When the Los Angeles Rams made Terrance Ferguson their second-round pick in April, the move came with immediate fanfare. Sean McVay was so enthused about the Oregon tight end that he told general manager Les Snead, “From the first (expletive) time we put this guy on, there was a vision.” Snead echoed the urgency: “This is as confident as I’ve ever been” in taking a risk to get a guy McVay wanted.
The Rams believed Ferguson could unlock a new dimension in their offense — one long hampered by injuries and inconsistency at the tight end spot. Some around the league even projected Ferguson as a challenger for Tyler Higbee’s TE1 status. But less than two weeks into camp, Ferguson is sitting at TE4 on the Rams’ unofficial depth chart.
It’s a surprising placement for a player once considered a Day 1 contributor. Higbee remains the top tight end, followed by free-agent addition Colby Parkinson and second-year option Davis Allen. Ferguson, for all his upside, hasn’t cracked the top three.
Los Angeles Rams Put Terrance Ferguson In TE 4 Spot
Yes, the depth chart is unofficial. It wasn’t authored by McVay or Snead. But Ferguson’s placement reflects the reality seen at practice. As noted by the LAFB Network, Ferguson has been primarily working with the second team, even as Higbee works his way back from injury. That alone signals that he’s not in serious contention — at least not yet — to leapfrog the Rams’ veterans.
There’s also the matter of Ferguson’s groin injury, which he sustained during a weekend practice and has since sidelined him. McVay downplayed the severity, calling it a “little” injury, but the timing couldn’t be worse. With preseason opener reps available Saturday against the Cowboys, Ferguson is expected to sit out — a missed chance to make a case in live action.
This slow start doesn’t erase the upside. Ferguson still walks into a tight end-friendly scheme with a relatively clean path to playing time. The Rams ran 12 personnel (two-TE sets) on just 5% of offensive snaps in 2023. But that number jumped to 15.5% during Weeks 15-18 last season, once Higbee returned from injury. Rodrigue reports that McVay has “reiterated his hope for his offense to be more multiple in 2025,” hinting that heavier tight end usage is coming — especially with Cooper Kupp now in Seattle and the receiver room in transition.
That scheme shift could eventually favor Ferguson. ESPN’s Ben Solak projected him to overtake Higbee by Week 5 and finish with 63 catches, 821 yards, and six touchdowns — second on the team behind Puka Nacua. FTN’s Daniel Kelley went further, predicting Ferguson will be the most productive rookie tight end in the league.
Inside Rams camp, players and coaches have spoken highly of him. Higbee called Ferguson “a great ball player.” Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur praised the rookie’s ability to find soft spots in coverage and move the chains.
Still, hype alone doesn’t change the fact that Ferguson currently sits fourth on the depth chart. His talent is clear, but his camp has yet to match the buzz. Until he gets healthy and starts seeing more reps with the ones, the TE1 speculation — however valid it once seemed — will remain just that.
For now, the Rams’ future at tight end is still Terrance Ferguson. But the present? That belongs to someone else.
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