The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have significantly upgraded their roster this offseason.
They filled their most pressing needs at pass rusher and inside linebacker, while upgrading depth across the entire roster.
But the tight end position leaves a lot to be desired. Behind starter Cade Otton, the depth chart is full of uncertainty with Ko Kieft, Payne Durham, Devin Culp, and rookie Bauer Sharp.
It’s not exactly an inspiring position group for Tampa Bay, and while many would consider TE2 a luxury position, the Bucs could really benefit from adding a proven viable receiving threat to complement Otton.
A golden opportunity to do just that could fall right into their laps.
Bucs should pounce if Rams cut Colby Parkinson
Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay put together a list of five cut candidates across the NFL that should be on every team’s radar.
One of the players he named was Rams tight end Colby Parkinson.
“Parkinson emerged as L.A.'s best receiving TE in 2025, putting up a career-best stat line of 43 catches, 408 receiving yards and eight receiving touchdowns,” wrote Kay.
“Despite this, Parkinson is going into the final year of his contract and has no guaranteed money left on the deal. Cutting him would save a cash-strapped Rams squad $7 million, dollars the club could use to bolster far weaker points of the roster.”
Parkinson’s eight touchdowns jump off the stat sheet, and he would give the Bucs’ offense a major boost in the red zone. Otton caught just one touchdown last season, and has recorded 11 touchdowns in his entire four-year career.
At 6-foot-7, 266 pounds, Parkinson would be the biggest tight end on the Bucs roster by a fairly wide margin, and would provide the big, reliable target for Baker Mayfield that the team currently lacks after losing Mike Evans in free agency.
Zac Robinson is taking over as Tampa Bay’s offensive coordinator this year, and he’s coming off a season in Atlanta in which he ran 12 personnel at the second-highest rate of any play caller. Trotting out Otton and Parkinson in two-tight end sets is a sight that no opposing defense wants to see.
It’s rare that such a layup presents itself for the front office to make a no-brainer roster upgrade. If the Rams really do go through with moving on from Parkinson, the Bucs should be the first team on the phone to get him on the first flight to Tampa Bay.
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