Rams McVay says TE Davis Allen 'took a tremendous step in the right direction'

When the LA Rams starting tight end Tyler Higbee suffered a devastating ACL injury in the Wild Card Round of the 2024 NFL Playoffs, the team did not hesitate to send rookie TE Davis Allen onto the football field. He caught both passes thrown his way in that game, gaining 28 yards and moving the chains once for a first down. Not bad for a player chosen with the 175th overall pick in Round 5 of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Curiously, his teammate WR Puka Nacua was chosen in the same round of the 2023 NFL Draft with the 177th overall pick. Nacua caught nine of 10 passes in the game for 181 yards, six first downs, and one touchdown. Rams rookies combined to haul in 11 of 12 passes for 209 yards, seven first downs, and one touchdown in the 2024 NFL Playoffs.

Who would have guessed that incredible level of production at this point in time one year ago?

While the LA Rams have had a lot of activity over the tight end position this offseason, many fans have wondered why the team has not been content to look inward at second-year tight end Davis Allen. After all, he delivered as well as the team could have hoped for with limited opportunities. And in his final two games in 2023, he caught six of six passes for 53 yards.

With the injury to Higbee and the belief that this team would face opening the 2024 NFL season with Higbee on the IR roster this season, the team had to address tight end depth. The front office did so by investing a rather substantial contract to sign former Seattle Seahawks tight end Colby Parkinson to a three-year deal. The compensation involved in that contract is substantial, on par with a starting tight end on this roster.