The Seahawks used their first pick of Day 3 of the 2020 NFL Draft to add more depth at tight end, selecting Colby Parkinson out of Stanford.
Parkinson, who is 6-foot-7, 251 pounds, was a second-team All-Pac-12 selection and a semifinalist for the John Mackey Award in 2019 after catching 48 passes for 589 yards. And according to Pro Football Focus, Parkinson didn't drop a pass last season. Parkinson was also an All-Pac-12 honorable mention selection as a sophomore in 2018 when he had 29 catches for 485 yards and seven touchdowns.
"It's something I have prided myself on over my career, being a very good pass catcher, someone that's going to go up and make every catch," he said. "I didn't have a drop last year on catchable balls. Something that I take very seriously; I make sure I'm always working on it. To be that consistent presence, especially at that tight end position, that the quarterback can depend on. He can throw the ball anywhere, and I can go up and get it."
And not long after being selected, Parkinson was already in touch with Russell Wilson, the quarterback who will now be depending on him to make plays for Seattle's offense.
"He actually Facetimed me a couple of minutes ago," Parkinson said. He was just saying that he's fired up and obviously I am, too. We're going to get right into it, we're going to start getting the playbook install coming here pretty soon. I can't wait to play with a quarterback like that; someone who has been just an amazing player for the past, what, 5-6 years now since he came out of college. I'm excited to play with him and this great organization."
Parkinson joins a deep and talented tight end group that includes returning players Will Dissly, Luke Willson and Jacob Hollister, as well as free-agent addition Greg Olsen, a three-time Pro-Bowler.
Parkinson will become just one of many Stanford tight ends in the NFL, a legacy he's proud to be a part of.
"It was a huge deal, especially during the recruiting process," he said of Stanford's success of putting tight ends in the NFL. "Obviously, Stanford sets itself apart with the academic side of things, but the tight end tradition was a huge deal for me as well. Going to a program that knows how to use the tight end and has had so much success. Because of that, I've actually been able to talk to a lot of the guys that have gone before me. During this process, I've talked to [Zach] Ertz, [Austin] Hooper, (Dalton Shultz) and (Kaden Smith), guys that all have gone through it, and they've been pouring into my life, and giving me advice, which has been awesome. I am very thankful for that."
Here is the Seahawks' eight-player 2020 draft class:
- Round 1, No. 27 overall: LB Jordyn Brooks, Texas Tech
- Round 2, No. 48 overall: DE Darrell Taylor, Tennessee
- Round 3, No. 69 overall: G Damien Lewis, LSU
- Round 4, No. 133 overall: TE Colby Parkinson, Stanford
- Round 4, No. 144 overall: RB DeeJay Dallas, Miami
- Round 5, No. 148 overall: DE Alton Robinson, Syracuse
- Round 6, No. 214 overall: WR Freddie Swain, Florida
- Round 7, No. 251 overall: WR Stephen Sullivan, LSU
