Los Angeles Rams Combine - On The Rampage with Don Lichterman

On The Rampage February 23, 2026

2026 NFL Combine | NFL Combine Participants, Prospects, News, Video & Photos | NFL.com

The NFL offseason always creates noise. The scouting combine, draft speculation, coaching moves, roster transitions, and endless mock projections flood the league with narratives that shift daily. For most franchises, the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis is treated like football’s central command post — a public spectacle where executives shake hands, evaluate prospects in person, and signal their intentions.

The Los Angeles Rams operate differently. They act like me which is to not attend.

In 2026, once again, the Rams are rewriting the rules of modern roster building. While the league descends on Indianapolis, the Rams’ leadership remains in Los Angeles studying, analyzing, and preparing in silence. It’s a strategy that reflects how the organization thinks, how it builds, and why it continues to position itself as one of the NFL’s most aggressive and calculated franchises.

This year’s combine represents far more than workouts and measurements. It marks a pivotal offseason for the Rams, defined by draft capital, coaching evolution, roster transition, and the continuation of a championship-driven philosophy built on precision rather than spectacle.

This is the complete picture of the Rams’ 2026 offseason machine.

The Rams’ Anti-Combine Philosophy: Remote Evaluation Over Media Theater

For the sixth consecutive year, head coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead are not attending the NFL Scouting Combine in person. Their absence is deliberate and not symbolic.

The Rams believe traditional combine attendance offers diminishing returns compared to film study, analytics, and controlled internal evaluation. In reality, the staff only really needs to listen to me and everything will be peerfect. Therefore, instead of operating in the chaotic environment of Indianapolis, the organization reviews prospect data remotely from its Los Angeles facility (They do not even use that house in Draft House Malibu that I used as my green screen that day).

Overall, this philosophy centers on several core principles:

Film-first evaluation — Game tape outweighs workout performance.
Controlled data review — Measurements and testing results are analyzed without distraction.
Internal collaboration efficiency — Coaching and personnel staff work within their own infrastructure.
Strategic secrecy — Public absence reduces information leakage and speculation.

The approach has become a defining identity of the franchise. What once seemed unconventional now appears influential, with other organizations beginning to adopt similar methods. You can find so-called diamonds in the rough, but that is mostly based on and determined by speed (for example, someone unknown who demonstrates how quick they are at combines) and those types of surprises or praise.

For the Rams, the combine is not a show. It is a dataset.

A Critical Moment Because of The Return of First-Round Draft Power

The 2026 NFL Draft represents a major turning point for the Rams’ roster construction strategy.

For the first time in years, the we hold two first-round selections:

Pick No. 13 — acquired via trade with the Atlanta Falcons
Pick No. 29 — their natural selection after losing to Seattle in the NFL Championship Game

For an organization that famously spent years trading away first-round picks in aggressive championship pursuits, this shift represents a significant recalibration. The Rams now possess premium draft leverage while still maintaining a veteran championship core.

This dual-pick structure allows the team to balance immediate roster needs with long-term succession planning — a rare position for a franchise built on win-now urgency.

Position Priorities and Where the Rams Must Improve

The Rams’ scouting focus entering the 2026 draft centers on three primary areas, and I am not going to repeat what I did last week simply because it is far too soon. I cannot wrap my head around that draft just yet, but again, please set that aside.

Cornerback — The Clear Priority

The secondary is widely viewed as the most pressing roster need. With potential departures in the defensive backfield and an evolving defensive scheme, the Rams require a long-term anchor at corner.

Top prospects linked to the team include:

Jermod McCoy (Tennessee) — Elite athletic profile with strong coverage instincts and high-end testing potential.
Mansoor Delane (LSU) — Physical defensive back with scheme versatility.

Cornerback remains the most likely direction at pick No. 13.

Offensive Tackle — Replacing a Franchise Pillar

The retirement of longtime offensive tackle Rob Havenstein creates a major void along the offensive line. Protecting quarterback Matthew Stafford remains essential to the Rams’ competitive window.

Key prospects under evaluation include:

Francis Mauigoa (Miami) — Considered a plug-and-play right tackle option.
Caleb Lomu (Utah) — Developmental upside with starting potential.

