LA Rams tight ends hold key to 2024 success

Will Hunter Long be a factor in 2024?

Veteran tight end Hunter Long is the third tight end on the Rams' depth chart. Long was acquired in the trade via the Miami Dolphins, a trade that also sent defensive back Jalen Ramsey to play for the Dolphins. In mid-December, Rams Coach McVay announced that Long suffered a season-ending MCL injury. A large unknown surrounds Long, largely due to his inexperience and his lack of durability.

Long was drafted by the Dolphins in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Since then, he's seen minimal time on the field due to injuries. Long has just one career reception for eight yards two seasons ago in 2021. The 25-year-old tight-end seems penciled in as the third tight-end but has the most to prove.

No, I didn't forget about starting TETyler Higbee. The longtime Ram suffered a torn ACL in last season's playoff game against the Lions. The injury places Higbee in a difficult situation. At 31 years old, Tyler's best years are likely behind him, add on the strain of an ACL recovery, and he could drastically decline. Higbee carries a $12 Million cap hit in 2024 and $9 Million in 2025. It wouldn't be how Higbee or the Rams' front office wants his tenure as a Ram to end, but the possibility of Higbee's contract being moved or cut completely is in the realm of possibilities.

The tight ends for the Rams in the 2024 season will be Colby Parkinson, Davis Allen, and Hunter Long. Averaging 6-foot-6, the group is filled with bruisers. Although the three are not exactly bursting with NFL experience, the Rams have a trend of solid player development. Rams fans should be excited to watch their tight ends develop across the 2024 season.