​Depending on the lens you use, tight end could be seen as either a strength or a potential flaw for the Los Angeles Rams. With the addition of Max Klare in the second round, the Rams now boast five dependable tight ends who are expected to contribute this season. The drawback is that none of those five are widely regarded as a premier player by the general public. In fact, NFL coaches, executives, and scouts don’t view any Rams tight end as a top-23 option. ESPN surveyed talent evaluators across the league about the best tight ends in football, and not a single Rams player made the list. The ranking featured 10 players, plus five honorable mentions and eight in the “also receiving votes” category. Not one Rams name appeared in any category, meaning no coaches, executives, or scouts voted for a Rams tight end at all. That outcome isn’t particularly surprising given Colby Parkinson’s single season of legitimate production, Terrance Ferguson’s unfulfilled potential, and Tyler Higbee’s decline over the past two years. Yet it does raise the question of whether the Rams possess enough elite talent at the position.
From Sean McVay’s perspective, however, the tight end room meets the necessary demands. The Rams frequently deploy 13 personnel, so depth is as crucial as top-end ability. They need at least three or four tight ends who can log meaningful snaps in 13 personnel, rotating on and off the field regularly. Those players must be able to block and catch passes, while also being versatile enough to line up in multiple spots: inline, out wide, in the slot, and in the backfield. Parkinson might not be the most celebrated tight end in the league, but he produced eight touchdowns last season and was a legitimate red-zone threat. Ferguson stands out as one of the more athletic tight ends in football, and, as a rookie with limited snaps, he averaged 20.8 yards per catch—the third-highest mark in the NFL last season. Higbee remains an all-around contributor and the leader of the tight end room, while Davis Allen offers solid athleticism, and Klare is viewed as a tight end with strong receiving potential for the future.
The Rams would no doubt love to land a top-tier contributor such as Tyler Warren, Colston Loveland, or Brock Bowers—names that ranked highly in ESPN’s top-10 and were reportedly among the Rams’ targets in the draft. Still, there is a realistic chance that Ferguson or Klare could develop into a premier tight end in the coming years. For now, the Rams possess the depth necessary to run McVay’s offensive scheme at a high level, including a pair of young tight ends with substantial untapped potential.
This assessment mirrors the broader takeaway: the Rams have built a depth chart at tight end that suits their system and gives them options for frequent personnel swings, even if they aren’t yet stacked with a peerless, top-tier playmaker at the position. The combination of Parkinson’s steady production, Ferguson’s athletic upside, Higbee’s veteran leadership, Allen’s athleticism, and Klare’s developmental trajectory provides a group capable of sustaining a robust passing and blocking role. Whether that translates to top-23 recognition from evaluators may be less important than how effectively they can execute in McVay’s scheme, particularly in formations that demand multiple tight ends on the field. The takeaway remains: the Rams have the personnel to operate at a high level in 13 personnel, with multiple players who can contribute both as blockers and receivers, and with young talent that could ascend in time.