Is The Rams’ Draft a Smokescreen - On The Rampage with Don Lichterman

On The Rampage With One Week Remaining Before The 2026 NFL Draft

With one week remaining before the 2026 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Rams are operating in a space that feels anything but straightforward. The public conversation has settled into a predictable rhythm, but the underlying signals coming out of the organization suggest something far more calculated is taking place. I almost do not want to say anything in case I alert the wrong people. There is a growing sense that what is being discussed externally does not fully align with what the Rams are actually preparing to do, and that disconnect is where this draft begins to take on real significance, if my theory is indeed true.

At the center of the conversation is the No. 13 overall pick, a position that has quickly become one of the most scrutinized slots in the first round. The prevailing narrative continues to push the idea that the Rams will target a wide receiver, with USC’s Makai Lemon emerging as the most frequently projected selection. The reasoning appears simple on the surface. The offense could benefit from a reliable third option to complement Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, adding depth and flexibility to an already dynamic passing attack. Analysts across multiple outlets have reinforced this idea, creating a sense of consensus that feels almost too clean. I have identified more concise needs for the team.

The problem is that it does not fully match how the Rams typically operate when the stakes are this high.

This is an organization that has consistently prioritized impact over convenience. When they invest premium draft capital, they are not looking to fill a secondary role. They are looking to alter the structure of the roster in a meaningful way. A wide receiver, particularly one projected as a third option, does not clearly meet that threshold. That disconnect is what makes the current wave of mock drafts feel more like misdirection than insight.

There is the trade capital reality, which continues to shape every possible scenario. The Rams hold that No. 13 pick, acquired through prior maneuvering, but no longer possess their original late first-round selection. That lack of additional first-round flexibility increases the pressure on this pick and raises the likelihood that it could be used as part of a larger move. This is not a team positioned to sit still and follow the board. This is a team that has repeatedly shown a willingness to reshape the board entirely.

That is where the Myles Garrett situation becomes impossible to ignore.

What initially sounded like speculative chatter has quickly evolved into something far more credible, driven by specific developments in Cleveland. The adjustment of Garrett’s contract structure, particularly the timing of his option bonuses, has created a window that allows the Browns to consider a trade without immediately absorbing the full financial impact. This is not a minor detail. It fundamentally changes the conversation around his availability.

The Rams have already positioned themselves as a team willing to operate aggressively in these situations. Reports indicating their support for expanded rules on trading future draft picks only reinforce that mindset. When you connect those elements, the idea of pursuing Garrett becomes consistent with how this organization has historically approached roster construction. When they identify a player who can change their ceiling, they act decisively. This would obviously be the best scenario and, of course, a lot of wishful thinking on my part.

The rumored framework for a deal, built around the No. 13 pick, a future first-round selection, and a young pass rusher such as Byron Young, reflects the kind of package that aligns with both teams’ potential motivations. However, that is seemingly a lot to give up, and I believe Byron Young is around for the long run. I would give up draft picks with ease, but a player of that caliber has to be off-limits for now. Taking him out of the equation, for the Rams it represents an opportunity to add one of the most dominant defensive players in the league during a window in which they are still fully committed to competing at a high level. For Cleveland, it provides future capital that could be critical if they are positioning themselves to target a quarterback in a later draft cycle.

When you shift focus away from the noise, a different set of priorities begins to emerge. The offensive line remains one of the most important areas of long-term stability for this team, particularly with Matthew Stafford still operating as the centerpiece of the offense. Miami’s Francis Mauigoa continues to surface as a logical fit, not because he fills a temporary need, but because he provides structural protection that extends the viability of the entire system. I like that pick far more than the wide receiver option, but I am open to being wrong. Investing in that position would align directly with the Rams’ history of making decisions that support their quarterback above all else, so from my perspective, it is a win picking an Offensive Lineman.

