As they did in 2024, the Los Angeles Rams look to be turning things around after a win over the Las Vegas Raiders. The schedule eases up for them moving forward, with the winless Los Angeles Chargers awaiting them this week.
Despite Davante Adams' absence due to injury, the offense was at its best Sunday, using a balanced approach that incorporated a heavy use of multiple tight-end packages, which allowed Kyren Williams and Blake Corum to pick up massive yards on the ground. Matthew Stafford then used that to pick apart a defense that kept committing resources to stopping the run.
The tight end trio of Colby Parkinson, Tyler Higbee, and Davis Allen paved the way; plus, with Max Klare being inactive and Terrance Ferguson still on injured reserve, they would have to do the hard work all day long without much of a break. They all played between 50 and 53 snaps, and the Rams ran just 72 offensive plays.
After this season, Higbee, Ferguson, and Klare will be under contract, while Parkinson and Allen are set to be free agents. It's becoming clear that the Rams can ill-afford to break up this room if they don't have to.
Higbee is clearly the glue guy to the offense. The team has said it before, and when he's on the field, Stafford looks comfortable working through his progressions. He helps everything flow.
Parkinson is the most reliable playmaker. He has his drops here and there, but that doesn't negate the fact that following his breakout 2025 campaign, he has refused to make a business decision in a contract year, battling through injuries to an extent that the team is cautious to even allude to. That's championship quality. Championship teams need tight ends ready to put their body on the line, and the Rams have a stable of them. Despite his pain, he's still producing.
Allen had himself a day. Two touchdowns, and his blocking skills are a critical factor in what the Rams want to do. I will make the argument that if Allen stays on the team and is healthy, he will be to the Rams what Kyle Juszczyk is to the San Francisco 49ers.
Klare's inactive status, even with the plan of using their tight ends heavily, proves a rookie cannot come into the system and immediately contribute at that position. So if the Rams have to add free agents anyway, why not keep the players who know the intricacies of the offense? Unless there are health concerns.
The team cannot win without their 12 and 13 personnel offense. That's why keeping the talent where they are will be crucial for the franchise moving forward.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams must prioritize keeping dynamic TE room together beyond 2026