The Los Angeles Rams just wrapped up their 2024 minicamp. One of the biggest takeaways from the offseason team workouts is just how impressive Colby Parkinson looked at tight end. Parkinson will be an important contributor to the Rams this season, especially with Tyler Higbee still rehabbing the knee injury he suffered in the playoffs against the Detroit Lions.
While Parkinson was not the most productive player over his time with the Seattle Seahawks, him stealing the talk of minicamp got me thinking: how have tight ends historically fared catching passes from Matthew Stafford? I took a deep dive into Stafford’s decade and a half career to help establish realistic expectations for the Rams new tight end in 2024.
Stafford’s season stats with leading TE:
Below are Stafford’s passing stats in each season where he’s played more than 15 games followed by his leading tight end target’s statistical output for the year:
2009 - 10 starts (omitting)
2010 - 3 starts (omitting)
2011 - 16 starts
421 / 663 (63.5%) for 5,038 yards, 41 TD’s, 16 INT’s
Lead TE: Brandon Pettigrew - 126 targets, 83 catches for 777 yards, 5 TD’s
2012 - 16 starts
435 / 727 (59.8%) for 4,967 yards, 20 TD’s, 17 INT’s
Lead TE’s:
Brandon Pettigrew - 102 targets, 59 catches for 567 yards, 3 TD’s
Tony Scheffler - 85 targets, 42 catches for 504 yards, 1 TD
2013 - 16 starts
374 / 634 (58.5%) for 4,650 yards, 29 TD’s, 19 INT’s
Lead TE: Brandon Pettigrew - 63 targets, 41 catches for 416 yards, 2 TD’s
2014 - 16 starts
363 / 602 (60.3%) for 4,257 yards, 22 TD’s, 12 INT’s
Lead TE: Eric Ebron - 47 targets, 25 catches for 248 yards, 1 TD
2015 - 16 starts
398 / 592 (67.2%) for 4,262 yards, 32 TD’s, 13 INT’s
Lead TE: Eric Ebron - 70 targets, 47 catches for 537 yards, 5 TD’s
2016 - 16 starts
388 / 594 (65.3%) for 4,327 yards, 24 TD’s, 10 INT’s
Lead TE: Eric Ebron - 85 targets, 61 catches for 711 yards, 1 TD
2017 - 16 starts
371 / 565 (65.7%) for 4,446 yards, 29 TD’s, 11 INT’s
Lead TE: Eric Ebron - 86 targets, 53 catches for 574 yards, 4 TD’s
2018 - 16 starts
367 / 555 (66.1%) for 3,777 yards, 21 TD’s, 11 INT’s
Lead TE: Levine Toilolo - 24 targets, 21 catches for 263 yards, 1 TD
2019 - 8 starts (omitting)
2020 - 16 starts
339 / 528 (64.2%) for 4,084 yards, 26 TD’s, 10 INT’s
Lead TE: TJ Hockenson - 101 targets, 67 catches for 723 yards, 6 TD’s
2021 - 17 starts
404 / 601 (67.2%) for 4,886 yards, 41 TD’s, 17 INT’s
Lead TE: Tyler Higbee - 85 targets, 61 catches for 560 yards, 5 TD’s
2022 - 9 starts (omitting)
2023 - 15 starts
326 / 521 (62.6%) for 3,965 yards, 24 TD’s, 11 INT’s
Lead TE: Tyler Higbee - 70 targets, 47 catches for 495 yards, 2 TD’s
Who are the best TE’s to play with Stafford?
The collection of tight ends over Stafford’s career was a more impressive group than I was expecting initially. Three players were drafted in the first round: Brandon Pettigrew, Eric Ebron, and TJ Hockenson. Higbee is former third round pick and a long-term contributor for the Rams and can put up big statistical outings when the scheme puts a focus on him. Tony Scheffler, though he and Stafford played together late into his career, was selected in the second round.
The one player I had to lookup was Levine Toilolo, who played five seasons with the Atlanta Falcons before joining the Lions in 2018. He never totaled more than 264 receiving yards in a season.
What can we expect from Colby Parkinson?
Tight ends have a much more prolific history with Stafford than I would have expected entering this exercise. We know just how productive Calvin Johnson, Cooper Kupp, and Puka Nacua have been with Stafford in their respective record breaking seasons.
With the Seahawks Parkinson never crossed more than 325 yards in a single year, but he seems primed for a large role with the Rams in 2024. Could we see him amass 70-80 targets and accumulate 500-600 receiving yards? That seems reasonable given his historical production, his potential role this season, and LA’s current stable of pass catchers.
Do you expect more output from Parkinson this year? Is my estimate too optimistic? Let us know what you have in mind in the comments below.
