Terrance Ferguson has rare window to prove himself early in Rams' 2025 schedule

The Los Angeles Rams are one of the last teams you expect to give a rookie offensive weapon a chance to prove himself early in his first NFL season. But there is always that first time, right? And with the Rams facing teams like the Houston Texans (10-7), Philadelphia Eagles (14-3), and Baltimore Ravens (12-5), and with the latter two teams on the road before traveling to London, England, to face the Jacksonville Jaguars (4-13), the Rams will need to get a bit more physical.

The Rams boast more than enough offensive weapons. The team currently has six running backs, 12 wide receivers, and six tight ends. But there is only one rookie tight end named Terrance Ferguson, and he could prove to be a difference-maker for the team in 2025.

It's not that Ferguson was selected in Round 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft, nor the fact that the Rams spent the 46th overall pick to acquire the former Oregon Ducks tight end. It's the fact that after three seasons of attempting to trade up for the right tight end in the past, the Rams traded back, got a Round 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft from the Atlanta Falcons, and managed to get a gifted tight end who possesses a rather unique blend of skills for a tight end.

Think of Detroit Lions' veteran tight end Sam LaPorta, but with more of a pass-catching flair about him.

Why Terrance Ferguson and not another rookie?

The Rams are settled at the running back position behind featured running back Kyren Williams. The Rams are settled at the wide receiver position behind the quartet of Davante Adames, Puka Nacua, Tutu Atwell, and Jordan Whittington. But when it comes to the tight end position? There are plenty of opportunities for a rookie to earn a significant amount of playing time.

Of course, he won't be anointed. He will have to earn every offensive snap. But here's why the door is wide open for him to do so.

As easy as it would be to take the default path and project veteran TE Tyler Higbee as the workhorse for the team in 2025, that is a failing strategy. The team cycled through tight ends Colby Parkinson, Davis Allen, and former tight end Hunter Long to find a satisfactory tight end successor to Higbeen in 2024, to no avail. The effort was so disappointing that the team allowed Long to sign a contract to play for a new team uncontested.

But Ferguson is different, and it's those unique abilities that could give him a quick jumpstart in the offense in 2025.