Each NFL Draft brings with it the chance for brilliance—or second-guessing. The Los Angeles Rams are no strangers to the sting of hindsight, especially when reflecting on their 2021 choice to draft wide receiver Tutu Atwell with the 57th overall pick. Still available at the time was Oklahoma center Creed Humphrey, a fan-favorite who has since become a cornerstone of the Kansas City Chiefs’ offensive line. Meanwhile, the Rams have cycled through five different centers, including the recent re-signing of Coleman Shelton.
Now, with the 2025 NFL Draft in the rearview mirror, the question lingers: did the Rams make another choice they’ll come to regret?
Heading into the draft, Rams fans widely expected the team to finally address the tight end position. And while the team did take action, it came in a roundabout way. Holding the 26th overall pick, the Rams found themselves without access to top targets like Tyler Warren or Colston Loveland. Rather than reaching, they accepted a trade with the Falcons, moving back to the 46th pick and gaining a 2026 first-round selection in return.
In the meantime, only one tight end—LSU’s Mason Taylor—was taken between picks 26 and 46, going to the Jets at 42.
Leading up to the draft, the Rams showed strong interest in tight ends, having met with five: Tyler Warren, Colston Loveland, Mason Taylor, Gunner Helm (Texas), and Thomas Fidone II (Nebraska). At the time of their second-round pick, both Helm and Fidone were still available.
One notable name missing from those pre-draft meetings, though, was Bowling Green’s Harold Fannin Jr., a small-school standout creating plenty of post-draft buzz. Despite playing with lesser-known quarterback Connor Bazelak, Fannin racked up 1,555 receiving yards and quickly earned recognition as a dynamic pass-catching weapon.
Although the Rams didn’t meet with Fannin or Oregon’s Terrance Ferguson, the growing interest in Fannin suggests he could prove to be a steal—one that might haunt L.A. in the years ahead if their chosen tight end doesn’t live up to expectations.
The 2025 tight end class was deep—so deep that many worthy prospects went undrafted or slipped into late rounds. But the decisions the Rams made, and the players they passed on—Fannin Jr., Helm, Fidone II, and even Taylor—will now be used as measuring sticks for the tight end they ultimately selected.
Just like fans remember the Creed Humphrey miss, they won’t forget the alternatives to this year’s pick either. Just ask Tutu Atwell.
