round 2 pick 46 Rams take TE Terrance Ferguson

I just read something that provides the magic words needed to assess Ferguson.

Someone called him a “move TE.”

That’s less of a pure inline blocker who lines up and is, basically, when run blocking, another O-lineman.

A move TE, you put in motion and move all over the formation whether it’s run or pass. They often run block on the move (wham blocks etc) and then of course also use motion to set up pass routes. So it helps not to think of Ferguson as a a traditional TE, who tend to be inline blockers in the run game, but to instead think of him as a move TE, who tend to play like big, athletic wide receivers that line up anywhere–inline sometimes but also out wide, in the slot, or behind the LOS.

Los Angeles Rams UK

[Ferguson] was the most impressive tight end in terms of testing at the combine, proving that he was by far the most athletic of those that did test there. He had the quickest 40-yard dash time of all TE’s with 4.63 seconds combined with an elite 10-yard split of 1.55 seconds which proves how fast he can get off the line of scrimmage and beat defenders quickly to help his quarterback make quick and easy throws. He also had the best vertical jump and third best broad jump among tight ends at the combine which justifies his position in the top tier of uber-athletic tight ends in this draft class.

Zooey wrote:

Ferguson is basically just a bigger, heavier Cooper Kupp. Would expect Ferguson to do some Kupp things.

That’s an interesting point.

Always love a @tednguyen.bsky.social article. Ted and I are on the same page here thinking Terrance Ferguson could play a big slot in McVay’s vision for his 2025 offense. http://www.nytimes.com/athletic/630…

— Jourdan Rodrigue (@jourdanrodrigue.bsky.social) 2025-04-30T15:47:50.964Z

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from https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6307769/2025/04/30/nfl-draft-best-scheme-fits-membou-loveland/

7. Terrance Ferguson, TE, Los Angeles Rams
Play style: Move tight end who can find the holes in zones

Scheme: Balanced run scheme that utilizes a traditional drop-back game rather than play action

Few teams are as adept at understanding a prospect’s strengths and weaknesses and how they fit into their scheme as the Rams. Their latest was Ferguson, whom they said they were targeting in the first round, before trading down and still landing him in the second round. On paper, the Rams potentially have one of the most explosive offenses in the league with receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. The team has been searched for a tight end since last year when they attempted to trade up for Brock Bowers. Sean McVay compared Ferguson’s play style to Chris Cooley and Travis Kelce, who are closer to big slots than in-line tight ends.

“Those are big, lofty comparisons,” McVay added, “so I’m certainly not saying that he’s those guys yet. But there’s a lot of instincts. He plays with a change of pace when the ball gets in his hands. I think he can play in the C area, he’s moved around the formation. When things go off-schedule, he shows what a feel he has to find soft spots. … I’m really excited to get him in that tight end room.”

Though Adams gives the Rams more juice downfield in the passing game, Kupp did a lot of the dirty work for the Rams in the run game and created yards after the catch. Ferguson will help replace some of what Kupp did as a blocker. McVay won’t ask Ferguson to block defensive ends one-on-one frequently as a rookie — they still have Tyler Higbee for that — but he’ll be able to crack block and insert on linebackers. Also, with Nacua and Adams lifting the coverage, Ferguson can work choice routes against linebackers and run after the catch.