As Rams rest in their BYE week, here are 3 free agents who haven't panned out

(2) - TE Colby Parkinson

While the Rams had plenty of time to strategize the optimal method of covering the absence of starting tight end Tyler Higbee, the signing of free agent tight end Colby Parkinson to a three-year contract worth up to $22.5 million felt very much like a knee-jerk reaction. Parkinson was testing his market value after a limited role with the Seattle Seahawks, a role that never rose higher than a rotational backup.

While Parkinson had been efficient in his Seahawks role, his efficiency has plummeted as the Rams have tried to integrate him into the offense. His current catch percentage (59.4 percent) is significantly lower than his career catch percentage of 69.1 percent. He has been targeted 32 times, nearly equal to his career season highs in both 2022 and 2023. But while he has caught 19 passes for just 165 yards, his previous two seasons showed 25 catches, two touchdowns, and at least 247 yards.

Better alternative:

Parkinson's teammate, TE Will Dissly, signed a three-year contract with the Los Angeles Chargers worth up to $14 million. So far in 2024, Dissly has caught nine of ten passes thrown his way for 85 yards. And Dissly is every bit the blocking tight end that Parkinson has proven to be.

The Rams seemed to skip past the part where they opened competition up to either veteran TE Hunter Long or second year TE Davis Allen. So far, Long has caught both passes thrown his way, while Allen has failed to catch either pass thrown to him. But their combined catch rate of 50 percent rivals that of Parkinson's 59.4 percent. And they were already on the roster.