The Rams didn’t go shopping for a flashy new WR3, and the answer to that complaint may already be in-house.
After Los Angeles passed on rookie weapons for Matthew Stafford and instead used the 13th pick on quarterback Ty Simpson, plenty of fans and draft watchers immediately circled the same missing piece: a third reliable receiving option. USC receiver Malik Lemon and Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq were among the names people wanted to attach to that spot. But the Rams may have had their solution all along in Terrance Ferguson.
Ferguson is expected to take on a major role in his second season, and his summer has only strengthened that case. He was making plays like a veteran all offseason, even though he never really entered the draft conversation as part of the Rams’ answer. Right now, he looks on track to function as the team’s third receiver option.
The fit makes sense on paper. Ferguson has the body and strength of a tight end, but he runs routes with the kind of sharpness you usually associate with a wideout. That’s why he’s been described as a tight-end version of former Rams receiver Cooper Kupp.
His first season came with its own built-in obstacle. In 2025, Ferguson didn’t get the summer work with Stafford that would have helped build the in-season connection, and that showed in the numbers.
He wasn’t the only one dealing with inconsistency, either. Davante Adams and Konata Mumpfield also had disappointing catch rates.
This year, Stafford being around for training camp has helped clean up those issues.
The bigger point is that the Rams’ internal view of the roster clearly differs from the outside noise. Fans and analysts were reacting to what looked like a hole, but the team has been operating with a different set of information.
Coaches see the players up close. Draft analysts piece things together from the outside.
Fans are left trying to connect those dots.
And the Rams have given plenty of reason to believe they trust what they already have. Simpson has already flashed his potential. The team also added tight end Max Klare and receiver CJ Daniels, and both are viewed as good fits for what the offense needs.
There’s also the expectation that Ferguson and Mumpfield can make sophomore jumps after not quite meeting expectations as 2025 rookies. That matters, because the offense has continued to develop its own answers instead of chasing outside help.
A look at the offseason backs that up. Tutu Atwell was the only receiver to leave, while the 2025 offense leaned heavily on a productive tight end room.
From the Rams’ perspective, getting Stafford enough targets was never really the issue. The bigger belief was that there was already a backlog of capable players waiting for the chance to show it.
For now, Ferguson is the one making the strongest case. He hasn’t played in the preseason, but he’s already made the roster, and all signs point to a much bigger role in 2026.
In Other News...
Rams Chargers Broadcast Moment Stole Attention From A Late Preseason Win
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Darryl Peterson III helped swing the game when he forced the decisive fumble, yet the broadcast moment that lingered had nothing to do with the box score. An official was heard on an open microphone voicing frustration about how the game was unfolding, a stray snippet that briefly upstaged the on-field finish and gave a light preseason rivalry an extra dose of attention. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Fringe Players Made Final Roster Decisions A Lot Tougher
The Rams used their preseason finale against the Chargers as one last sorting exercise, and a few fringe players made sure the coaching staff had more to think about before final roster decisions. Ty Simpson got the start at quarterback and looked steady throughout the night, finishing 18 of 23 for 119 yards and a touchdown, while the offense also got a boost from a productive effort on the ground.
Connors helped keep the pressure on the decision-makers with 18 carries for 69 yards and a touchdown, and Darryl Peterson III added to his case on defense with several impact plays, capped by a sack-fumble late in the game. For players on the roster bubble, those kinds of snaps can linger in the minds of coaches, which is exactly what made this game feel like more than a preseason warmup. [Read more 🡒]
Aaron Donald's Rams Return Suddenly Feels Far From Settled
Aaron Donalds status has become one of the quietest but most intriguing storylines around the Rams as the season approaches. Sean McVay has kept the door open, but he also made it clear there is no certainty the former star defensive tackle will come out of retirement this year, which leaves Los Angeles in a holding pattern on a player who shaped the franchise for a decade.
Andrew Whitworth, who knows the Rams inner workings as both a former teammate and current analyst, still sounds convinced Donald will be back later this year, pointing to his workouts as a sign the comeback remains alive. NFL insider Mike Florio, meanwhile, has suggested the Rams are already bracing for Donald not to be available in Week 1 and perhaps not until after that, which only adds to the sense that this one is far from settled. [Read more 🡒]