The Los Angeles Rams surprised many around the league during the 2023 season as they took a mix of young and inexperienced players and seamlessly integrated them with their veteran pillars to make a playoff run.
Although Los Angeles lost in the Wild Card round, it was a reminder to the organization that they can still compete with the best teams in the NFL when fully healthy. Head coach Sean McVay proved he’s still one of the elite coaches in the league as he showed a willingness and ability to adapt on the fly, notably with his offense that went from pass-happy to more physical with the run game.
McVay and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur doubled down on their new offensive identity this offseason when they re-signed Kevin Dotson and brought in Jonah Jackson to shore up the interior of their offensive line. However, one of the team’s more underrated free agent signings was former Seattle Seahawks tight end Colby Parkinson, who agreed to a three-year deal.
Parkinson is a Southern California native and acknowledged how good it’s felt to be back home, via Stu Jackson of TheRams.com:
“It’s been amazing, it’s been such a blessing,” Parkinson told theRams.com. “We stayed with my parents for awhile, so I was able to see my parents be grandparents to my son, which is a huge blessing. It’s crazy, you know, driving around. I have so many memories of all these places and it’s really cool to be able to come back.”
As far as his experience working with the team so far, Parkinson had nothing but good things to say about his new group:
“It’s been awesome,” Parkinson said. “The team is a lot of fun. A lot of hard working men. The offense is stellar, as you guys know, but I’m getting to see from the inside out now, which is really cool. So, excited to be a part of it and contribute the best way I can.”
Known as a great blocker, Parkinson will add to the run game though he showcased the ability to run routes and be a reliable target. With Tyler Higbee still recovering from his devastating injury, Parkinson is in line for a large role immediately.
Rams’ Jordan Whittington believes experience at Texas is helping his transition to NFL
Jordan Whittington was an under-the-radar pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, though he impressed in OTAs. Whittington believes his experience at Texas has helped him with the transition to the pros so far.
