Why LA Rams must find their next franchise tight end in the 2025 NFL Draft

For the past two seasons, the LA Rams front office has made a concerted effort to trade up in respective drafts to select the best tight-end rookie prospect of that draft class. In 2023, the Rams attempted to trade up to select Utah rookie tight end prospect Dalton Kincaid. In 2024, the team attempted to trade up to select Georgia rookie tight end prospect Brock Bowers. In both cases, teams were unwilling to accept trade packages.

The team emerged from both drafts empty handed in terms of top tier tight end talent.

While I have not always agreed with the strategy, I understand the reasons behind the push to add elite talent to this team. The offense is at its best with veteran TE Tyler Higbee on the football field. That unto itself is not the problem. Problems arise when you consider that Higbee is 32 years old, is coming off a very serious injury, and even if fully healthy, is still vulnerable to more injuries.

The team simply does not have anyone ready to take over for Higbee on the Rams roster currently. Yes, the team trialed three veteran tight ends in 2024 before Higbee returned. Even with three tight end options, the team was reluctant to deploy them in any role beyond blocking.

The team needs a talented tight end on the football field at all times, yet is reluctant to deploy two tight ends. As fans learned in 2024, that is not a blueprint for strong offensive output from this team. Tight end Tyler Higbee is a custom fit for what the team loves to do on offense. But the team has a banged up veteran who is getting long in the tooth. Higbee's successor must be identified quickly, and from what we'd seen in 2024, he is not currently on the roster.

Hmmm . . .

The Rams have another opportunity to draft a tight end in the 2025 NFL Draft. Will they be able to do so this year? Initial reports suggest that there are multiple 'elite' tight ends in this draft class:

Of course, different players offer differing and unique attributes, some more fitting for some NFL offenses than others. While the consensus top tight may is still a matter of debate right now, the overall theme is that the tight end group available in the 2025 NFL Draft is very talented and rather robust:

Ultimately, it comes down to what teams are looking for. Does the team need a great blocking tight end? Does the team need a physical tight end who can catch the football? Does the team need a tight end who runs crisp routes and can threaten secondaries deep?

There are many talented prospects in this draft class, and something for everybody.

In the past two drafts, the team was drawn to a physical tight end who was the obvious best receiving tight end of the draft class. Who might that be in the 2025 NFL Draft?

The water is a bit muddy on that front. With the Senior, Shrine, and Hulu Bowls still to go, there any many opportunities for one rookie hopeful to make a compelling case as the true number one tight end in 2025.

The Rams are unlikely to be in position to select the best of the best. But this year, the team has a very good chance to emerge from Day 1 with an elite rookie tight end in two.

Stay tuned. And as always, thanks for reading.

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