Les Snead continues steady stream of shrewd extensions with latest vet

Some thought that the Los Angeles Rams may be due to hit the pause button after negotiating a blockbuster trade to acquire All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie from the Kansas City Chiefs; others did not. But general manager Les Snead is just starting to cook, and the aroma is making fans salivate.

This could be one of the finest rosters Snead has ever prepared.

To that end, veteran tight end Tyler Higbee was in free agency limbo. A seasoned veteran whose career began in Los Angeles, the 33-year-old tight end has witnessed his role diminishing as his teammates stepped up magnificently last year. But the team is not ready to part ways with the ever-dependable veteran.

Tyler Higbee has struggled with injuries over the past two seasons, ever since the low tackle against the Detroit Lions mangled his ACL after the 2023 NFL season. He has only suited up for 13 games and played 11. But he remains a steady-Freddie when it comes to catching the football, hauling in nearly 69 percent of his targets for 347 yards and five touchdowns.

Tyler Higbee's return embarks on a new role for the Rams veteran

Even as Tyler Higbee's workload diminished in 2025, that was not the case for the tight end position. As a group, Higbee, Colby Parkinson, Terrance Ferguson, and Davis Allen combined for 103 receptions, 1,128 yards, and a mind-blowing 17 touchdowns.

That's an astonishing upgrade from 2024, in which the position generated just 459 yards and three touchdowns.

Had Higbee been patient, he may have persuaded former offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur to add him to the Arizona Cardinals roster. LeFleur is their head coach, and NFL rumors already assert that he will be in hot pursuit of veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in free agency.

Higbee would have made sense to join the Cardinals in that scenario.

Well, that won't happen now. In fact, Los Angeles appears to be focused on retaining multiple veterans from last season. So far, Snead has managed to ink the following players for a return in 2026:

• Running back Kyren Williams
• Inside linebacker Nate Landman
• Offensive tackle David Quessenberry
• Defensive back Quentin Lake
• Kicker Harrison Mevis
• Return specialist/wide receiver Xavier Smith
• Interior offensive linebak Justin Dedich
• Tight end Tyler Higbee
• Defensive back Kam Curl (more on that today)

With the retirement of right tackle Rob Havenstein, LA has whittled the number of outbound free agents from 20 to a very manageable 13. That's a Herculean effort with days remaining before the 2026 NFL free agency market opens.

Are more extensions just around the corner? Cobie Durant is among the pending free agents who make a great deal of sense to return. But with the team pivoting to shop wisely in free agency and add rookie talent in the 2026 NFL draft, the money will quickly be spent.

Perhaps it already has been.

Still, with a new offensive coordinator on board, the versatility of veteran Tyler Higbee will be incredibly valuable. He can catch passes, block like an offensive tackle, or simply run routes with crisp preceision as a decoy

LA Rams Les Snead made another wise personnel move. But he is still working, as you will soon discover.

As always, thanks for reading.