Rams may solve receiver problem with answer they never knew they had

The Los Angeles Rams still don't have an answer at WR3. They do have Puka Nacua, a top-two receiver in the league, and Davante Adams, last season's leader in receiving touchdowns. But that No. 3 option remains elusive, and it's not realistic to expect rookie sixth-rounder CJ Daniels to slide smoothly into that role. 

The same holds true for sophomore Konata Mumpfield and third-year targets Jordan Whittington and Xavier Smith. 

The Rams may find their answer by breaking traditional position constraints. Enter … Terrance Ferguson? That's at least a possibility in the eyes of beat writer Nate Atkins, who covers the team at The Athletic. 

In answering whether Terrance Ferguson fits better as the LA's top tight end or its WR3, Atkins went with the latter. It's rather odd to think about, but it makes all the sense in the world.

Ferguson could be unconventional solution to Rams' dilemma

No one can debate the fact that Ferguson, the Rams' highest draft selection last year at 46th overall, disappointed as a rookie. 11 catches on 25 targets, for 231 yards and three touchdowns, simply isn't up to snuff. Not, at least, compared to his high expectations.

Expanding Ferguson's role without changing how he's used would make him a surprisingly natural fit as a supplementary receiver. While tight ends are typically targeted on short or mid-range throws, often as a checkdown, Atkins notes that Ferguson functioned as a "seam-stretcher." 

Colby Parkinson, who led Rams tight ends with 408 receiving yards last season, did so with an average target depth of 4.4 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. The league leader in tight-end receiving yards, Arizona's Trey McBride, was targeted an average of 6.8 yards out. Nacua at receiver? 9.3 yards.  

Ferguson's average depth of target was 18.6 yards. That surpasses Tutu Atwell's highest ADOT as the team's resident deep threat during the last four seasons. Ideally for the Rams, the third option would be someone who can lengthen the field. Ferguson does that.

Even lining up as a tight end, at 6-foot-5 he has the size and catch radius to be a more consistent threat than Atwell ever was, or than Ferguson himself was last year. The potential is there. He just has to produce. 

Sure, Ferguson has underwhelmed thus far, but he deserves some slack. Those deep posts and seam routes will naturally yield a lower completion rate. Ferguson wasn't charged with a drop, so it's not like balls hit him in the hands and he failed to haul them in. 

There is another reason to believe he could be more consistent this season. As a rookie, Ferguson did not get the benefit of working with Matthew Stafford, who was managing a bad back, in training camp. He should have that opportunity this time around, which could help him start his sophomore season strong after catching just one pass (on one target) in the team's first six games a year ago. 

If Ferguson wants to be more of a traditional tight end, he'll have to improve as a blocker. The Rams already hedged their bets by drafting Ohio State tight end Max Klare with the 62nd pick in 2026. The tight-end room has other options in Parkinson, Tyler Higbee, and Davis Allen.

Emerging as TE1 might not be what Ferguson was meant to do, after all. Instead, his explosive downfield potential could make him the perfect, if unconventional WR3 the Rams didn't even know they had.

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