Rams desperately need breakout players at 4 key positions in 2025

(2) - Tight end

The Los Angeles Rams enter the 2025 Rams training camp with six tight ends on the roster. The Rams love to stockpile offensive weapons, and for the second consecutive season, the team is bursting with talented tight ends. The big question is, will it make a difference in 2025?

It certainly did not seem to last season. The Rams knew that starting TE Tyler Higbee would be sidelined for a majority of the season, so the team signed former Seattle Seahawks TE Colby Parkinson to a rather hefty multi-year contract that seemed to anoint him to a starting role. But when the season arrived, Parkinson was no better than his teammates Hunter Long or Davis Allen. It was not until Higbee returned in the final three games of the season that the team enjoyed solid production from the position.

Just how desperate were the Rams in 2024? Of the 1,247 offensive snaps tight ends played, the group put up the following numbers: 51 receptions, 83 targets, 453 yards, and three touchdowns. Compare that to Las Vegas Raiders rookie TE Brock Bowers, who had 112 receptions out of 153 targets for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns.

But before we turn the page, take note of the fact that Bower was targeted 153 times. The Rams will never target a tight end at that level. So, what is the solution?

Remedy:

The Los Angeles Rams have sought a rookie tight end in each of the past three NFL drafts, finally scoring by drafting Oregon TE Terrance Ferguson. Many talented tight ends were up for grabs in this draft, but the Rams settled in on Ferguson. Will he add a new dimension to the offense? Many draft analysts think so. After all, the Rams have had a talented tight end in their sights for three seasons. So, what can the Rams do differently with Ferguson on board?

The Rams had great success with 12-personnel packages in 2024, but limited deploying two tight ends to just over 14 percent of the offensive snaps. The reason was that the Rams roster was bursting with blocking tight ends who could catch the occasional pass. Ferguson is a pass-catching tight end who can throw the occasional block.

As long as he can finally master blocking to the satisfaction of HC Sean McVay, Ferguson brings a tight end equivalent of Cooper Kupp to the Rams offense. What Ferguson does differently is that he is a bona fide receiving threat. Unlike the big-bodied tank maneuvers of Colby Parkinson, Ferguson is a sleek, tight-end speedster. You see, he led all tight ends with a 4.63-second 40-yard dash.

Just for comparison purposes, former WR Cooper Kupp ran a 4.62-second 40-yard dash.

Ferguson is more than just one more body in the tight end room. He brings the offensive arsenal that the team has sought for a very long time. Will he put up yards like Brock Bowers in his rookie season? Not by a long shot. But he does bring the potential to unlock an integral component to a Rams offense that was desperately missing in 2024.

Between Tyler Higbee and Terrance Ferguson, the Rams offense can put up 1000 yards and 10 touchdowns. Now, they just have to go out and execute like we all know that they can.