What players and positions should the Los Angeles Rams be targeting with their picks throughout the 2026 NFL Draft?
With the 2026 NFL Draft rapidly approaching, the Los Angeles Rams
are finalizing their own draft board. This draft is a critical one to add difference makers for the present and future and fill out the depth of the team. With Super Bowl LX on everyone's mind, this draft is critical.
While the Rams' big board is a secret, we can always guess. I've built out my own based on a combination of my own grades and the Rams' needs and tendencies.
Criteria for full transparency:
These aren't my personal
rankings. These are influenced by my own big board (which will be released later), but I have weighed them based on the Rams. Positions of need (like LB, CB, WR, etc) will be weighed more than I normally would and given priority over non-need positions (like guard).
Additionally, specific types
of players will be weighed more. For example at EDGE, the case could be made the Rams need an "OLB type" more than a "DE" type because they drop their non-Verse EDGEs into coverage often. At LB, I valued coverage at a higher premium as well.
This article will begin as a top-50, then a top-150, and finally a top-250 on the week of the draft.
( Note: Names like Fernando Mendoza, Arvell Reese, and others will still be on this board, even if I believe they will be taken long before the Rams pick)
| 1. |
Fernando Mendoza |
QB |
Indiana |
| 2. |
Arvell Reese |
LB |
Ohio State |
| 3. |
LB |
Ohio State |
|
| 4. |
S |
Ohio State |
|
| 5. |
Jeremiyah Love |
RB |
Notre Dame |
I don't anticipate any of these names being on the board when the Rams pick at No. 13. If they are, however, the Rams should jump at the chance. Styles and Reese would complete their defensive rebuild and have the ceiling pointed firmly towards the top of the NFL, in my opinion.
Downs is a tricky fit, but he would allow them to move Kam Curl
around the formation significantly more.
I go back and forth on Jeremiyah Love. On one hand, the Rams do
need to get more explosive offensively. On the other, they are pretty set at running back, and it would almost feel like a waste of resources. Love would be their best back since Gurley, there's no doubt about that. However, I'm not convinced that's enough of a reason to draft him.
| 6. |
David Bailey |
EDGE |
Texas Tech |
| 7. |
Carnell Tate |
WR |
Ohio State |
| 8. |
Rueben Bain Jr |
EDGE |
Miami (FL) |
| 9. |
Spencer Fano |
OT |
Utah |
| 10. |
Francis Mauigoa |
OT |
Miami (FL) |
| 11. |
KC Concepcion |
WR |
Texas A&M |
| 12. |
Mansoor Delane |
CB |
LSU |
| 13. |
Jermod McCoy |
CB |
|
| 14. |
Jordyn Tyson |
WR |
Arizona State |
| 15. |
Monroe Freeling |
OT |
Georgia |
| 16. |
Aveion Terrell |
CB |
Clemson |
| 17. |
Kenyon Sadiq |
TE |
Oregon |
| 18. |
Dillon Thieneman |
S |
Oregon |
There's a reasonable case to be made for the Rams to take any of these players at No. 13 overall. I do prefer players like KC Concepcion for the Rams, and I don't expect a few names on this list to be available when the Rams pick.
Had the Rams not traded for Trent McDuffie
, I fully believe they were in on Mansoor Delane at 13. However, the Combine more or less highlighted that Delane will be off the board by No. 13. Accordingly, the Rams made their moves at cornerback afterwards.
I do believe the Rams should
draft an offensive tackle. All things considered, it's the quickest way to improve their overall performance and keep Stafford
upright. However, players like Monroe Freeling, who is a natural left tackle, could make some issues in terms of playing Alaric Jackson
. Overall, I'd prefer Spencer Fano of all of their OT options.
The Rams have explored adding safety/nickel hybrids
, and that fits Thieneman to a T. Although I'm not sure I would take him at No. 13 overall, he does fit a need the Rams have been searching for, and he is a superb player in his own right.
| 19. |
Omar Cooper Jr. |
WR |
Indiana |
| 20. |
Kadyn Proctor |
OT |
Alabama |
| 21. |
Cashius Howell |
EDGE |
Texas A&M |
| 22. |
CB |
Arizona |
|
| 23. |
Makai Lemon |
WR |
USC |
| 24. |
Colton Hood |
CB |
Tennessee |
| 25. |
CJ Allen |
LB |
Georgia |
| 26. |
EDGE |
Oklahoma |
|
| 27. |
Vega Ioane |
G |
Penn State |
| 28. |
Denzel Boston |
WR |
|
| 29. |
Caleb Lomu |
OT |
Utah |
| 30. |
Peter Woods |
DT |
Clemson |
| 31. |
TJ Parker |
EDGE |
UCF Clemson |
| 32. |
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren |
S |
Toledo |
| 33. |
Ahkeem Mesidor |
EDGE |
Miami (FL) |
| 34. |
CB |
San Diego State |
|
| 35. |
Josiah Trotter |
LB |
Missouri |
| 36. |
Caleb Banks |
DT |
Florida |
| 37. |
Chase Bisontis |
G |
Texas A&M |
| 38. |
Blake Miller |
OT |
Clemson |
| 39. |
Chris Bell |
WR |
Louisville |
| 40. |
D'Angelo Ponds |
CB |
Indiana |
| 41. |
Emmanuel Pregnon |
G |
Oregon |
| 42. |
Malachi Lawrence |
EDGE |
UCF |
| 43. |
AJ Haulcy |
S |
LSU |
| 44. |
Jacob Rodriguez |
LB |
Texas Tech |
| 45. |
Jake Golday |
LB |
|
| 46. |
EDGE |
Michigan |
|
| 47. |
Devin Moore |
CB |
Florida |
| 48. |
Keyron Crawford |
EDGE |
Auburn |
| 49. |
EDGE |
Penn State |
|
| 50. |
Max Iheanachor |
OT |
Arizona State |
There's a lot to unpack in this one, but I will refer you to the beginning criteria to help clear up some confusion.
I'm sure there won't be any controversy about Makai Lemon's placement. I dove into why I'm a little skeptical of his fit
with the Rams earlier this week. I put Omar Cooper Jr above him due to some more versatility. However, I am also ever so slightly skeptical on his fit as well.
Max Iheanachor will be undoubtedly higher on every other big board, and he could end up in round one. The Rams typically don't target raw athletes at offensive tackle, however, pushing him well down this board.
Jake Golday and Jacob Rodriguez are two targets I go back and forth on with the Rams. The Rams are clearly looking for an upgrade at WLB to improve their coverage, and both players fit. However, they each have issues elsewhere.
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AJ Schulte 3 hours ago
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