Rams (#61) 2nd Round TE Max Klare

[OldSchool]

Not sure how Klare excites people more than Ferguson did as a draft pick. Ferguson was more productive in college and was more athletic in his testing but to each their own. Heck his last year Ferguson had more yards and YPC than the athletic phenom Sadiq that people wanted in the 1st round just had fewer TDs and Sadiq didn't have a WR like Tez Johnson getting 10 td's.

 

[Tano]

Not sure how Klare excites people more than Ferguson did as a draft pick. Ferguson was more productive in college and was more athletic in his testing but to each their own. Heck his last year Ferguson had more yards and YPC than the athletic phenom Sadiq that people wanted in the 1st round just had fewer TDs and Sadiq didn't have a WR like Tez Johnson getting 10 td's.

I would rather have gotten a WR or ILB but hopefully Klare can do well.

 

[OldSchool]

I would rather have gotten a WR or ILB but hopefully Klare can do well.

OK not sure what that reply is to lol

 

[Tano]

OK not sure what that reply is to lol

Just your point about Klare and how I would have gone a different direction.

I was basically agreeing with you. Take the win dammit.

 

[WestCoastRam]

Not sure how Klare excites people more than Ferguson did as a draft pick. Ferguson was more productive in college and was more athletic in his testing but to each their own. Heck his last year Ferguson had more yards and YPC than the athletic phenom Sadiq that people wanted in the 1st round just had fewer TDs and Sadiq didn't have a WR like Tez Johnson getting 10 td's.

I'm a Fergy fan and believe he's got a heigh ceiling but I get why people may be more excited on Klare.

Klare shows the kind of athleticism where he can run every route on the route tree, want him to run a crosser, and up and out, a go, a post - he can do it (all routes that Fergy runs) but Klare can also run an option route, a whip, a speed out, etc which Fergy doesn't quite have the athleticism for (even though he's got better long speed it seems and is bigger with a better wingspan).

They'll offer different things and a package with both of them is tantalizing.

The one issue, both have to work on their hands for use to get the most out of them.

 

[jrry32]

Not sure how Klare excites people more than Ferguson did as a draft pick. Ferguson was more productive in college and was more athletic in his testing but to each their own. Heck his last year Ferguson had more yards and YPC than the athletic phenom Sadiq that people wanted in the 1st round just had fewer TDs and Sadiq didn't have a WR like Tez Johnson getting 10 td's.

Klare was more productive his final two years in college than Ferguson. But it's also relative. I like Ferguson. But I was disappointed last year that we didn't draft Fannin. There was no TE on the board arguably better than Klare when we picked (at least imo). Klare and Ferguson have different strengths. Both fit well with what we're trying to do. Klare is more of a move TE. Ferguson is more of an inline TE (who has the athleticism to split out). Think they can both do a lot of damage for us if they develop.

 

[BonifayRam]

Funny reading how efficient Stafford was with 13 and Ferguson particularly because they just could not connect on a lot of wide open plays early on when Ferguson started playing more. Really looking forward to that connection improving because they left a handful of big time plays on the field last season.

Would not be surprised if we carry 5 TEs and 5 or 6 WRs this season.

I agree fully with you on your forecasted on the numbers of TE's carried on the Master Roster & Practice Squad 2026, not your numbers in the WR unit.

TE
Higbee 33/12
Parkinson 27/6
Allen 25/4
Ferguson 23/2
Redman 24/1
Klare (Rookie)
Villari (rookie)

WR room after Adams & Nacua is far short on talent @ this time. I would think that drafted rookie CJ Daniels will bring more talent than the rest of the other WR's in that small water closet.

Jordan Whittington was given a opportunity to contribute, when #1 & #2 WR were out....turned in little. I don't see any talent that Konata Mumpfield brings over those listed TE's. might get some time due to being a rookie.

I don't see a main priority to carry a 5 or 6 WR room of non talented WR's (excluding Adams & Nacua), when your team has spent big draft assets & cap $$$ space securing a seriously mixed well seasoned talented TE unit that might be the envy of the every other NFL team you would be a football criminal not to use it.

McVay is in the process of blurring & smearing the lines of what a WR/ SL/ HB/ TE position is in 2026 NFL {13 personnel}. My thoughts are the precious extra roster spots will certainly not go less than average talent WR's so they can do a "2025 Whittington" .

Those few extra MS positions need towards the future 2027 season starting OL, with 4/5 of the starters are UFA's. That major task will need extra roster positions to help figured out who will replaced the starters.

 

[OldSchool]

Klare was more productive his final two years in college than Ferguson. But it's also relative. I like Ferguson. But I was disappointed last year that we didn't draft Fannin. There was no TE on the board arguably better than Klare when we picked (at least imo). Klare and Ferguson have different strengths. Both fit well with what we're trying to do. Klare is more of a move TE. Ferguson is more of an inline TE (who has the athleticism to split out). Think they can both do a lot of damage for us if they develop.

You know I was all in on Fannin.

 

[OldSchool]

I'm a Fergy fan and believe he's got a heigh ceiling but I get why people may be more excited on Klare.

Klare shows the kind of athleticism where he can run every route on the route tree, want him to run a crosser, and up and out, a go, a post - he can do it (all routes that Fergy runs) but Klare can also run an option route, a whip, a speed out, etc which Fergy doesn't quite have the athleticism for (even though he's got better long speed it seems and is bigger with a better wingspan).

