Stu Jackson@StuJRams
Sean McVay on TE Terrance Ferguson: “He reminds me a lot of Chris Cooley,” and also when he evaluated Travis Kelce coming out of Cincinnati.

But “certainly not saying he’s those guys yet.”

Jourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
I could be wrong but Stewart may be projected as the the Hoecht/Cheetah package/five man rush player. Has a legit motor and personality (as described by our Dane Brugler) fits really well with this young group.

I’m obviously not comparing him TO Hoecht, just saying they needed a juice player in that role

Jeremy Fowler@JFowlerESPN
Matthew Stafford with a fun vertical option in new #Rams TE Terrance Ferguson, who tested the best among tight ends in the vertical and the 40 in Indy.

Sarah Barshop@sarahbarshop
This is the earliest the Rams have taken a TE since drafting Gerald Everett 44th overall in 2017
.

Does this look familiar, Rams fans?pic.twitter.com/PvAZXIZSUx

— Adam Grosbard (@AdamGrosbard) April 26, 2025

Rams Bros.@RamsBrothers
#Oregon TE Terrance Ferguson at #46…

• 6’5, 247lbs, 22 years old
• 4.63 40-yard dash
• Physical route runner, excellent after the catch, run blocker who will get his face dirty
• Red zone weapon for Matthew Stafford
• 42.% of his 2024 snaps in the slot and 40.5% inline/wing
• 25.6% of his catches in 2024 resulted in 20 yards or more
• 72.1% of catches in 2024 resulted in first down or touchdown

‪Jourdan Rodrigue‬ ‪@jourdanrodrigue.bsky.social‬
Rams really wanted to go skill player with their first pick, and Sean McVay has been jonesing for a TE. He’ll join a room with Tyler Higbee (last year of his contract), Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen.

Will Stein does a lot of creative things with that offense and Terrance Ferguson was both versatile and dependable there (including as a blocker). Rams were very, very high on him.

from https://www.nfl.com/prospects/terrance-ferguson/32004645-5233-3882-9ca7-fa63e767baea

Prospect Info
Oregon
Senior
Height
6’ 5’’
Weight
247 lbs
Arm
32 7/8’’
Hand
9 1/4’’

By Lance Zierlein

Overview

Productive pass catcher with good size but an alarming lack of tenacity and fire when it’s time to run block. Ferguson saw adequate short-catch volume but was rarely asked to venture beyond the front yard as a route-runner. He has not shown enough technique or toughness to neutralize an NFL edge defender at the point of attack, but he can hit targets as a move blocker. Ferguson could improve in that area with additional coaching, but he might need to find the grit needed to compete against NFL tough guys as a run blocker to realize his full potential.

Strengths

Racked up solid catch production over the last three seasons.
Displays build-up speed when asked to run seam routes.
Shows ball skills and body control.
Gets every inch of reach available when high-pointing a catch.
Capable of banging through an uncommitted tackler.
Potential for improvement as a run blocker.
Adequate run-block strain when he’s on level footing.

Weaknesses

Leans way out past his toes as a run blocker.
Plays with some passivity when fitting up blocks.
Ambles into routes with heavy steps.
Disappointing contested-catch rate for a player his size.
Lacks foot quickness to elude initial tackler after catch.

from Grading NFL Draft 2025 first-round picks: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6301900/2025/04/24/nfl-draft-grades-2025-round-1-every-pick/?campaign=5888993&source=dailyemail&userId=603890

11. San Francisco 49ers: Mykel Williams, edge, Georgia
The 49ers needed a bookend to play with Nick Bosa, and Williams fits the description. After the 49ers lost a ton in free agency and were faced with salary-cap situations, this pick was more than solid — Williams can become a decade-long starter, if he stays healthy.

At Georgia last year, however, he dealt with repeated ankle issues, which kept his starts and rotational snaps down. But as a team captain, he was still productive (five sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss). Williams possesses huge arms (34 3/8 inches) and a giant wingspan (82 7/8 inches). He is a physical edge capable of moving anywhere along the line of scrimmage on passing downs.

