Rams send unmistakable message to Terrance Ferguson with TE Max Klare

Whether or not Terrance Ferguson is ready, rookie tight end Max Klare is gunning for his job.

Bret Stuter

Ohio State Buckeyes tight end Max Klare / Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

What can the Los Angeles Rams do to upgrade the offense? Well, fixing tight end Terrance Ferguson's catch rate of 44 percent is a great place to start. And lo and behold, general manager Les Snead takes a step in that direction by drafting tight end Max Klare out of Ohio State with the 61st overall pick in Round 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft.

The admiration for tight ends continues. After failing to land Dalton Kincaid in 2023 and Brock Bowers in 2024, LA drafted Terrance Ferguson in 2025 and now selects Max Klare. Klare joins Tyler Higbee, Colby Parkinson, Terrance Ferguson, Davis Allen, and Mark Redman.

When will it stop?

Believe it or not, Klare is considered the runner-up rookie tight end prospect in this draft on many draft boards. And in direct comparison by draft boards, Klare stands out as the higher-rated player. The message is clear. So clear, in fact, that an earlier article pointed out this scenario days before the draft.

Rams commit to more 13-personnel with Max Klare

The LA Rams want to get better. And despite repeated opportunities. Terrance Ferguson simply struggled in his rookie season. His 44 percent catch rate in the regular season plummeted to just 16 percent in the NFL playoffs.

If Los Angeles were one or two plays away, a well-timed reception would have made a difference. For fans, adding Klare to the roster is a double win. Not only does it raise the level of competition for playing time, but it's a sign that the team is committed to running 13-personnel packages

More tight ends does mean less work for wide receivers. But Klare has a solid reputation as a pass catcher and as an in-line blocker. But with a full tight end room, was Klare really needed? In a word, yes.

Ferguson struggled with catching passes. Tyler Higbee is struggling to recover fully from his ACL injury. And Colby Parkinson is a free agent after this season. Rams fans may not smile over this selection. But Les Snead just selected a better tight end prospect at a later spot. Let the competition begin!

As always, thanks for reading.

Bret Stuter

Bret Stuter is the site expert for Ramblin Fan who has covered the Los Angeles Rams for 5 years. Swept up into loving professional sports from a family that listened to games on the radio, he is at home cheering for HC Sean McVay and the Rams. Articles have been featured on B/R, Fox Sports, CBS Sports, Sporting News, and Washington Post. Bret loves to fish, and watch games at sports bars over pizza.