Turf Show Times
Will tight ends become a featured part of the Rams offense?
After the Los Angeles Rams selected Terrance Ferguson with their first selection of the 2025 NFL Draft, there will be more attention around the tight end position than past years. Ferguson was selected in the second round while Tyler Higbee will be a full year removed from tearing his ACL. With Cooper Kupp no longer on the team, some will be expecting the Rams to utilize more 12 personnel and for Ferguson to play in the “F” role on offense. The key here will be McVay using more 12 personnel which has been used sparingly in past seasons.
When it comes to the Rams tight ends, this is a group that actually has some options. It should be expected for Higbee to return as the starter. When Higbee returned to the lineup last year, he was heavily involved in the offense. The Rams veteran tight end had five or more receptions in Week 18 and both playoff games.
Behind Higbee is where things get interesting. Ferguson will be expected to be the TE2. As a player drafted inside the top-50, Ferguson should get immediate reps in the offense. At the same time, rookie tight ends haven’t typically been featured with McVay in charge.
Parkinson was signed as a free agent last year and hasn’t necessarily worked out. At this point, he seems to be more of the blocking tight end in the group. The Rams paid him to be more than that, but he hasn’t shown the ability to do more.
Lastly, there was some excitement around Davis Allen last season. While Allen wasn’t bad, he also struggled to get involved in the passing game. His snap count went up in the middle of the year, yet still managed just six receptions on 13 targets for 39 yards.
Torres and Redman are both undrafted free agents. One of them should make the practice squad.
For the first time in awhile, the Rams have a future at tight end in Terrance Ferguson. While the Rams had Gerald Everett in the early years under Sean McVay, it has primarily been just Tyler Higbee since 2021. The Rams have missed that tight end depth and player behind Higbee that could get involved in the passing game or be trusted in the offense.
Ferguson helps the Rams offense in the now, but also someone for after Higbee, whose contract expires at the end of the season. Ferguson should see some involvement in the offense as a rookie while he develops behind Higbee. The rookie out of Oregon is someone that the Rams were excited about during the draft process and allegedly considered taking him at 26.
Throughout McVay’s tenure, the Rams have utilized...
