Ferguson has ‘some of the best breakout potential’

The Rams field a deep tight end room, and Atkins expects the personnel to undergo turnover in the next year or so. Second-year TE Terrance Ferguson could function as the de facto No. 3 wide receiver while TE Colby Parkinson continues “to be a focal point on third downs and in the red zone in this three-tight end offense” this season. He adds that Klare could get involved on “some yards-after-catch designs and wrinkles this season,” but it does not sound like Klare is due for a fantasy-friendly role in 2026.

A hamstring injury impacted Ferguson’s productivity late last season. The Rams’ “13-personnel revolution is here to stay,” which means Ferguson should see a solid snap total if he can win the starting role. Still, it is tough to predict whether a TE1 finish is realistically within his potential range of outcomes right now, given the Rams’ overall deep receiving corps.

Klare (6’4/246) was a four-star recruit for Purdue and played a reserve role as a freshman. He only appeared in five games as a sophomore before an ankle injury ended his season. Klare finally broke out with a 51/685/4 receiving line in his third outing. As is often the case in the current college football landscape, Klare’s breakout made him a hot name in the transfer portal and the Buckeyes picked up the phone. Klare’s numbers tanked at Ohio State, though playing alongside at least two potential NFL stars in Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith is a reasonable alibi. He went for 448 yards and just two touchdowns. Despite the counting stats taking a hit, Klare likely improved his draft stock by bulking up for a more traditional tight end role. He increased his rate of inline routes and improved as a run-blocker. After rounding out his skill set at Ohio State, Klare looks ready to contribute on an NFL field out of the gates.

Per NBC Sports Houston’s Aaron Wilson, Klare has met “extensively” with the Texans, Buccaneers, Rams, Broncos and Panthers. Klare could be the second tight drafted next week, profiling as a potential every-down player. Although he performed better as a receiver at Purdue in 2024, he earned a respectable 71.6 PFF run-blocking grade at Ohio State last year. Klare could be a year one contributor, but he is not guaranteed to reach the TE1 ranks in fantasy.

Ravens team reporter Ryan Mink adds that although TE Mark Andrews posted a career-low 422 receiving yards last season, “the Ravens see a rebound in 2026.” DeCosta’s comments could indicate otherwise, though the team lost TEs Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar in free agency. Mink also notes that the Ravens have picked two tight ends in the same draft four times in franchise history: 2022, 2018, 2015 and 2010. DeCosta has been with the Ravens for his whole career, dating back to 1996, and the strategy has worked well for the organization. Mink believes replacing Likely with a receiving tight end could be viewed as a need in the short term. He lists 10 potential draftees, including Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq, Ohio State TE Max Klare, Vanderbilt TE Eli Stowers, Baylor TE Michael Trigg and NC State TE Justin Joly.

This is the second incoming rookie tight end the Broncos have brought in for a top-30 visit this week. The position remains an area of need despite head coach Sean Payton spending the last three years trying to find a Joker. In his final college season, Klare caught 41-of-53 targets for 420 yards and two touchdowns. Per 9News’ Mike Klis, Klare could potentially be the second tight end drafted this year and is “arguably the most well-rounded.”

Sadiq out of Oregon is widely expected to be a first round pick after setting record at the NFL Combine. Bowen believes the hyper-athletic tight end could be a situation matchup player for Sean McVay, who used three tight end sets at the NFL’s highest rate in 2025. “With his frame and 4.39 speed, Sadiq could be a seam stretcher for quarterback Matthew Stafford. Plus, McVay could use Sadiq as a backside X receiver/power slot to draw favorable man matchups.” Sadiq, who had 80 receptions over three seasons at Oregon, could fit the LA offense “as a catch-and-run target on boot action concepts,” Bowen said. Stafford last season led the NFL with 75 pass attempts on designed rollouts. It’s a crowded tight end room in LA, with Colby Parikson, Tyler Higbee, Terrance Ferguson, and Davis Allen on the roster. Sadiq would likely function as a rotational player if he lands with the Rams, who have the 13th pick in the 2026 draft.

Ferguson dealt with a late-season hamstring injury that masked how his snaps and targets were growing late in the year. The Rams have enough weaponry that it’s hard to believe Ferguson would be a consistent TE1 this year without injuries ahead of him, but we could absolutely see TE1 games from him in his second season.

The deal prevents Higbee from entering free agency next week. The longtime Rams tight end spent time on injured reserve during the 2025 season, rehabbing an ankle injury. At 33 years old, he is best suited to a rotational role. Fortunately for him, the Rams employ a heavy tight end rotation while regularly calling plays out to 3TE sets. He caught 25-of-35 targets for 281 yards and three touchdowns last season. Higbee is not on the TE1 radar anymore.

Higbee is still deciding on his future. The 33-year-old lifelong Ram was lost in the 3TE set shuffle last year and wouldn’t figure to be an interesting fantasy tight end if he re-signed in Los Angeles.