June 14, 2025

When the Los Angeles Rams selected Oregon TE Terrance Ferguson with the 46th pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, he became the team's earliest drafted TE since the first year of the Sean McVay era (Gerald Everett, 44th overall in 2017). Rumored to have pursued a trade-up for Michigan prospect Colston Loveland, adding an athletic TE was a clear priority for McVay and his Rams offense, precisely what they found in the 6'5", 247-pound Ferguson. A Combine standout, he posted elite testing numbers, including a 39-inch vertical jump, a 4.63-second 40-yard dash, and a 2.67-second 20-yard split, confirming the explosiveness that made him a focal point on a Ducks team that entered the College Football Playoffs as the No. 1 seed. In 2024, his 9.0 yards after catch per reception led all collegiate tight ends with at least 30 targets. According to PFF, he could step into a contributing role early in Los Angeles. With veteran TE Tyler Higbee sidelined for most of 2024 due to an ACL injury, neither Colby Parkinson nor Davis Allen was able to capitalize on the increased opportunity, resulting in the Rams failing to see a TE record at least 450 receiving yards for the first time since 2018. Higbee returns one more year, removed from his injury and in the final year of his contract. Still, he will be 32 years old entering the season and is now valued more for his versatility than the pass-catching prowess that helped him carve out his own role in the Rams' offense almost a decade ago. Both Higbee and newly acquired WR Davante Adams were on the wrong side of 30, along with standout WR Puka Nacua, who was looking to prove that his injury-plagued 2024 season was nothing more than a fluke. Multiple paths exist for Ferguson to be thrust into a target-earning position, and he undoubtedly has the athletic capabilities to take advantage of such a situation. Currently RotoBaller's overall TE31 and rookie TE5, Ferguson is a waiver wire name worth monitoring in redraft leagues, and he could prove to be a steal as a third-round selection in rookie-only drafts.--McGrumble