Colby Parkinson's Rams future is even clearer in light of recent trend

Let's be clear. The Los Angeles Rams were already going to have a hard time retaining tight end Colby Parkinson beyond this season. Entering the final season of a three-year, $22.5 million contract, he is coming off a career campaign and is a candidate to lead the Rams' tight-end room again in 2026. He should draw plenty of interest on the open market. Unfortunately, L.A. has too many pending free agents and extensions to get done to keep everyone.

Be that as it may, the Rams would love to hold onto him. Tight ends are, after all, a central element of Sean McVay's offense.

Only now, it will be harder than ever. Not only has Parkinson boosted his value on the field, tight-end contracts continue spiking through the roof. Most recently, the Falcons signed Kyle Pitts for three years and $54 million, while the Jaguars gave Brenton Strange $48 million over the same length of time. 

No, Parkinson is not at the level of those two, but he is a dang good tight end. The increasing salaries of his peers will have a trickle-down effect across the league, whether or not any given individual is a top-tier earner. In that environment, any hope of holding onto Parkinson likely just flew out the window. 

Parkinson's return next season is less likely than ever

It's not just the recent extensions for Pitts and Strange. By annual value, four of the highest-paid tight ends in the league signed contracts that took effect in 2025 or later. San Francisco's George Kittle leads the pack at $19.1 million per year, with Arizona's Trey McBride a close second at $19 million annually. That trend does not favor the Rams.

Those deals are obviously above Parkinson's pay grade, but he and every other tight end in the league will benefit from the lucrative contracts coming down the pipe. Another thing to consider is his age. Parkinson will conclude the 2026 season at 28 years old, a bit grayer than either Pitts or Strange, who are both 25.

Still, producing at a clip similar to last season, when Parkinson led Rams TEs across the board and tied for third at the position with eight receiving scores, will get him paid handsomely. His 74.9 Pro Football Focus grade, 10th at the position, put him right in the mix with both Strange (seventh) and Pitts (12th).

L.A.'s tight-end room includes sophomore Terrance Ferguson, rookie Max Klare, Tyler Higbee on a two-year deal, and Davis Allen, a pending agent who, in theory, should be considerably cheaper than Parkinson. They don't have a pressing need to bring him back, and with so many players to pay, that was unlikely in the first place. 

Tack on a few more millions per year and acting on any temptation, even an inkling of one, to hand Parkinson a new contract could prove altogether untenable. The Rams' salary cap situation is just that crammed, and Parkinson's price tag just went up. 

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