Why Oregon TE Terrance Ferguson could be the impact player Coach McVay covets

The Los Angeles Rams are simply not an offense that has featured tight ends with any consistency. In December 2019, tight end Tyler Higbee ignited for 522 receiving yards and two touchdowns. But catching 69 of 89 passes for 734 yards and three touchdowns seems like a modest season total from that spectacular one-month spike.

And the curious aspect of the Rams' offense is that their offensive architect, HC Sean McVay, got his NFL offensive feet wet by designing plays for the Washington Commanders, an offense that featured talented tight ends like Jordan Reed and Chris Cooley.

In 2017, the Rams were happy to split the workload between tight ends Gerald Everett and Tyler Higbee, but over time, the value of the tight end in the offense has waned a bit. So how productive have the Rams' tight ends been since 2017? Let's list it out and find out:

All tight ends offensive production

• 2017 - 49 of 88 | 610 receiving yards | 3 TDs
• 2018 - 57 of 85 | 617 receiving yards | 5 TDs
• 2019 - 110 of 156 | 1,168 receiving yards | 5 TDs
• 2020 - 89 of 126 | 991 receiving yards | 6 TDs
• 2021 - 67 ot 94 | 615 receiving yards | 5 TDs
• 2022 - 81 of 121 | 764 receiving yards | 3 TDs
• 2023 - 62 of 88 | 668 receiving yards | 3 TDs
• 2024 - 51 of 84 | 459 receiving yards | 3 TDs

As you can see, the Rams have varied their commitment to the tight position, but even as the number of receptions, targets, and receiving yards have swung back and forth like the pendulum of a grandfather clock, the Rams have been limited in points scored from the position. In eight seasons, the tight ends have scored three TDs four times, five TDs three times, and six TDs just once.

With those numbers, you have to wonder why the Rams view the tight end position as one worthy of a significant investment. Of late, the tight end position has seen limited effectiveness, and the group of four players was unable to put up even 500 receiving yards. That was not only disappointing, it was historically pathetic for this team.

He reminds Coach McVay of his first tight end he coached, Chris Cooley

When the Los Angeles Rams traded out of Round 1 in the 2025 NFL Draft, the team had to weigh the risk of losing vetted and scouted players from this draft class in exchange for the chance to select an even more vital and talented rookie in next year's draft. Underlying every draft trade is that basic principle. Can the team emerge better with a chance to upgrade the roster now, or later?

While the Rams did choose to grab a Round 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and lose a Round 1 pick this year, the team was willing to take a calculated risk of losing one of their coveted tight ends. And as the team selected Oregon tight end Terrance Ferguson, it was quite clear that he was in the team's sights all along.

And now Rams fans are finding out why.

In the post Day 2 draft press conference, Rams HC Sean McVay painted a promising picture of his new rookie tight end, and you can see and hear for yourself at the 0:45 mark:

"There are a lot of things to like, you know. I think, number one, when you hear the backstory of a guy that has overcome some adversity. Obviously, you know that he is a special human being.
I have a lot of respect for (Oregon Coach) Dan Lanning and what he has done with that program.
And then you just watch the body of work, and he reminds me a lot of (former Washington Commanders tight end) Chris Cooley. He has some similar body mannerisms to (Kansas City Chiefs tight end) Travis Kelce, and Chris Cooley is one of the first players I ever coached in this league. He is a great football player. "

Rams HC Sean McVay

To be a rookie who is compared to Chris Cooley and Travis Kelce by the head coach is not something that Terrance Ferguson expected. But it shows just how highly regarded he is by the Rams coaching staff.

So what does Ferguson bring to the offense?

More Cooper Kupp than Johnny Mundt

The Rams tried to compensate for the absence of Tyler Higbee by signing free agent tight end Colby Parkinson last season. But as you can see from the table on slide 1, the Rams' effectiveness from the tight end position plummeted in 2024. So, what happened?

