​Colby Parkinson remains a member of a deep group of tight ends for the Los Angeles Rams, a unit that has grown richer in recent seasons and now fuels plenty of speculation about the future lineup. Former Seahawks tight end Colby Parkinson delivered a game-winner for the Rams with a standout catch on Saturday, underscoring his value in a crowded TE room. The Rams have built a robust core at the position, a strategy that has pushed Parkinson into a position where his role could be reassessed as the team plans for the coming years.
Parkinson closed the 2025 season as the Rams’ starting tight end, a testament to his development and reliability. Yet, the 2025 draft brought in two more players who figure to challenge that status. In the 2025 draft, the Rams added Terrance Ferguson in Round 2, and in 2026 they drafted Max Klare in the same round. Those acquisitions have contributed to an ongoing sense that Parkinson’s hold on his role might be precarious, at least in the eyes of some analysts.
Heading into his third season with Los Angeles, Parkinson posted a career year in 2025 with 43 receptions for 408 yards and eight touchdowns. Despite those numbers, Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton labeled him as the Rams’ “biggest bust” candidate for the upcoming season, suggesting his production might not come close to what he achieved in 2025 and predicting that he won’t lead the tight end room in the near term. Moton pointed out that with two second-round teammates behind him on the depth chart, Parkinson could see a meaningful portion of his snaps go to Ferguson or Klare as the Rams evaluate the contract-year implications.
The Rams’ tight end room also features Super Bowl champion Tyler Higbee and several reserves, indicating that Detroit’s potential depth isn’t just for depth’s sake but part of a deliberate strategy. However, the Rams’ overall volume at the position might obscure how head coach Sean McVay intends to deploy these options. Some observers, including The Athletic’s Nate Atkins, believe Ferguson could emerge as a significant contributor this season, while noting Parkinson is likely to remain among Matthew Stafford’s preferred targets, particularly in pivotal moments.
Parkinson’s strengths—his ability to convert contested catches and his resilience after drops—continue to attract attention. Atkins highlighted Parkinson’s eight-touchdown season and suggested he will remain a focal point in third-down scenarios and red-zone opportunities within what could be a three-tight end offense. If Ferguson and Klare develop as anticipated, the 2026 offense could feature a more diversified approach, though Parkinson’s role is expected to endure as a central element of the passing game.
Ultimately, the Rams have drawn praise for reimagining their offense around a more versatile use of tight ends. Their success last season came in part from leaning on Parkinson and the rest of the tight end group within 13-personnel looks, and that approach seems likely to continue into 2026. Parkinson’s consistency and the team’s willingness to deploy multiple tight ends in various alignments have been key elements of their offense, and that trend may expand rather than contract as the Rams refine their personnel and strategic goals for the coming seasons.