Defensively, the connection to Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles has gained real traction. I like that one too. Styles represents the kind of player the Rams have consistently targeted when reshaping their defense. He is versatile, instinctive, and capable of impacting multiple levels of the field. Within Chris Shula’s evolving scheme, a player like Styles is not simply an addition. He becomes a foundational piece that influences how the entire unit operates. The growing buzz around a potential move into the top ten to secure him reflects a level of interest that goes beyond casual evaluation.

At the same time, the Rams are not limiting themselves to a single path. There is continued discussion around the possibility of targeting Anthony Richardson as a long-term successor to Stafford. This is not about an immediate transition. It is about controlled development. The idea of integrating Richardson into specific packages while allowing him to grow within the system reflects a forward-looking approach that balances present competitiveness with future planning. I do not think that we need to focus so much on Quaterback right now.

There are also smaller but meaningful developments shaping the draft board, and none are more polarizing right now than what has happened with Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. The reported decision by some teams to remove him from their boards following a serious off-field incident has significantly narrowed the field of top-tier defensive options. That matters, especially for a team like the Rams that is operating with limited premium draft capital and needs to maximize impact with every decision. Before all of this surfaced, I had Bain projected as one of the top defensive players available, and that evaluation was based purely on what he brings on the field. I wrote about him in previous On The Rampages.

What is difficult to reconcile is how quickly perception has shifted. The incident in question stems from a tragic car accident in 2024 that resulted in the death of a passenger months later. By all available accounts, this was not tied to alcohol, and the victim’s family itself described it as an accident. That context should matter when teams are making long-term evaluations about a player’s future. Instead, what seems to be happening is a complete reclassification of his draft value based on optics and how he handled interviews, rather than strictly on football ability. There are also concerns being raised about past driving behavior and whether he showed enough accountability during the pre-draft process, which has only added to the hesitation from teams.

At the same time, there are additional factors being layered into the evaluation that feel secondary compared to his production. Questions about arm length and the decision not to participate in full testing at his Pro Day have been used to further justify the drop. In a vacuum, those are normal scouting considerations, but in this case they seem to be amplifying an already negative narrative rather than defining it. For a player who was once viewed as a potential top-three talent, the shift has been dramatic.

From a Rams perspective, this is where the situation becomes especially frustrating if his driving ability is being weighed more heavily than his actual performance on the football field. If Bain is still available within range, the question should be whether the talent outweighs the perceived risk. Simply put, manage the off-field concerns by limiting any potential issues. Provide transportation solutions, whether that means rideshare services or a team-managed plan, and remove the risk entirely. I would take this player over trading for Myles Garrett, depending on the cost. This is also an organization that has managed personalities and past situations before, and it is fair to question whether this particular case is being evaluated consistently compared to others across the league. If the football evaluation still places him among the best defenders in the class, removing him entirely from consideration feels excessive.

Every adjustment at this stage carries weight, and this one could have real consequences. If the Rams pass on a player of this caliber based on a situation that, while serious, does not directly impact his ability to perform on the field today, they risk missing out on one of the most impactful defenders in the draft. At a certain point, teams have to decide whether they are building a roster based on projection and performance or reacting to narratives that may not fully reflect the player’s future.

Even the uncertainty surrounding what has become the elephant in the room, Puka Nacua’s availability for offseason activities, adds another layer to the equation. Beyond him acting like a kid on the field, which I am also sensing off the field, the question becomes what exactly is going on. What is he in rehab for? Coke? Alcohol? Anger? Just being a dumbass? I have only heard that he is socially inappropriate at times, which raises the question of why, I suppose. Does he grab women by the pussy now that he is a star? The POTUS says that is allowed, so maybe he thought it was OK, but in seriousness, is he going to some kind of behavioral school or rehab? And if he is in rehab, what is his drug or alcohol of choice? Can you send someone to rehab for acting stupid in social situations?

