There isn’t much for the Los Angeles Rams to offload ahead of the NFL trade deadline. L.A. only needs to add key playmakers, yet if they plan to subtract anyone from the roster, let it be tight end Colby Parkinson.
It’s way past time to give up on the veteran TE. Although I’m sure many of you already admitted defeat on the Parkinson signing a long time ago.
ESPN’s Sarah Barshop recently said in a 2025 trade deadline article that Parkinson could be a player on the move:
“There aren’t many players to choose from on this team, as the Rams are more likely to be adding at the deadline. But if a tight end-needy team called, Los Angeles could part with one of the four they have on their roster. Parkinson probably would make the most sense, as he is in the second season of the three-year deal he signed in 2024. Parkinson has played 28.5% of offensive snaps for the Rams this season and has seven catches for 58 yards.”
Moving Parkinson would be the best-case scenario for all parties involved. Parkinson is only the latest in a string of free agency failures the Rams’ front office has had over the last few years. Los Angeles has gotten next to nothing out of its four rostered tight ends through seven games, with Parkinson easily being the least productive of the group, given his contract.
In 22 regular season games with the Rams, including 11 starts, Parkinson has just 37 receptions for 352 yards and 1 touchdown on 57 targets. His best game in L.A. came during a Week 5 loss to the Packers last season, where he had 7 catches for 52 yards on 13 targets, which is nearly as much as he’s contributed this year alone.
That was also his lone game to go over 50 receiving yards, with the 2024 season-opening loss to the Lions being his second-most productive game (47 yards).
Essentially, Parkinson has wasted a golden opportunity to stand out on the weakest part of the roster, and there’s no reason to keep a player like that. While he did have a decent enough game against the Jaguars before the bye, it’s doubtful he maintains that momentum with Puka Nacua returning this week.
A change of scenery would be mercy at this rate, and could do Parkinson a world of good. It’s a shame, considering there was some promise following his signing, though now we know how things panned out.
Les Snead must own up to his failure and cut ties with one of his most wasted signings of his tenure.
