It's great to have high hopes for Ferguson but this is pretty optimistic.
After factoring in injury, Kupp played 84% of the offensive snaps last year. There's no way that Ferguson even approaches that number as a rookie.
We've heard that McVay wants to use more 12, but he hasn't said that he predominantly wants to go to 12. And I doubt he does use it that often since he's never made such drastic changes.
Further, When he drafted Everette he said that he wanted to use more 12 and pair Everette with Higbee. We know how that turned out.
You're penciling in a rookie a little too prominently. It would be a good year if Ferguson got 40-50% of the snaps. 80% is out of the question.
I anticipate that slot snaps will go to Puka (possibly his best position), Tutu, Ferguson, and some to Whitt.
No. I’m saying that using Ferguson a lot is McVay’s vision. That’s why Tutu got a one year deal. I kept saying that the one year deal is what indicates the plan. If Tutu is a big part of the offense in the future then the Rams sign him to a longer contract. I expect Tutu to play but his skillset still limits his role.
McVay didn’t use as much 12 personnel with Everett because Kupp was a better player than Everett and he could block better than Everett. Kupp was a receiver playing the move Tight end position better than the tight end they had. McVay has said many times that he likes to play his best players. So on that note of what he says, if Ferguson is as good as they seem to think he is, he’s going to get his opportunities. McVay said they were going to use the first round pick on him if they couldn’t trade back. He compared his skillset to Kelce’s. Plus Oregon uses some of McVays offense. So Ferguson may transition quicker than expected. Does McVay see Turu as one of his best 11 if Ferguson plays well early? I’m not so sure, because he seemed to be outside that best 11 for the last four years.
And, I’m not projecting Ferguson because I loved the pick. I was a bit underwhelmed by the choice, is what I said when he was drafted. I obviously hope to be wrong about being underwhelmed. But McVay seems to love what he will bring to the offense and in recent years we’ve seen tight ends that produce early like LaPorta and McBride to name a few. If McVay plays his new weapon or tries more 12 personnel formations with the other tight ends on the roster, then Tutu’s production is more likely to be very similar to what it’s been the last four years - 400-500 yards 0-3 TDs.
I’ll add that McVay has been salivating at the thought of drafting a pass catching tight end for the previous two drafts. It seems like an important position to him.