I truly hope that is all it is, but considering the magnitude of this, I highly doubt it is just about a childish personality. That kind of behavior is usually driven by something deeper and potentially addictive. I suppose something could make someone act out like that. I have said this every day since I started watching him, that he acts like a total kid. I have said that for two years, both in writing and out loud. He is a kid on that field. Watch how he acts in between and after plays and when he is on the side line. It is like watching a kid on a school field.

While the situation remains unresolved and all over the place in my head, any disruption to the offensive structure increases the perceived need for additional receiving depth. This is where the wide receiver narrative continues to find traction, but it still does not fully align with the organization’s established approach to high-value decision-making. Are these really the saviors if needed?

Overall, I think Puka will be fine. If he is on any kind of bad drug, he needs to stop, and if alcohol makes him act out, it needs to be under control. This is your job. These players are some of the luckiest people in the history of the world. While they get paid millions of dollars, they need to handle it. They need to play and not grab women by the pussy, so to speak. You will get laid. I am sure Puka sees how it is now. Just act like a real man and stop acting stupid. Have fun like a kid, but do not annoy people like a kid. He will break out of this ASAP.

Beyond the roster, the Rams are also engaging their fan base through the opening of their Draft House in Inglewood on April 16. This initiative provides a controlled window into the draft process, offering fans a closer look at the environment while maintaining the strategic discipline that defines the organization’s internal operations. It is a reminder that even in moments of transparency, the Rams remain highly intentional about what they reveal and what they hold back.

With all of these elements in play, the central question becomes less about which position the Rams will target and more about how aggressive they are willing to be. The wide receiver projections may continue to dominate public discussion, but they feel increasingly disconnected from the broader context. Defensive players seem to be what is being actively discussed between the Rams and other teams. The more plausible outcomes involve structural impact, whether through a foundational draft selection, a targeted move up the board, or a significant trade that reshapes the roster immediately.

Think of it this way, we had one of the best offenses in the entire league last season. We could score at the drop of a dime, whenever it was needed. For a stretch of about eight games, this team was unstoppable. They rolled through opponents, and even in the losses, most of those games were tight, with the exception of one. In my view, they could have won, or should have won, nearly all of them.

Actually, take it a step further. They should have won every one of those games. Instead, they lost several that were completely winnable. The point is, this was an offense that could drive the length of the field and score with seconds left, even backed up deep in their own territory. That is how efficient and dangerous they were.

So this sudden emphasis on adding more offensive pieces, especially at wide receiver, does not make much sense to me. This was already one of the most productive units in football. The wide receivers were putting up the most touchdowns in the division, the quarterback won MVP, and the system clearly worked at a high level. Shifting focus back to offense feels unnecessary and, frankly, a bit misguided given where this team actually needs to improve.

The timeline is what drives all of it. I get it. We all get that Matthew Stafford’s window is finite, and every decision is being made with that reality in mind. The Rams are not operating with a long rebuild horizon. I get that about us. They are operating with urgency, with a clear understanding that the moves they make now will define the final phase of this era while setting the stage for what comes next.

That said, Stafford still has up to three more years, and if he does what Tom Brady did and wins a couple of Super Bowls, he could extend that even further and play another year or however long he wants. I think people need to stop talking about him like he is about to retire. He is not leaving anytime soon. Three years feels like the realistic window, and that should be the baseline. If they do not win Super Bowls in the next two years, then we can start talking about the end of his career, but for now, let it play out and go from there. It is one less thing for everyone to worry about. Stafford is here, and he is playing for at least the next few years. He has earned that, so that conversation needs to stop and move on to something else.

That is why the current sense of misdirection feels deliberate. It is not confusion. It is control. The Rams are managing the narrative while positioning themselves to act when the moment is right. And when that moment arrives, whether it comes through the No. 13 pick or a move that no one fully sees coming, it is likely to clarify their direction in a way that the current speculation cannot.

One week out, the noise is loud, but the intent is quiet and precise. That is exactly where the Rams want to be. I just wish I had more information, but that is me being an anxious Rams aficionado.