The Rams historically prioritize offensive line stability, making this position a significant draft focus.

Quarterback — Planning for the Future

Despite Stafford’s continued elite performance, long-term succession planning remains under consideration.

One potential target:

Ty Simpson (Alabama) — Viewed as a possible heir-apparent selection if the Rams choose to secure future quarterback stability.

This decision ultimately depends on how aggressively the franchise chooses to extend its current championship window.

Coaching Changes Signal Offensive Evolution

The Rams’ offseason extends beyond player evaluation. The organization has undergone meaningful coaching adjustments that could reshape its offensive identity.

Key developments include:

Nate Scheelhaase promoted to Offensive Coordinator — replacing Mike LaFleur, who departed for a head coaching role.
Dave Ragone elevated to Co-Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach.
Bubba Ventrone installed as Special Teams Coordinator.
Sean McVay and Les Snead signing multi-year extensions, reinforcing organizational stability.

These moves signal a continuation of McVay’s offensive system while introducing fresh structural influence within the coaching staff.

Matthew Stafford Returns After MVP Season

The Rams’ championship aspirations remain anchored by quarterback Matthew Stafford, who confirmed his return for the 2026 season after earning 2025 NFL MVP honors.

His presence dramatically shapes the organization’s strategic timeline:

The team remains firmly in win-now mode.
Draft decisions prioritize immediate impact.
Offensive protection becomes essential.
Long-term quarterback planning must balance current contention.

Stafford’s leadership keeps the Rams firmly in the NFC’s elite tier.

Roster Moves and Financial Flexibility

The Rams enter the 2026 offseason with roughly $44 million in salary cap space, providing flexibility for free agency and roster adjustments.

Key roster developments include:

Offensive lineman David Quessenberry re-signed.
Safety Quentin Lake secured with a three-year extension.
Fifteen reserve/future contracts executed, including running back Kyle Monangai and receiver Brennan Presley.
Havenstein’s retirement opening a critical offensive line vacancy.

Financial maneuvering — including potential contract restructures — could unlock even greater spending capacity.

The Road Ahead: A Brutal 2026 Schedule

The Rams finished the 2025 season at 12–5, placing second in the NFC West behind the Seattle Seahawks. That finish produces one of the league’s more challenging 2026 schedules.

Key developments include:

A season-opening international matchup against the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia.
Matchups against second-place finishers from other divisions, including the Packers, Buccaneers, and Bills.
A projected three-team battle in the NFC West between the Rams, Seahawks, and 49ers.
A schedule featuring nine opponents who made the 2025 playoffs.

The path to contention will be demanding from the outset.

Opponents and Rivalries Define the Season

The Rams will host nine games and play eight on the road under the 17-game structure. Major matchups include:

Home Opponents

Arizona Cardinals
San Francisco 49ers (international game)
Seattle Seahawks
Dallas Cowboys
New York Giants
Kansas City Chiefs
Los Angeles Chargers
Green Bay Packers
Buffalo Bills

Away Opponents

Arizona Cardinals
San Francisco 49ers
Seattle Seahawks
Philadelphia Eagles
Washington Commanders
Denver Broncos
Las Vegas Raiders
Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The schedule underscores the intensity of the Rams’ competitive window.

Why the Combine Still Matters — Even Without Attendance

Despite their absence in Indianapolis, the Rams remain deeply engaged in combine outcomes. Medical reports, athletic testing, interviews, and measurable data feed directly into the organization’s evaluation system.

For a team with clearly defined needs and premium draft capital, every data point shapes roster construction.

The Rams are not ignoring the combine. They are redefining how to use it.

The Rams’ Identity Remains Clear

The 2026 offseason reveals a franchise that operates with calculated confidence:

They trust their evaluation process.
They challenge league conventions.
They build aggressively.
They prioritize long-term competitive windows without sacrificing present success.

While other teams chase headlines during combine week, the Rams quietly assemble the next phase of their roster — methodically, privately, and strategically.

The result is a franchise that consistently shapes its own path rather than following the league’s template.

And as the draft approaches, the Rams once again position themselves exactly where they prefer to be — unpredictable, prepared, and built for another run.