Rams' 26 most important players for 2026 – No. 16: TE Terrance Ferguson
· Yahoo Sports
Sean McVay has a habit of adding offensive playmakers at all positions in the draft, keeping that trend alive in 2025 when the Los Angeles Rams drafted tight end Terrance Ferguson in the second round after trading down. He was considered the most athletic tight end in the draft after performing exceptionally well at the NFL combine, giving Matthew Stafford yet another weapon in the passing game.
Ferguson got off to a slow start as a rookie after missing time in camp with an injury, but as he started to pick up the offense, so too did his playing time. Heading into his second season, Ferguson is poised for a bigger role and could become one of the team's top playmakers.
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He's the Rams' 16th-most important player heading into 2026, even in a crowded tight end room.
How he got here
The Rams had the 26th overall pick in the 2025 draft but when the Falcons offered them a 2026 first-rounder, they decided to trade down 20 spots to No. 46. At that spot, the Rams selected Ferguson out of Oregon, making him the fourth tight end off the board in the draft.
2025 stats
14 games (3 starts): 25 targets, 11 receptions, 231 yards, 3 touchdowns
Projected role
Ferguson's not a traditional tight end because he's a much better receiver than blocker. He also lines up in the slot and out wide often, which is a complete mismatch when a safety or linebacker follows him there. He could wind up essentially being the Rams' No. 3 receiver behind Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, playing the role of being a big slot for Matthew Stafford.
Interestingly, Ferguson was the Rams' primary deep threat as a rookie last season. His average depth of target was 17.9, which was the fifth-highest of any NFL player with at least 25 targets. That includes wide receivers, of course. Among tight ends, Darren Waller was the next-closest at 11.9.
Ferguson's role in 2026 should be a combination of things. He can still be an inline tight end, especially in 13 personnel, but he'll also line up in the slot a lot and run fades deep down the field. His taller frame allows him to win against smaller safeties and corners, while his speed helps him separate from linebackers.
One thing to know
Ferguson ranked third in the NFL last season with an average of 20.8 yards per reception, 7.1 more than any other Rams player. He did most of his damage before the catch, too. His 3.4 yards after the catch per reception was 166th in the NFL among qualified players.
Why he's important
The Rams have struggled to find a consistent deep threat since the Brandin Cooks days, using Demarcus Robinson and Tutu Atwell in that role with mixed results. Ferguson is by no means the speedster that Atwell and Robinson are, but he showed often last season that he can win down the field with his wide catch radius and big frame.
Stafford trusts Ferguson immensely, too, targeting him on the fateful fourth down in the NFC title game and five times the week before that against the Bears in the divisional round. It's important for the Rams to have a different type of pass catcher alongside Adams and Nacua, who dominate on intermediate routes. Ferguson can be an asset on offense if he cleans up his route running and gets stronger at the catch point.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams' 26 most important players for 2026 – No. 16: TE Terrance Ferguson