Rams (#61) 2nd Round TE Max Klare
- Thread starter Memphis Ram
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I'll put it this way......IF Dan Villari makes Tyler Higbee expendable going into the 2026 season, GREAT!!! That means the Rams have at least 1 young, talented TE. Perhaps 2, if Ferguson is what's he expected to be. 3 if Klare is too. I'm about the team. If Villari doesn't displace Higbee, GREAT!!! That means we still have a solid, talented vet TE. 2 if Parkinson keeps up his performance. 3 if Allen does. Plus a couple of young TEs who could end up being a stud (Ferguson, Klare or Villari). It's a win-win for Ram fans. Am I laying down money on draft kings the former will happen? Absolutely no way.
I don't understand this. Is this a thing? If he can't make the roster because of the numbers at TE, he doesn't deserve to make the roster. He needs to clearly beat out those who are ahead of him.
I think it would be more about the combination of Ferguson, Parkinson, Allen, and Klare making him expendable with Villari or Jones then given an opportunity to learn behind them and be ready to contribute in 27'. At that time Villari or Jones maybe makes Allen or Parkinson expendable, allowing them to leave in FA, and saving the Rams cap apace that can be spent elsewhere.
I'm with you on this.
But note the nature of Higs contract this time around. His average has dropped from that $7-8M range that his previous two contracts were roughly at. His average salary is now $3M range.
What this means is he's on the bubble. The Rams love him and appreciate what he's done, but he's going to need to win a job in camp just like the others. And that room is charged with young talent, so Higs is not the only one who will be battling for his job.
As to some of the others... Parkinson comes in now at Higs previous average in that $7-8M range so he's probably mostly safe. Meaning he'll need to show well of course but he checks that vet TE1 block. Ferguson is safe due to his draft value, as is Klare. So the players who are most on the bubble this year in camp, just from a rough starting point, are Higs and Allen. Allen is around $1M range.
So the way I see it is the TE2/3 battle is the battle of training camp:
TE1 Parkinson (he's our base inline TE who is guaranteed snaps)
TE2 Ferguson (he starts out camp in a pitched battle with Klare for the move role)
TE3 Klare (I know some think Allen is above him, but I don't see it that way)
Then you have your depth battle, which is significant:
- Allen (I give him the nod over Higs because he's younger)
- Higs (knocking him off the roster will not be easy for the guys below him)
- Redman (on the bubble big time with those UDFAs behind him)
- Villari (UDFA and I give him the nod due to his ability to throw the ball added to the ST punt unit)
- Jones (UDFA who should give the guys above him all they can handle in camp)
Will they consider keeping 6 for that room? Maybe, if those guys on the bottom are teams assets. But either way the camp battle for this position group is unbelievable, top to bottom. And it should result in a very strong depth chart.
Unlimited scenarios. Unlimited subjects. Unlimited results. Eventually, we'll know. 102 days and counting.
Fan rationale is wild. It was towards the end of last year when fans, on this site, finally conceded that Parkinson had surpassed Higs as TE1.
Your numbers above confirm Higbee is still very relevant. He may be TE2 this year.
Now people are talking about cutting him? Make it make sense.
It's clear he's nearing the end. Is that this year? Next? If you know, eliminate any angst.....let me know how Ty Simpson is going to do in 2 or 3 years.
Four: Harrison Mevis. The Thiccer Kicker. That's not even mentioning Jaylen McCollough and Josh Wallace as UDFA safeties who got occasional starts as second-year players.
Yes, he's nearing the end, just like Stafford is. In the meantime, he's still very productive and may have #9's trust more than any other TE.It's clear he's nearing the end. Is that this year? Next? If you know, eliminate any angst.....let me know how Ty Simpson is going to do in 2 or 3 years.
Higbee was the most productive Rams TE in the playoffs.
How fans guess he'll go from TE1 in Nov 2025 to off the roster in Aug 2026 is baffling. It's even more puzzling once factoring in that he just signed a 2 year extension. The Rams extensions for vets are always telling of their mindset. When was the last time in the McSnead era when they signed a vet to an extension and then cut him in that year's training camp? Off the top of my head, I'm thinking never!
What I find puzzling is your reaction that Higs is surely safe.
If you look at the overall roster quality, and the Rams investments into that position of late, Higs looks to be in a position where he's going to be fighting for his roster spot. From there, who knows what will happen.
I don't know that Higs will be cut. But I also would not say he's safe. What I will say is he'll be hard to knock off the roster. But that's a far cry from indignance that someone thinks he might not make the cut.
Nothing would surprise me with this TE group. And that means the competition will be fierce.
How many years after Warner was signed by the Packers did it take for Warner to start in the NFL? He had to go play in 2 different leagues before he was ready. He doesn't fit the argument to replace Higs with a raw UDFA. I don't know the story on fletcher.
I do think that if Valari or Jones really show out, they would protect them. They would really have to show out though. Otherwise, PS.
I do think that if Valari or Jones really show out, they would protect them. They would really have to show out though. Otherwise, PS.
I believe patterns are most predictive of the future. The Rams, in the McSnead era, don't extend vets and then cut them. This is just one man's opinion, but anyone who thinks that Higs won't make the cut is faaaaaaaar off base and not paying attention to the Rams' pattern.
Started the year as TE1
Ended the year as TE2
Was the 2nd most productive TE in the playoffs (I previously said 1st but AI failed me. Parkinson was 1st.)
Extended 2 years
Lauded by the team as a vital leader and locker room presence upon resigning
One of 2 established TEs on the roster that plays the Y position (he and Parkinson)
Nah...I don't see much evidence that he's going anywhere.
It's my firm belief that neither Higbee, nor any of the other top 4 TEs, will be fighting for a roster spot.
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I'd be extremely disappointed if Ferguson hasn't elevated himself into the TE 1 or 2 discussion this year.
Valid.
He has the potential, but will need to take a sizeable leap in improvement.
I don't know, though, if stacking them in a linear way like TE1 or TE2 works. What I can see happening is Parkinson continuing to be the primary in-line TE and Ferg ascending to the primary H-back TE.
Agreed the reason the Rams did not draft a WR at 13 was because of Terrance Ferguson, he will be the third option behind Nacua & Adams.