LOS ANGELES — In the second round of the NFL draft on Friday night, the Los Angeles Rams secured Oregon tight end Terrance Ferguson with the 46th overall pick.
Ferguson, a standout with the Ducks, made an impressive impact during his college career, recording 134 receptions for 1,537 yards and achieving 16 touchdowns over his four seasons. His performance earned him first-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2023.
With Ferguson, the Rams are looking to bolster their tight end position for the future. Their current option, Tyler Higbee, is approaching the final year of his two-year contract extension signed back in 2023. Furthermore, Higbee faced challenges following a serious knee injury in the previous postseason. Though Colby Parkinson was brought on board with a three-year deal during free agency in March 2024, his first season impact was minimal, concluding with only 30 catches for 294 yards and a solitary touchdown.
Prior to selecting Ferguson, the Rams orchestrated a trade on Thursday with the Atlanta Falcons. In a strategic move, they traded away their No. 26 overall selection and a third-round pick, securing second-round and seventh-round picks in the current draft and a future first-round pick for 2026. This trade allowed Atlanta to acquire Tennessee defensive end James Pearce Jr. Notably, this marks the eighth instance in nine years where the Rams did not have a first-round draft pick.
Despite their unconventional draft approach, the Rams have flourished under the guidance of coach Sean McVay, achieving seven winning seasons in the past eight years and clinching a Super Bowl victory following the 2021 campaign. Their success over the past two years, featuring consecutive 10-win seasons, has been largely attributed to strategic second-day draft picks. These selections helped reinforce their defensive line with additions like edge rusher Byron Young and tackle Kobie Turner in 2023, followed by tackle Braden Fiske in 2024. On the offensive line front, the Rams also bolstered their squad by selecting Steve Avila in the second round two years ago as part of a comprehensive overhaul of their scrimmage lines.