Thoughts on each Rams 2025 rookie

A thought on each Rams rookie from Terrance Ferguson to Konata Mumpfield

The dust has settled on the 2025 NFL Draft for the Los Angeles Rams. We mostly know how this year’s roster will be shaped following another active offseason.

The Rams expect to contend for a Super Bowl win this season. If they are going to get where they want to go, they’ll need another strong rookie class to act as a wind in their sails.

These are thoughts on each 2025 draft selection and how they slot into the depth chart short-term:

TE Terrance Ferguson, Oregon; 2nd Round

Sean McVay says the selection of Ferguson will help the offense lean on a heavier dose of 12 personnel; however, we’ve heard the Rams say that more than once only to remain rooted in primarily 11 personnel.

In my view, Ferguson will enter the season as TE2 behind Tyler Higbee and then likely overtake the veteran by year’s end. Higbee can be a highly productive offensive contributor in flashes, though we’ve never seen him produce consistently over a full season. Injuries have also limited his availability.

You don’t pick a TE in the second round—at least of Ferguson’s profile—if he isn’t the future starter. He’s too talented of a player to not involve often and could be the key to unlocking more efficiency in the red zone.

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EDGE Josaiah Stewart, Michigan; 3rd Round

This pick didn’t seem to popular amongst fans during the draft, but I love what Stewart brings to the table for the Rams. He’s a high-motor and tenacious player that will help Jared Verse set the tone for the defense.

Stewart is a bet on the inverse of the traits we normally see NFL teams take fliers on, which are usually elite athletes without high level college production. Stewart is undersized and may not check all the boxes from an athletic standpoint. He’s a great football player and will find ways to impact opposing quarterbacks as the third rusher behind Verse and Byron Young.

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RB Jarquez Hunter, Auburn; 4th Round

There’s no denying that Kyren Williams is the lead man in Los Angeles. How long he remains a Ram is a question given the looming potential of a contract extension. For this season I see Hunter as the second back from a usage standpoint; however, second-year player Blake Corum is likely Williams’ direct backup.

Hunter is in LA to spell Williams and ensure that, if the offensive line opens the right blocks, big runs can be taken to the house instead of being held to moderate gains.

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DT Ty Hamilton, Ohio State; 5th Round

There is a steep climb to playing time along the Rams’ interior defensive line. Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, and Poona Ford are entrenched starters. Last year’s sixth round pick Tyler Davis and 2023 seventh round selection Desjuan Johnson saw ample opportunities towards the end of last season. Leapfrogging those two players won’t be easy.

If we are being realistic, we shouldn’t expect to see much of Hamilton in 2025 given the players in front of him. Teams rotate along the defensive line often so there will always be opportunities from that perspective combined with the potential of injuries.

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LB Pooh Paul, Ole Miss; 5th Round

Asking a fifth rounder to earn a starting job in training camp may be too lofty of expectations. I still think Paul enters Week 1 as the leading man in the middle of the defense over Troy Reeder, Omar Speights, and Nate Landman. Paul is simply the most talented player at this position.

The real question is how will Paul fare as a rookie? He doesn’t have the length you’d expect from an NFL linebacker. Does that mean he’ll have difficulties disengaging from blocks? The ideal scenario is that he’s an impact player in coverage—something we haven’t seen from Rams linebackers over the last half decade—and makes up for any run game deficiencies.

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WR Konata Mumpfield, Pitt; 7th Round

There will be playing time available at the receiver position for the Rams. The starting trio of Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, and Tutu Atwell is all but set in stone.

Second-year receiver Jordan Whittington was productive when LA was short-handed last year. Xavier Smith is more of a special teams contributor than offensive skill player. Veteran Quintez Cephus shouldn’t be overlooked given the amount of playing time by Demarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson over the previous two seasons.

The realistic ceiling for Mumpfield is WR5. With that said, the fifth receiver should still play on limited opportunities and contribute on special teams.

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