight ends contribute to the run game by blocking linebackers, edge rushers, and safeties, and by occasionally working to corral interior defenders as well. Parkinson is a well-rounded blocker, route-runner, and receiver, bringing value in all phases. Higbee may have declined athletically as a pass catcher, Ferguson still needs seasoning as a blocker, and Davis Allen appears to have hit a plateau. In that context, Parkinson’s versatility and chemistry with Stafford position him as a critical asset for Los Angeles going forward.