The Los Angeles Rams are set to begin free agency this week with major questions surrounding the roster. Cooper Kupp is almost certainly gone, though this team is still built to win the NFC West and compete for a deep playoff run.
That said, some obvious improvements are needed if the Rams want to contend for a potential Super Bowl appearance. Matthew Stafford is back, but especially with Kupp's impending departure, he needs more weapons to work with.
Tight end Colby Parkinson, who carries a cap hit just shy of $10 million in 2025 despite never being much of a pass-catching option, is someone the front office needs to seek to replace this offseason. With a strong draft class, Los Angeles will certainly have options.
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
Rams TE Colby Parkinson on Hot Seat Entering 2025 Free Agency
Parkinson is one of the best run-blocking tight ends in the league, so he carries plenty of value. That said, $10 million is a lot to pay for someone who you don't expect to catch many passes, creating an interesting decision for the Rams moving forward.
Tyler Higbee is the presumed starter with Parkinson serving as his blocking counterpart, yet a team with as many holes as Los Angeles should look to spend its money more wisely. Parkinson caught only 30 passes for 294 yards and one TD in 2024, having never eclipsed 330 receiving yards in his five-year career.
If the Rams had an overabundance of resources, keeping Parkinson would make a lot of sense. He carries a dead cap hit of around $6 million if Los Angeles released him, meaning they're incentivized to at least keep him around through training camp and the preseason.
However, the nature of the situation indicates the front office should aggressively pursue his replacement, ideally finding someone who can catch passes in the same way the 32-year-old Higbee can.
We'll see what happens in the draft and opening days of free agency. No matter what, Parkinson is firmly on the hot seat and has to prove that he deserves to remain on the roster.