They'll offer different things and a package with both of them is tantalizing.

The one issue, both have to work on their hands for use to get the most out of them.

I guess I don't see how Ferguson isn't as athletic or more and just as capable of doing everything Klare can but that's just me I guess.

 

[jjab360]

Not sure how Klare excites people more than Ferguson did as a draft pick. Ferguson was more productive in college and was more athletic in his testing but to each their own. Heck his last year Ferguson had more yards and YPC than the athletic phenom Sadiq that people wanted in the 1st round just had fewer TDs and Sadiq didn't have a WR like Tez Johnson getting 10 td's.

In this case, it's not really about the stats for me.

Personally, I like Klare more as a prospect because of what he offers as a receiver going back to his Purdue tape. Klare dominated the target share of that offense as that shifty slot TE archetype with lateral agility to create separation in the route and acceleration to create YAC. I like Ferguson for what he is as a straight line seam route athlete at Y TE, but he's kind of a long stride, lumbering type without much suddenness or agility to create separation outside of the scheme. Most likely they'll both have a role to play in the future and could complement each other well.

 

[RamWoodie]

The guy reminded me of Parkinson looking at film but a little faster.

 

[OldSchool]

In this case, it's not really about the stats for me.

Personally, I like Klare more as a prospect because of what he offers as a receiver going back to his Purdue tape. Klare dominated the target share of that offense as that shifty slot TE archetype with lateral agility to create separation in the route and acceleration to create YAC. I like Ferguson for what he is as a straight line seam route athlete at Y TE, but he's kind of a long stride, lumbering type without much suddenness or agility to create separation outside of the scheme. Most likely they'll both have a role to play in the future and could complement each other well.

Clearly I saw something different for both of these guys so I must be way off. And calling Ferguson an in-line to me seems way off because of how he was used last year by McVay. Something like 25% of his snaps had him lined up in-line the rest he was in the slot or out wide. Oh well

 

[PhillyRam]

Clearly I saw something different for both of these guys so I must be way off. And calling Ferguson an in-line to me seems way off because of how he was used last year by McVay. Something like 25% of his snaps had him lined up in-line the rest he was in the slot or out wide. Oh well

Thinking Ferguson will essentially be our 3rd "WR" this year.

 

[Ram Ts]

Thinking Ferguson will essentially be our 3rd "WR" this year.

One of them (maybe primarily) - yes.

 

[OldSchool]

Thinking Ferguson will essentially be our 3rd "WR" this year.

I agree and that jives with what McVay has said about him and how he was used.

 

[WestCoastRam]

I guess I don't see how Ferguson isn't as athletic or more and just as capable of doing everything Klare can but that's just me I guess.

Different athleticism. And Fergy's got it in spades but he'll never run an option route or a speed out, can't sink his hips well at that size, doesn't have the agility.

But the kid is still a monster in other catagories.

 

[Tumak61]

View: https://x.com/StuJRams/status/2047844312378183780

Reminds me of a young Higbee.

 

[jjab360]

Clearly I saw something different for both of these guys so I must be way off. And calling Ferguson an in-line to me seems way off because of how he was used last year by McVay. Something like 25% of his snaps had him lined up in-line the rest he was in the slot or out wide. Oh well

Maybe call it a course correction with how they intend to use him in the future but I just haven't seen Ferg run routes or shake defenders the way Klare can.

I get it that differentiating TEs when they're all literally around 6'5, 250 lbs, with 4.6 speed on paper is more difficult than for example WRs who have all different kinds of body compositions. But I really think there's a lot of things Klare does as a receiver that separate his playing style from all the other guys we already have. I could be wrong but it's also the only way this pick makes much sense at all.

 

[Merlin]

Maybe call it a course correction with how they intend to use him in the future but I just haven't seen Ferg run routes or shake defenders the way Klare can.

I get it that differentiating TEs when they're all literally around 6'5, 250 lbs, with 4.6 speed on paper is more difficult than for example WRs who have all different kinds of body compositions. But I really think there's a lot of things Klare does as a receiver that separate his playing style from all the other guys we already have. I could be wrong but it's also the only way this pick makes much sense at all.

I expect Ferg will replace Higs. Klare will back up that slot responsibility in the pass game, which really isn't a TE or WR thing for McVay. If he's good enough, they may make room for him in that role and go with Adams/Nacua outside at X/Z as their base offense. But he's probably going to need some time to settle in to the offense.

 

[jrry32]

In this case, it's not really about the stats for me.

Personally, I like Klare more as a prospect because of what he offers as a receiver going back to his Purdue tape. Klare dominated the target share of that offense as that shifty slot TE archetype with lateral agility to create separation in the route and acceleration to create YAC. I like Ferguson for what he is as a straight line seam route athlete at Y TE, but he's kind of a long stride, lumbering type without much suddenness or agility to create separation outside of the scheme. Most likely they'll both have a role to play in the future and could complement each other well.

I somewhat agree. I think Ferg has more separation quickness than you're crediting him with, but he is a build-up speed guy. He can separate in the intermediate and deep passing game, but he's going to have to box out defenders and win contested catches in the short passing game (against M2M). Klare is kind of the opposite. He doesn't have breakaway speed, but he has great separation quickness in the short and intermediate games. Accelerates quickly too, which allows him to open up on seam routes in the 15-25 yard range.

I see Klare's ceiling as Zach Ertz. I think Ferg is more like Tucker Kraft.