It’s always hard to fall in love with a prospect when looking at options for the NFL Draft, but Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams’ front office finally landed their draft crush. After heavily pursuing Georgia tight end Brock Bowers in 2024 and Arizona wideout Tetairoa McMillan in 2025, it’s clear McVay has prioritized finding a high-upside, versatile weapon. But McMillan wasn’t the only offensive weapon the team fell in love with in this draft. Instead of overpaying or reaching in the draft, Los Angeles played it smart, using draft capital from their trade with the Atlanta Falcons to secure Oregon tight end Terrance Ferguson in the second round, a move McVay himself described as a “really big deal.”
And when ESPN names Ferguson as one of the top five rookies to watch this season, it’s an indication of the success that will inevitably come.
Rams’ Terrance Ferguson Named Rookie to Watch
GettyRams rookie tight end Terrance Ferguson.
When thinking of the best way to describe Ferguson, the nickname “Cooper Kupp plus size” immediately came to mind because of his similarities with Kupp in their route running, football IQ, and reliable hands. The only difference is that one is 6’1″ and 205 pounds while the other is 6’5″ and 247 pounds.
Maybe that’s why McVay fell in love with Ferguson, who shared his excitement over the idea of utilizing him on offense in an interview with Adam Schein of SiriusXM.
“For us to be able to go back, still get a player that we would’ve felt good with earlier in terms of where we would’ve drafted him, was a really big deal. I’m excited about how it unfolded. I give a ton of credit to Tony Pastoors, obviously Les and our group, but it worked out really well and we were super excited about being able to come away with Terrance Ferguson, who we have big plans for.”
Those big plans for Ferguson should be evident right away. Despite Tyler Higbee still expected to get starting reps, the Rams’ passing offense was one of the most efficient offenses when utilizing 12 personnel (one back, two tight ends). They averaged 0.34 EPA per pass, which was the third-best in the NFL. Additionally, on 32 play-action passes out of 12 personnel, Matthew Stafford completed 81.3 percent of them with a passer rating of 146 and a completion percentage over expectation of 21.3, which led the NFL in all three marks.
That’s just for those worried Ferguson won’t get the reps needed to be a focal piece on offense. Now picture the opportunities he’ll get when he’s the only tight end on the field.
Sean McVay’s Vision for Ferguson Signals a Bigger Role
More than just my comparison to Kupp, McVay also believes Ferguson’s skill set mirrors that of former NFL tight end Chris Cooley and Kansas City Chiefs’ superstar Travis Kelce.
“…You just watch the body of work. He reminds me a lot of Chris Cooley. He has some similar body mannerisms to Travis Kelce. Chris Cooley was one of the first players that I ever coached in this league. He’s a great football player. You could see he had a great feel [for the game], [and] great savvy. Same thing, I remember my first year coaching tight ends evaluating and Travis Kelce coming out of Cincinnati. Those are big, lofty comparisons so certainly not saying that he’s those guys yet, but there are a lot of instincts. He plays with a change of pace when the ball gets in his hands.”
As a former tight ends coach, having that level of praise for a rookie TE is awesome to hear, and it should give Rams fans a new level of optimism for the former Oregon Duck.
What also separates Ferguson from the rest is his versatility. McVay emphasized that Ferguson allows the offense to be more versatile, highlighting his ability to play in the “C” area (off the line of scrimmage), move around the formation, and find soft zones when plays break down. That improvisational skill is something Kupp made a career on, and now, Ferguson may carry that torch, especially in the red zone and third-down situations.
While comparing a rookie to a player like Kupp might feel premature, Ferguson does bring a similar football mind with a different body type. In McVay’s creative scheme, that could unlock a new level of the Rams’ passing attack.
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