I don’t know if you’ve been watching, but we have entertaining professional football during the NFL’s offseason.
The XFL 2.0 is three weeks in, and each week has better than the last. Electric stars like PJ Walker are carrying the league from the sport’s most important positions, but the Cowboys could have their eyes set on some other spots. Namely tight end, as they look to replace the future Hall of Famer Jason Witten after his twilight years with the franchise.
They may not have to look far to do this, either. As their next tight end could be playing right in their back yard in the XFL.
Dallas Renegades tight end Donald Parham is just 22 years old, making him one of the youngest players in the newly formed league. Whereas most of the league is filled with players who flamed out in the NFL after a couple of chances, Parham only spent one season (2019) in the big leagues.
And really, he didn’t even make it that far.
The 6’8″ 237 pound tight end played his college ball at Stetson, earning a bit of a cult draft Twitter following due to his explosive senior season. Still, Parham went undrafted in 2019, signing with the Detroit Lions as a UDFA. He was waived just two days later, though, before being picked up by the Washington Redskins for a minicamp try-out.
Washington waived him before September came as well, making Parham a free agent able to join the XFL. While this would usually be the end of a player’s professional football story, Parham is having quite the second act this Winter.
During Saturday’s victory over the Seattle Dragons, Parham caught five balls for 101 yards and two touchdowns. He is a big, athletic receiving target who’s frame and wingspan make him an immediate red zone target for any team. Through three games the 22 year old has 14 catches for 217 yards and three touchdowns, looking like he should be getting a chance in the NFL.
So why not with the Cowboys during training camp?
I’m not looking to get rid of Blake Jarwin by any means, but we also can’t act like we know that Jarwin is the full time answer. The Cowboys have had some serious struggles in the red zone lately, and someone with Parham’s size and catch radius could quickly aid them in that area.
Parham is certainly worth a look, and I’d bet the Cowboys are doing their due diligence on the XFL.
