Rams intel hints Terrance Ferguson's Year 2 leap is already in the works

Tight end Terrance Ferguson had a difficult rookie season for the Los Angeles Rams. The 46th overall pick entered the year with high expectations as the frontrunner in LA's 2025 draft class. It was disappointing, then, when he did not earn any consistent role, finishing the season with just 11 catches.

Those within the Rams' organization aren't concerned about Ferguson's potential or growth. They believe he is already on the cusp of a sophomore leap, per intel from ESPN's Sarah Barshop, who covered the Rams portion of a pre-training-camp assessment of each team's "biggest surprise" thus far. 

"[S]everal people in the Rams' building have pointed to Ferguson as a player they think will take a big step forward in Year 2," wrote Barshop. "Tight end Tyler Higbee said while the position is 'one of the tougher' spots to transition from college to the NFL, Ferguson has 'got it.' 'He's going to be a great player,' Higbee said."

Coming from Higbee, the tight-end room's senior representative, that means a lot. Ferguson has plenty to prove, and it sounds like he is on track to do just that.

Year 2 Ferguson is ready to come into his own

Ferguson is suited to a clear, if uncanny role in the Rams' offense; he just has to earn an expanded opportunity. That role is serving as a de facto WR3, stretching the field as a deep threat from the slot or out wide. He did that last year in limited reps, averaging 21 yards per catch with an average depth of target of 18.6 yards.

For Ferguson, though, taking the next step also means being more than just a deep ball specialist. He can factor more into the short and mid-range game and shore up as a blocker. Higbee and Parkinson will still be go-to veterans in short-area, run-heavy, and goal-line scenarios, but simply getting his foot in the door will make Ferguson an exponentially more valuable weapon. 

Not only will he be able to contribute in a variety of sets and schemes, it will also be harder for defenses to anticipate his assignment on a given play. It won't be as simple as, 'Oh, hey, there's Ferguson, be ready for a deep post route.' 

The good news is that, in the eyes of Higbee and others in team circles, Ferguson demonstrated significant progress in OTAs. 

Granting Ferguson a bigger role if he earns it also falls on head coach Sean McVay, who has historically been reluctant to utilize young pass-catchers consistently. With a year of experience under his belt, Ferguson should make that less of an issue, anyway. Now that McVay has mastered 13-personnel, too, he may have an even clearer vision of how to maximize his individual tight ends according to their specific skill sets. 

Don't take just anyone's word for it, take Higbee's. Ferguson has the 'it' factor, and Rams fans may see it on display sooner rather than later. 

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