Unlike previous seasons when the team boasted two pass-catching tight ends, the Rams overloaded the tight end room with three blocking tight ends who all struggled to create separation and catch passes. Blocking tight ends do have their place, but they need to have pass-catching teammates to enhance their effectiveness.

It was not until veteran Tyler Higbee returned that the Rams' offense began to score points from tight ends. And by that time, nearly the entire 2024 NFL season had lapsed.

If you review his college video footage, Terrance Ferguson appears to be a big-bodied wide receiver like Cooper Kupp, rather than an offensive lineman who can catch passes like former tight end Johnny Mundt. He runs crisp and precise routes. He has velcro hands that instinctively catch passes out and away from his body. Best of all, he is tough to bring down once he pulls the pass in and turns upfield.

The Rams have been searching for a Terrence Ferguson-type tight end for some time. The Rams had hoped to find a pass-catching tight end variety in former TE Brycen Hopkins. Now the team has a chance to see if Ferguson can wear the mantle of receiver for this offense.

Third time is the charm

When the Rams faced the exodus of former tight end Brycen Hopkins, the team sprang into action, attempting to find a rookie tight end who could deliver to the expectations of the role that Hopkins was supposed to fill. The Rams allowed veteran TE Gerald Everett to sign elsewhere, but the team understood that a tight end receiver who could haul in 62.3 percent of passes thrown his way, and could put up more than 300 receiving yards per season.

The Rams made an effort in the 2023 NFL Draft to trade into Round 1 to select Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid. He has averaged a 70.5 percent catch rate, 560 yards, and two touchdowns per season in his first two years playing for the Buffalo Bills. Is that level of production worth the cost of trading up?

The Rams made an effort to trade up in the 2024 NFL Draft as well. This time, the target was tight end Brock Bowers. Bowers was even more impressive, catching 73.2 percent of passes thrown his way for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns in his only NFL season.

Is Terrance Ferguson going to put up numbers at that level? Almost certainly not. The entire Rams tight end room has never matched the rookie performance of Bowers, so we have to set realistic expectations for Ferguson. And even then, it's virtually impossible to project Ferguson higher than a second tight end option. Even that may be optimistic.

But don't mistake his rate of participation in the offense for his ultimate upside. We know that RB Kyren Williams stepped up in a big way in his second season. Ferguson will be eased into this offense. So, how can anyone be certain that he will define the role in the future?

This is it as far as Tyler Higbee's successor

Even as the Rams roster has continued to add young players as veterans sign elsewhere or retire, the Rams offense has relied upon the experience and leadership of veterans. The Rams still boast QB Matthew Stafford, RT Rob Havenstein, and TE Tyler Higbee. And the presence of all three veterans has resulted in the same challenge at all three positions: Who will be the successor?

We can debate who may or may not succeed Stafford or Havenstein, but it would be a difficult claim to make to suggest that Terrance Ferguson is not earmarked to become the Rams' primary tight end when Tyler Higbee retires.

Now, the coaching staff has the challenging undertaking of preparing him for that important role.

The Rams are not going to turn over the keys and hope that Ferguson can figure it out. But there is no value to the team or player to select him in Round 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft, only to sit him on the bench and hope he learns by sitting and observing.

The optimal and obvious compromise is to amplify the frequency of 12-personnel plays in the offense, and ensure that Ferguson is used as often as possible in those offensive sub-packages. In that way, the Rams can test Ferguson's aptitude at blocking and catching while maintaining a veteran presence on the football field as an alternative option.

Terrance Ferguson doesn't have to deliver in 2025, but he will. Rams HC Sean McVay has already shown enthusiasm over coaching Ferguson, and given generous accolades by comparing him to two elite NFL tight ends. You see, Coach McVay is all about praising his players, but he measures his words carefully. His comments on Terrance Ferguson are the equivalent of gushing praise.

If that doesn't mean much to you, you've missed a huge endorsement. Oregon TE Terrance Ferguson can be the impact player Coach McVay has sought for years. Better still, he will deliver.

As always, thanks for reading.

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