3 revelations from Rams OTAs that fans will almost certainly love

(2) Terrance Ferguson is gelling with QB Matthew Stafford

The Los Angeles Rams sought rookie TE Dalton Kincaid in 2023 and rookie TE Brock Bowers in 2024. And by 'sought,' I mean to assert that the team aggressively tried to trade up in both respective NFL drafts to position itself to select either player. As fate would have it, the team was unsuccessful in either attempt.

We even have video footage confirming the NFL rumors that the Rams aggressively tried to trade up in the 2025 NFL Draft, all the way from the 26th overall pick to the eighth overall pick. Some have concluded that the Rams sought to trade up for WR Tet McMillan, the rookie who was selected by the Carolina Panthers at the eighth overall selection. But I suspect, in light of the team's relentless pursuit of trading up for a tight end, that Michigan's Colston Loveland may have been in the Rams' crosshairs. The Chicago Bears drafted Loveland with the 10th overall pick.

So the Rams failed to get their guy again? Well, if you examine how the draft played out for the Rams after failing to trade up, you cannot begin to entertain any disappointment. The Rams front office has nailed the last two rookie draft classes, and there is every reason to expect that pattern to happen this year as well.

The Rams may not have landed the highest regarded tight end in 2025, but it appears that they did end up with the most passionate, coachable, and workaholic tight end rookie in the draft by selecting Oregon tight end Terrance Ferguson. Despite the inability of the team to select either of the top two tight ends in 2025, plenty of talented rookie tight ends were within reach. The Rams traded back 20 spots to get a Round 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and still emerged with one of the draft's top tight ends.

Now the question is, will the Rams actually use him?

The first step to actually seeing rookie TE Terrance Ferguson used in the Rams offense is developing chemistry and rapport with the quarterbacks. And while it's all flag football now, that communication and trust starts now. Terrance Ferguson must assemble a foundation of trust that he will be where he needs to be and will catch every football thrown his way, brick by brick. He must show up now in a phenomenal way so that when the pads go on, QB Matthew Stafford will continue to look his way.

So far, so good.

Nobody can describe a wedding cake from the looks of the batter in a mixing bowl. Unfortunately, that is all anyone has to work with right now. Fans are unlikely to see Stafford throwing to Ferguson until the season opener. So, what can fans do to gauge the chemistry and progress in the meantime?

Matthew Stafford is a wily veteran. He can read his progressions in a flash, noting separation of receivers and secondary coverages, and decide where to throw the football in less than a second. He is not going to be pressured to throw the football to a player because the coach wants him to. So it's up to Terrance Ferguson to give Stafford every reason to throw the football his way.

Of course, the Rams can execute two tight ends more frequently. Ultimately, the decision of who Stafford targets falls to Stafford. Scoring touchdowns in OTAs to Ferguson may not move the needle for fans, but you can bet that it moves the needle for Matthew Stafford. And when it comes down to it, Matthew Stafford decides who does and does not get targeted this season.