Grade: A

16. Arizona Cardinals: Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
The former top-ranked recruit in the country, Nolen is a twitched-up powerhouse with very strong hands and every trait a mauler needs. However, very little about his game, at either Texas A&M or Ole Miss, was consistent. He played hard but too often lost his assignment against the run, and he also didn’t have much of a plan in passing situations, other than to bull rush.

For as talented as he was (and his production improved a ton at Ole Miss), Nolen often left you wanting more. Selecting him ahead of Derrick Harmon is certainly interesting, but Arizona clearly believes it can smooth out Nolen’s rough spots and help him grow into a star. Still, this feels like a bit of a reach given the other talent on the board, including at defensive tackle.

Grade: B-minus

8. Seattle Seahawks: Grey Zabel, G/C, North Dakota State
One of the smartest players in this class, Zabel played every position along the offensive line in college — and did so at a high level. He turned down big-time NIL money to stay at North Dakota State, then ultimately dominated at the Senior Bowl as arguably the best offensive lineman there.

For a team like Seattle, which has been trying to fix the interior of its offensive line for a half-decade now, this feels like an elite pick. Zabel (who helped run his family farm in college and will continue to do so during NFL offseasons) is one of the draft’s hardest workers. He’s a high-floor player who fills multiple needs for the Seahawks — an awesome pick here and a great fit.

Grade: A-plus

26. Atlanta Falcons (from LAR): James Pearce Jr., edge, Tennessee
The Falcons gave up a lot to move up into the bottom of the first round — a 2026 first-round pick plus Nos. 46 and 242 this year for Nos. 25 and 101. And they selected one of the more polarizing players in this draft class. On talent alone, Pearce is absolutely a first-rounder, but teams may have dropped him down their boards after reports of coachability and consistency issues during his time at Tennessee. He’s a dynamic pass rusher, but he also might give up a bit against the run.

It’s not a problem that the Falcons like Pearce and his potential, but this was sort of a strange move, especially after the Falcons took Walker at 15. If the Falcons feel comfortable with Pearce’s character, this pick was more than fine. But they gave up a ton to make it — and the Rams have to feel pretty good about their end of the swap.

Grade: C-plus

Basicvenom12@Basicvenom12
Mr demoff why is there no draft event this weekend. Like the years in the past.

Kevin Demoff@kdemoff
When your GM is @LesSneadHair and you are picking 26th, not wise to host a draft event expecting to draft a player!

Brian Baldinger@BaldyNFL
7/17 picks are defensive lineman. The DL has never dominated a draft like this before

Me: there were 3 more after 17, so it was 10 of 32.

Cameron DaSilva@camdasilva
Les Snead just confirmed the Rams tried to trade up but teams were “asking too much”

canadaram wrote:

Hmm. I guess the Rams liked Dart, or at least it seems that way since they were quick to trade out after the Giants moved up in front of them. I love that the Rams have two first rounders next year.

Another possibility is that the Rams wanted a 2026 1st rounder and NYG was not willing to do that

Rams look to continue recent run of hits in 2025 NFL draft

Gary Klein

https://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/story/2025-04-23/rams-nfl-draft-needs-history-first-round-pick

Matthew Stafford does not play a role in the Rams’ draft process. But “every once in a while,” the veteran quarterback said, the team might ask for his opinion about a prospect.

Stafford, however, does not dig very deep, confident that the Rams’ brain trust will make the right picks.

“I’m excited that I’m not in the green room again,” said Stafford, the top pick in the 2009 draft. “I just get to sit back, relax and see who’s going to be a big, integral part of what we’re doing this year.”

The Rams are entering the draft on a roll. In the last two drafts they selected players such as star receiver Puka Nacua, defensive tackle Kobie Turner, edge rusher Jared Verse and defensive lineman Braden Fiske. All were finalists for the league’s offensive or defensive rookie-of-the-year awards, with Verse winning last year.

Those four and numerous other young players, with a veteran base led by Stafford, have helped position the Rams for a possible Super Bowl run.

