3 ideal 'fits' for LA Rams worth trading up for in the 2025 NFL Draft

(2) - Bowling Green TE Harold Fannin Jr.

There is so much buzz about the tight ends in the 2025 NFL Draft that its nearly impossible to decipher which one is the ideal fit for the Rams offense. So before I dive into why I am a huge proponent of TE Harold Fannin Jr., let's set the stage for the upcoming draft class.

The pre-draft consensus for the tight end position is a neck-and-neck battle between two front runners. I am speaking about Penn State tight end Tyler Warren and Michigan tight end Colston Loveland. While you may have a distinct preference for one or the other, the herd mentality of NFL GMs will never let one or the other to fall to the Rams at the 26th overall pick. Since the two players are viewed so close together in terms of general NFL talent, as soon as one is chosen, the other will hear his name called within the next two or three picks.

While I cannot rule out the Rams targeting one of the other, I suspect that GM Les Snead will approach this draft a bit more pragmatically.

I cannot see the Rams willingly paying the toll to move up in this draft for one of the top two tight ends, when a perfect fit tight end could drop to them at the 26th overall pick. Some draft analysts believe that Harold Fannin Jr. could fall to the middle of Round 2. I cannot see the Rams rolling the dice on that chance if he is there when they step up to the podium.

So, what might the Rams detect in Fannin that other teams cannot?

Let's start with some basic track and field stats. Harold Fannin Jr. posted a 40-time of 4.71 seconds. That is only slightly slower that former WR Cooper Kupp's 4.62-second 40-time. Fannin stands 6-foot-3 and tips the scales at 241 pounds. That gives him a much stronger base and power set to block at the line of scrimmage, which is a huge advantage over wide receivers who are expected to block like tight ends.

But the magic of Fannin is his ability to track a football in the air, haul it into his body, and chew up magnificent meters of real estate after the catch. In 2024, he caught 117 passes for 1,555 yards and 10 touchdowns. Is he just a small school one-hit wonder? That is what many NFL draft analysts suspect, and why there is simply not as much buzz surrounding him.

But he excelled in big games, averaging 141 receiving yards against Top 25 opponents. He is explosive, averaging 13.3 yards per catch and putting up 26 plays that gained over 20+ yards. He scored 17 touchdowns in 180 catches, which averages out to just under one touchdown per 10 catches.

Fannin is more that a big-play tight end from a small football program. He has all the basic fundamentals that thrill Rams coaches. He fights passionately for the football. He runs wide-receiver-quality routes. He loves to tack on plenty of yards after the catch. He is a load with the football, and can break tackles. He has even been used in the running game, running 33 times for 159 yards and five rushing touchdowns.

Whether you see him as a smallish tight end or a biggish wide receiver, the result is the same. He will create the type of mismatches against defensive backs that Rams HC Sean McVay loves to exploit. Best of all, he will be there when the Rams step up to the podium in Round 1.