In breaking Rams free agency news, L.A. has signed TE Colby Parkinson. As reported by Adam Schefter, the tight end will be returning to his hometown:
Seahawks free-agent TE Colby Parkinson intends to sign a three-year, $22.5 million deal including $15.5 million guaranteed with the Los Angeles Rams, per sources. Before playing at Stanford, Parkinson attended Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village, California, which is right… pic.twitter.com/Z7h0Hbw0CC
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 11, 2024
Background Information Concerning Rams Free Agency Acquisition Colby Parkinson
Parkinson was born in San Ramon, CA in 1999. He attended Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village, where he played varsity football and basketball. During his senior high school year, he played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. He was a five-star recruit.
Parkinson, who is 6’7″ and 251 lbs., played three seasons of college ball at Stanford, from 2017 through 2019. In his junior year at Stanford, he was second-team All-Pac-12 and a semi-finalist for the John Mackey award, which is awarded to the nation’s most outstanding tight end.
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The Seattle Seahawks drafted him in the 4th round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Parkinson spent four years with the Seahawks. In his last two seasons, he had 50 receptions for 569 yards and four touchdowns. In 2023, 11 of Parkinson’s catches were first-down grabs.
Parkinson’s Deal With the Rams
The deal Parkinson signed with the Los Angeles Rams is reported to be a three-year, $22.5 million deal, with $15.5 million in guaranteed money. According to Yardbarker, Parkinson’s deal “will likely be a 2024 cap hit of around $4-5 million.”
What Does The Acquisition of Colby Parkinson Mean for the Rams?
According to SB Nation’s Field Gulls, Parkinson is “a competent blocker with the speed and athleticism to make things happen once he has the ball in his hand[s]….” He is only 25 years old and could blossom in the offense of wunderkind Sean McVay.
Echoing this characterization, Sports Illustrated repots:
“After primarily being a glorified receiver at the tight end position in college, Parkinson made his greatest growth as a run blocker, finishing 10th out of 91 qualified tight ends in run blocking grade (64.1). He also did a fine job in limited pass blocking reps, yielding three pressures, no quarterback hits, and no sacks on 41 pass protection snaps.
With an eye to the future, Turf Show Times notes:
“The move gives the Rams a third tight end option next to Tyler Higbee and Davis Allen, assuming that Higbee remains with the team and this is not including Hunter Long. Sean McVay, a former tight ends coach, now has a full room at his disposal.”
This move seems to make clear that the Los Angeles Rams intend “to use more multiple tight end sets in his offense in 2024.”
Additionally, in light of Higbee’s injury status, the addition of Parkinson makes a great deal of sense.
Adverting to Higbee’s injury CBS Sports reports:
Parkinson … will get a chance to serve as L.A.’s top tight end in 2024 until Tyler Higbee completes his recovery from ACL and MCL tears that he sustained in the team’s wild-card loss to the [Lions] in January. Considering … Higbee’s [injury status] right now, … Parkinson [may well be] handling TE duties for a good portion of the upcoming campaign….
The Rams Have Been Aggressive in Free Agency Right Out of the Gate
The Rams free agency signing of Parkinson comes on the same day — March 11, 2024 — that the Rams signed OL Jonah Jackson. Thus, the Rams are one of the NFL’s biggest players in the 2024 free agent market.
This represents a marked change from 2023, during which the Rams were “relatively quiet” in free agency.
“The Los Angeles Rams have made one thing clear in the first hours of the legal tampering period: They’re going to be aggressive in pursuit of another ring this year.”
Twitter is abuzz:
The Rams are gonna roll out Jonah Jackson-Avila-Dotson next year on their interior OL. WHEW BOY 🔥🔥
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) March 11, 2024
These three are nasty together. Rams’ interior offensive line just got a lot meaner. Love seeing them address the trenches off the bat. pic.twitter.com/QFz5LY2mQF
— Rams Brothers (@RamsBrothers) March 11, 2024
Colby Parkinson with the salad flow. Great blocker. Great special teams. Underrated hands and athleticism pic.twitter.com/WkBDNzzLJy
— RAMZILLA (@elitster) March 11, 2024
Ok I get it now, watch #84 Colby Parkinson. Was graded as a top 5 run blocking TE pic.twitter.com/51Swp3bYgj
— HoldenCantor (@HoldenCantor) March 11, 2024
It looks like the Rams mean business in 2024!
