Terrance Ferguson showed a lot of promise as a rookie last year. The Los Angeles Rams didn’t give him many opportunities in Year 1, but as the season went on, he showed what made him a coveted second-round prospect out of Oregon.
He averaged an eye-watering 20.8 yards per catch, by far the most of any tight end in the NFL and the third-highest average when including wide receivers, too. So even though he only caught 12 passes, he turned them into 250 yards and three touchdowns (including playoffs).
Everyone saw his potential as a deep receiver, but the Rams didn’t utilize one of his best traits: picking up yards after the catch.
According to Pro Football Focus, Ferguson led all FBS tight ends (min. 30 targets) with an average of 9.0 yards after the catch per reception in 2024. He was highly effective with the ball in his hands, forcing eight missed tackles on 43 total receptions.
Last season, Ferguson had minimal opportunities to create after the catch. He didn’t force a single missed tackle and averaged only 3.4 yards after catch per reception, in part because his average depth of target was 17.9 yards downfield. The next-closest tight end was Darren Waller at 11.9, which ranked 58th in the NFL; Ferguson was tied for fourth.
Sean McVay acknowledged in an interview on “NFL Daily” that the Rams didn’t utilize Ferguson’s run-after-catch ability last season the way they could have, while once again comparing his movement skills to Travis Kelce.
“Honestly, there’s some similar mannerisms – don’t let me lose you – to Kelce, in terms of, feet are always close to the ground, he’s able to skate, he’s got a good, natural ability to work edges on people,” McVay said. “One of the things that I liked the most about him that really wasn’t on display last year, he obviously did a great job tracking some big balls down the field, but his run after the catch. He was catching a lot of checkdowns or chip-flats with (Dillon) Gabriel at Oregon and you could see, really, the RAC was one of the elite traits that we liked. That’s always an important factor for any of our skill players, and he’s no different.”
The Rams are masters of tight end screens but Ferguson wasn’t the target of those plays last season. That’s vastly different than what he was doing on college, when his average depth of target was only 7.8 yards.
If the Rams can mix in some screens, checkdowns and quick passes to Ferguson, he’ll really get to showcase one of his best abilities. He tested as the most athletic tight end in the 2025 draft class at the NFL combine last year, running a 4.63 in the 40 with a 39-inch vertical and 1.55-second 10-yard split.
His explosiveness and athleticism give him a high ceiling, and according to reports, he’s had a strong offseason. With the Rams needing a new WR3, Ferguson should have more chances to contribute as a receiver this season, even if he does technically play tight end.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams still haven’t unlocked one of Terrance Ferguson’s ‘elite traits’
Reporting by Cameron DaSilva, Rams Wire / Rams Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Cameron DaSilva, Rams Wire | USA TODAY Network
