The buzz around the Rams' offense is already reaching a fever pitch with Nate Atkins of The Athletic naming second-round tight end Terrance Ferguson as the breakout candidate to watch for 2026. After a rookie season where he put up 231 yards, Atkins laid out two huge reasons why Ferguson is primed to explode this upcoming year. Forget the new defensive additions like Myles Garrett, Trent McDuffie, and Jaylen Watson for a second. The real fireworks might be on offense.
The Stash is Over: Volume is Coming
The Rams didn't just draft Terrance Ferguson to play right away. Nah, Atkins reveals the plan was to "stash" their top draft pick a year ago, setting him up for this exact breakout season. How smart is that? During his rookie year, Ferguson caught 11 passes for 231 yards and three touchdowns. He even added one catch for 19 yards on six targets in the playoffs. Sure, those numbers don't jump off the page at first glance, but that 21 yards per reception? That's flat-out incredible! Atkins points out that figure would have ranked second in the NFL last season if he had the volume. While that monster average might dip a bit with more targets, the fact is his 25 targets are expected to surge in 2026. The Rams are ready to open the playbook for him, and that means he's about to get a whole lot more involved.Nacua and Adams: A TE's Dream Scenario
Here's the real kicker: Ferguson is going to be running free because of the elite wide receivers around him. Atkins highlights that it's going to be "very difficult to account for" Ferguson when defenses are stressing about Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Come on, Puka Nacua is one of the best wideouts in the entire NFL, and Davante Adams is probably the best No. 2 receiver in the league, if not right there with Tee Higgins. That duo is going to command so much defensive attention, leaving Ferguson with prime opportunities in weaker coverage. When you've got Matthew Stafford throwing the ball and Sean McVay drawing up plays, Ferguson already has a great foundation. Add in Nacua and Adams pulling safeties and corners away, and it's hardly a surprise if this 23-year-old, 46th overall pick from the 2025 NFL Draft has a massive 2026 season. With the Rams' incredible WR talent and Ferguson's expected volume boost, the stage is set for a huge year. Get ready to see what this second-year tight end can really do when he's finally unleashed.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.