The Los Angeles Rams have made it clear: they're building for the future. With a roster that’s seen its share of aging veterans, the front office has pivoted toward replenishing the pipeline with young talent.
One of the key pieces in that plan was Terrance Ferguson, the tight end out of Oregon taken in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The Rams traded back to get him, signaling confidence in his potential to eventually take over for longtime starter Tyler Higbee.
But through 13 weeks of the season, Ferguson’s transition to the NFL hasn’t gone as planned.
The vision was straightforward: Ferguson would bring enough versatility to allow the Rams to run heavy sets - 12 and 13 personnel - with confidence. He was supposed to be a dual-threat tight end, someone who could block well enough to stay on the field and catch well enough to stretch defenses.
The Rams wanted a guy who could help reshape the offense. Instead, in Week 13, Ferguson was targeted twice and came up empty both times.
And that’s been the story so far.
In a season where the Rams have already cycled through five different tight ends, Ferguson hasn’t been able to carve out a meaningful role. Even Nick Vannett - a midseason addition with the nickname “Baby Gronk” - saw more action in Week 13. That’s not the kind of stat line you want to see from a second-round pick, especially one who was drafted to be the future at the position.
Right now, Ferguson is trailing the pack.
Let’s put it in perspective. Rookie tight ends often face a steep learning curve - the position demands a lot, from mastering blocking schemes to running precise routes in the middle of the field.
But even with that context, Ferguson’s production has been underwhelming: five catches on 14 targets for 138 yards and one touchdown. That’s not a disaster on its own, but when you stack it up against his rookie peers, the gap becomes glaring.
Here’s how some of the other rookie tight ends from the 2025 class are performing:
- Tyler Warren (Colts): 58 receptions, 684 yards, 4 touchdowns
- Colston Loveland (Bears): 31 receptions, 406 yards, 3 touchdowns
- Mason Taylor (Jets): 39 receptions, 318 yards, 3 touchdowns
- Harold Fannin Jr.
(Browns): 51 receptions, 505 yards, 3 touchdowns
- Gunnar Helm (Titans): 24 receptions, 290 yards, 1 touchdown
- Jackson Hawes (Bills): 11 receptions, 149 yards, 2 touchdowns
- Mitchell Evans (Panthers): 14 receptions, 138 yards, 2 touchdowns
- Elijah Arroyo (Seahawks): 15 receptions, 179 yards, 1 touchdown
Ferguson’s five catches rank near the bottom, ahead of only Thomas Fidone of the Giants - who hasn’t been targeted at all. That’s not the company the Rams were hoping he’d keep.
And here’s the thing: Ferguson’s college profile was built around his pass-catching ability. He was supposed to be a reliable target, someone who could work the seams and give the Rams another weapon in the passing game.
So far, that hasn’t materialized. Whether it’s the speed of the game, the complexity of Sean McVay’s offense, or just a rookie trying to find his footing, Ferguson hasn’t been able to put it all together.
To be fair, development takes time. Not every rookie hits the ground running.
Some need a full year in the system before things start to click. And Ferguson isn’t getting a ton of reps - which makes it tough to build chemistry with the quarterback or gain the trust of the coaching staff.
But the Rams didn’t draft him to be a long-term project. They drafted him to be part of the solution now.
The Rams’ offense is still tight-end heavy, and there’s opportunity for someone to step up. Ferguson just hasn’t seized it yet. And with others on the depth chart making more of their chances, the clock may already be ticking on his shot to prove he belongs in the team’s long-term plans.
There’s still time for Ferguson to turn things around - but the margin for error is shrinking. The Rams are trying to win now while also building for the future.
If Ferguson wants to be a part of that future, he’s going to have to show more. Fast.