Rams fans shouldn't expect to see clear-cut TE1 if Nate Scheelhaase is right

It's no secret that the Los Angeles Rams have one of the NFL's deepest tight-end rooms, spearheaded by veterans Colby Parkinson and Tyler Higbee, with Terrance Ferguson ready to make a sophomore leap. Although Parkinson led last year's group with only 408 receiving yards, as a whole Rams tight ends accounted for over 1,100 yards and 17 TDs. 

This season, in fact, it might be even more difficult to distinguish a true TE1. Even with Parkinson coming off a career year, even with Ferguson primed for a breakout and Higbee hopefully healthy for all 17 games, offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase doesn't anticipate anyone rising head and shoulders above the rest.

"No, I don't expect anybody in particular to come out on top," Scheelhaase responded to a question during Wednesday's media session, calling the group "so versatile, that you're just excited to see who ends up coming to life based on what the defense wants to do. We can move those guys all around the field. They can all do so much in the run game and the pass game. … I just appreciate how those guys work and how they've pushed each other to get where they're at right now."

Rams tight-end room remains by-committee-centric

Scheelhaase isn't wrong. Depth, not elite top-end talent, is the strength of the Rams' tight-end room. While it's fair to argue that Parkinson, the clear top option after Higbee went out injured a year ago, should repeat as de facto TE1, the gap should narrow considerably if Ferguson makes his hoped-for strides. 

Even at age 33, Higbee could be right there with them; his per-game averages still led the group in 2025. Don't forget about rookie Max Klare, who has impressed in training camp as both a blocker and receiver. 

Of course, each member of the room has his own strengths and weaknesses. Ferguson is more pass-catching threat than blocking bulwark. Davis Allen is hardly an explosive receiver, but he is one of the team's more dependable blockers. Parkinson and Higbee can do a bit of everything. 

They are especially valuable as red-zone security blankets for quarterback Matthew Stafford, who has the most experience throwing to Higbee - the only current Rams tight end on the roster when Stafford arrived in 2021.

That said … even as TE1 remains at best loosely defined, it would be somewhat surprising if a top two or three does not emerge between Parkinson, Ferguson, and Higbee, which might really be more of a top two depending on how conservative the Rams are with Higbee's reps to keep him healthy for the playoffs. 

As a rookie, Klare is still something of an unknown. To Scheelhaase's point, the biggest question is more who might miss out as roles crystallize during the year. If there is an odd man out, it still feels like Allen or Klare will be the guy who gets squeezed.

We'll see. Having 'too many' tight ends is a good problem to have, and as Scheelhaase says - and as head coach Sean McVay has proven in his penchant for heavy personnel - the Rams may just find a way to put all that depth and versatility to use.

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