“We’ve hit the mark on special human beings that are wired the right way,” coach Sean McVay said, “and then have physical traits that allow them to reach and realize their highest potential when you put them in an environment that we hope to create and cultivate on a daily basis.”

McVay, general manager Les Snead and the Rams’ scouting and personnel staff aim to extend their streak when the draft begins Thursday in Green Bay, Wisc.

As a salute to first responders, the Rams will conduct the draft from the Los Angeles Fire Department’s Air Operations headquarters in Van Nuys.

The Rams already added free-agent receiver Davante Adams, center Coleman Shelton and defensive lineman Poona Ford to a roster that helped them advance to the NFC divisional round. But cornerback, tight end, receiver, offensive line and, perhaps, quarterback are positions Snead could target when he oversees his 14th draft.

The Rams go into the three-day draft with eight picks, including No. 26 in the first round. They do not have a second-round pick — a situation that could inspire Snead to trade back — but have two picks in the third round (Nos. 90 and 101), one in the fourth (No. 127) and four in the sixth (Nos. 190, 195, 201 and 202).

If Snead selects a player in the first round it will mark the first time since 2015 and 2016 that he did so in consecutive years.

After trading up to select Jared Goff with the No. 1 pick in 2016, and subsequently trading first-round picks for players such as cornerback Jalen Ramsey, the Rams went seven years without making a pick on the first day of the draft.

Last year in the wake of future Hall of Fame defensive lineman Aaron Donald’s retirement, the choice was seemingly obvious: The Rams needed pass rushers. They selected Verse with the 19th pick and then traded up to select Fiske, Verse’s Florida State teammate, in the second round.

Cornerbacks Darious Williams and Ahkello Witherspoon are 32 and 30, respectively, and Cobie Durant is in the final year of his rookie contract. So defensive coordinator Chris Shula could use some reinforcements.

Along with Colorado’s Travis Hunter, who is expected to be among the first players chosen, Jahdae Barron of Texas, Will Johnson of Michigan and Trey Amos of Mississippi are among the top cornerback prospects, according to Pro Football Focus.

Last year the Rams reportedly attempted to trade up to select tight end Brock Bowers, who was picked 13th by the Las Vegas Raiders. Veteran tight end Tyler Higbee recovered from knee and shoulder injuries to play late last season but is at the end of his career. So McVay could be in the market for another weapon.

Tyler Warren of Penn State and Colston Loveland of Michigan are among the top tight end prospects.

Despite adding Adams to a receiver corps that includes Nacua and speedy Tutu Atwell, the Rams could seek another dynamic receiver.

The wild card is whether the Rams have identified a quarterback who could succeed Stafford if the 16-year veteran retires in the next few years. In 2023 the Rams drafted Stetson Bennett in the fourth round, but the third-year pro is not regarded as the heir apparent.

So how does Snead evaluate this year’s quarterback prospects? The group includes Cam Ward of Miami, Shedeur Sanders of Colorado, Jalen Milroe of Alabama, Will Howard of Ohio State and Jaxson Dart of Mississippi.

“I don’t think I could truly answer that honestly,” Snead said, “so I’ll keep that internal, how we view it.”

Stafford will be watching.

Rams Bros.@RamsBrothers
Schrags is predicting the Rams trade out of the 1st round with the Giants (who end up taking Jaxson Dart).

One of the most in-tune reporters in the game when it comes to McSnead.

Los Angeles Rams PR@TheLARamsPR
General Manager Les Snead is the only GM over the last decade to draft at least three players who have been honored as the Offensive or Defensive Rookie of the Year. Former DT Aaron Donald (@AaronDonald97) and former RB Todd Gurley (@TG3II) accomplished the feat in back-to-back seasons (2014 and 2015) and OLB Jared Verse (
@JaredVerse1) was honored in 2024.

LAFB Network@LAFBNetwork
Since 2014, Les Snead has only made five first-round picks.
Three of them won Rookie of the Year.
Four became Pro Bowlers as Rams.