It's no secret that the Patriots have a few roster weaknesses that could become major problems during the 2026 season if not addressed soon, and one of the most obvious is their lack of depth at tight end.
It wouldn't have been an issue if Julian Hill, whom they signed in free agency, hadn't suffered a season-ending injury, but that leaves them with only Hunter Henry and rookie Eli Raridon as the presumed starters.
There is a list of others who could compete for the TE3 role during training camp, but it would be best for the Patriots to bring in another trusted veteran to ensure their offense is in the best possible position to succeed. Most of the desirable candidates would be acquired via trade.
Near the top of the list has been 27-year-old Colby Parkinson, who is set to play in the final year of his contract with the Rams this fall.
Fans have had him on the short list of potential trade candidates for much of the offseason, and based on the most recent prediction for Matthew Stafford's offense in 2026, they might be able to get Parkinson sooner rather than later, which might be key to their offense's ability to sustain success all season long.
Colby Parkinson might be the right one for the Patriots to take a chance on for 2026
At first glance, suggesting that Parkinson could be a good option for the Patriots to trade for, based on Bleacher Report's Moe Moton's most recent prediction that he will be a bust for the Rams, seems absolutely out of touch.
However, Moton believes he will earn that label only if Sean McVay and Co. use their younger tight ends more on game day instead. It has little to do with what Parkinson can accomplish when given the football, and that should put him on the Patriots' radar.
"Los Angeles selected tight end Max Klare in the second round of the 2026 draft. The Athletic's Nate Atkins believes the Rams want the 2025 second-rounder Terrance Ferguson to "take the lead" in the tight end room.
With two second-rounders behind Parkinson on the depth chart, he'll likely cede a significant number of snaps to both in a contract year."
If this prediction becomes reality, then Parkinson will be pushed down the depth chart for his younger teammates and presumably become available for a trade.
Although he's in the final year of his current contract, which isn't necessarily desirable, the Patriots could bring him in on a one-year rental to see if he could be the eventual replacement for Hunter Henry, who is also not signed for the 2027 season.
If it works out, they could extend Parkinson beyond the upcoming season. If not, they didn't have to trade much to get him, and he (hopefully) contributed enough to help the Patriots' offense while he was there.
It seems like a low-risk, high-reward situation that Eliot Wolf should consider when looking to add more to the tight end room. At the very least, Parkinson should be a player they inquire about before he might become available.
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