Davis Allen, the 6-foot-6, 245-pound tight end from Clemson, put together a quietly consistent year with the Rams in 2023. Playing backup to incumbent starter Tyler Higbee and continually being sidelined because of the Rams’ continued philosophy of having three wide receivers on the field, Allen didn’t have many opportunities.
Where opportunities are scarce, so are positive performances. Yet, with only 11 targets, Allen hauled in 10 catches. Effortless efficiency is what I call it but for Allen, it’s all about the work.
Allen had several strong performances to finish off the 2023 season, including a four-catch, 50-yard game in a start against Baltimore; he also scored his first career touchdown in that game. With Higbee out due to injury, Allen wasted no time going to work against one of the best defenses in the NFL.
In the Rams’ playoff loss the Lions, Allen ended his season with two catches for 28 yards against Detroit. In said loss, Higbee tore his ACL and MCL and will likely start the 2024 season on the physically unable to perform list.
Higbee is 31, attempting to return from a devastating injury and is currently not on the practice field. The competition for the starting job is between Allen and newly signed Colby Parkinson.
Parkinson is decent and his production was stunted in Seattle’s offense, but with an increased effort to improve the run game, there’s a likelihood that the Rams will run more two-tight end sets than they’ve done in previous years.
Year 1 was all about Allen’s introduction to the NFL process. Year 2 should be about growth and Year 3 could see Allen take the full-time job.
With the potential to be the best tight end duo since Higbee and Gerald Everett, Allen should see more balls thrown his way and if he displays remotely the same abilities he did last year, expect a sizable boost in production.
Allen has the frame, footwork and film to be special. Only time will tell how special he’ll actually be. If I had to put money on it, the Rams have a future Pro Bowler on their hands.