LA Chargers: Why Donald Parham is more important than you think
By Jason Reed
1. Tight ends will be Tyrod Taylor’s best friend in 2020
We can say without a doubt that the total number of targets to share are going to go down in 2020. That is a natural effect of going from a gunslinging quarterback to a mobile quarterback and it is not a crazy prediction in the slightest to predict far fewer targets in 2020.
That means regression, at least in terms of overall numbers, for several of the Chargers’ players. Keenan Allen will probably still get a decent workload, just because he is always open, but it does mean less targets for guys like Mike Williams.
That might make Parham seem rather inconsequential for the 2020 season as there are already so many weapons on the offensive side of the football but that is not the case. Tyrod Taylor loves throwing to tight ends (his favorite target in Buffalo was Charles Clay) and that is what makes Parham important.
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The team is going to be lining up in plenty of two/three tight end sets this season in a more run-prominent offense and Parham is going to get plenty of chances in the passing game.
He is not going to be some premier tight end that picks up a lot of yards, but he is going to be someone who is important in short-yardage and red zone chances.
The Chargers do not really have a second pass-catching tight end, either. Virgil Green is a serviceable backup but he is a blocking specialist and is not much of a threat in the passing game.
Parham instantly becomes the second-best pass-catching tight end and while that might not seem like a big role with all of the other weapons, he will undoubtedly make a difference.