LOS ANGELES — Tight end Tyler Higbee has agreed to a two-year contract extension to begin his second decade with the Los Angeles Rams, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday night. That’s because the Rams have not announced a contract to retain Higbee, the most productive tight end in franchise history and the longest-tenured player on the roster. His new deal could be worth $8 million with incentives.
Higbee was a fourth-round pick in the Rams’ first draft in 2016 after moving from St. Louis to Los Angeles. He has been a key piece of the offense whenever healthy over the past decade, leading every major franchise tight end to 386 catches for 3,949 yards and 27 touchdowns.
Higbee, now 33, had 25 catches for 281 yards and three touchdowns last season despite starting only eight games due to injury. He missed six games during the regular season before returning in January to help L.A. make the playoffs and advance to the NFC Championship.
Higbee also suffered a knee injury in the January 2024 playoffs and missed the first 14 games of the following season before returning with a memorable TD reception in December 2024.
Higbee has never been selected to a Pro Bowl or All-Pro team, but coach Sean McVay has relied on him extensively over the past nine seasons as a physical blocker and primary pass catcher.
The Rams have lost several key veteran players in recent years, and their ties to their Super Bowl championship team are wearing thin heading into the 2021 season. Higbee became the longest-tenured player on the Rams’ roster when right tackle Rob Havenstein announced his retirement last month.
Higbee appeared in the Rams’ loss to New England in the Super Bowl in February 2019 but did not make a catch. He then won a ring three years later, although a knee injury kept him out of the big game in the Rams’ victory over San Francisco in the NFC Championship Game.
Colby Parkinson was the Rams’ top pass-catching tight end last season, catching 43 passes for 408 yards and eight touchdowns while playing extensively in Higbee’s absence. Tight ends Davis Allen and rookie Terrance Ferguson also played heavily in McVay’s latest offensive scheme, which evolved mid-season to use three tight end sets to a degree rarely seen in modern pro football.
The unorthodox approach has paid off, with Los Angeles leading the NFL in offense and scoring. All four tight ends are now under contract for the 2026 season.
