With 22 days remaining before the 2026 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Rams have moved past speculation and into a more defined draft plan, with the focus now on how they are going to execute it. Internally, the priorities are clear which is to add meaningful roster depth, address the lack of mid-round draft capital, and position the team to maximize what is widely viewed as one of the final competitive windows with Matthew Stafford. The Rams’ current draft structure includes Pick No. 13 in the first round, Pick No. 61 in the second, Pick No. 95 in the third, and then no selection until Pick No. 207 in the sixth, which is why trade-down discussions have centered on adding picks between the third and sixth rounds.
The most immediate shift is at quarterback behind Stafford. The idea of adding Kirk Cousins is no longer part of the equation, and that matters more than it initially appeared. First, second, and third, they did not need him for five years. If I had known the nature of that deal and the direction he wanted, I would never have mentioned him. Regardless, to me, that path would have represented a short-term insurance policy with proven stability. Its removal forces a recalibration.
The Rams are now operating on two parallel tracks: revisiting the possibility of a reunion with Jimmy Garoppolo while simultaneously accelerating evaluations of developmental quarterbacks in the late second- to early third-round range.
Internally, there is little appetite to enter a season of this magnitude without a credible QB2, particularly given what is understood to be the next few years as Stafford’s final run at this level.
That urgency is not isolated to one position. It is embedded in the structure of the entire roster and, more importantly, in the structure of the draft capital itself. General Manager Les Snead has been explicit about the issue. The gap between Pick 95 in the third round and Pick 207 in the sixth is not just inconvenient, it is strategically untenable. For a team attempting to sustain a deep playoff push, that absence of mid-round selections removes the ability to build depth, hedge against injury, and inject cost-controlled contributors into key rotational roles. This is a real issue for the Rams, and it’s something they are trying to address, most likely by adding more mid-round picks.
Head Coach Sean McVay has acknowledged that trading down is now an option. The Rams currently hold Pick No. 13 and, as it stands, have no selections between Pick 95 and Pick 207, which creates a significant gap in the middle of their draft board. Because of that structure, any move back would be aimed specifically at adding picks within that range to improve roster depth and give the team more flexibility across multiple positions. The Rams have been linked to multiple draft scenarios involving Pick No. 13, including trading down to acquire additional mid-round selections, as well as the possibility of moving up if there is a specific player they believe will not be available at their current spot.
One scenario that has been discussed involves a move with Detroit, sliding from No. 13 to No. 17. In that situation, the Rams would remain in position to select from the same group of players they are already evaluating, while also adding future draft capital, including a 2027 third-round pick along with additional mid-round value. Other potential trade-down scenarios into the late teens or early 20s, with teams such as Minnesota, Carolina, or Philadelphia, would serve a similar purpose by directly addressing the gap between Pick 95 and Pick 207. These types of moves would allow the Rams to add multiple selections within that range, giving them more opportunities to fill out the roster rather than relying on a limited number of picks.
At the same time, the Rams are not operating without contingency. There remains a credible scenario in which they could move up, specifically into the No. 10 range, if they believe a priority target is at risk of being taken by a team like Miami at No. 11. That target has been widely linked to USC wide receiver Makai Lemon, who fits the profile of the type of dynamic offensive weapon Sean McVay values. However, this is where the evaluation becomes more important. The Rams do not appear to believe they need to force that selection at No. 13, and based on the way the board is shaping up, neither do I.
That belief changes everything.
The coaching staff has made it clear that wide receiver depth can be addressed later in the draft. This is not a dismissal of the position, it is a recalibration of value. With Davante Adams and Puka Nacua already defining the top of the depth chart, the requirement is not for a headline addition. It is for a complementary presence: a precise route runner, a vertical separator, or a developmental speed threat who can stretch coverage and create space within McVay’s system. Players with those profiles names like KC Concepcion or Ian Strong, are expected to be available on Day 2 or early Day 3. That reality is driving the willingness to move off No. 13.
However, reducing the Rams’ needs to wide receiver alone would miss the broader picture. This is a roster that has been aggressively reshaped, most notably through the acquisition of Trent McDuffie, a move that cost significant draft capital but immediately elevated the secondary. The follow-up additions with Jaylen Watson and the extension of Kamren Curl, have reinforced that unit, but they have also shifted the team’s remaining priorities.
Cornerback depth is still a concern, particularly in the slot and along the boundary, where recent departures have created openings that must be addressed. The Rams are not looking for another star; they are looking for players who can function within the system, handle assignment discipline, and contribute immediately in sub-packages.
Along the offensive line, the need is more acute. The Rams require a true swing tackle or omeone capable of stepping in on either side without compromising the integrity of the offense. Behind the current starters, the depth chart lacks proven reliability, and given the physical demands of a full season, this is a position that cannot be ignored. It is a priority that aligns perfectly with a trade-down strategy, where additional mid-round picks can be deployed to secure depth without sacrificing value elsewhere.
At linebacker and along the edge, the situation remains fluid and closely tied to free agency. The Rams have positioned themselves to make one more calculated move before the draft, targeting players who can provide immediate impact without long-term financial strain. Names such as Germaine Pratt and Leo Chenal have been monitored for their range and fit alongside Nate Landman, while the possibility of adding a veteran pass rusher like Trey Hendrickson remains under consideration if the financials align. remember please, this is about completing the roster with precision.
The financial flexibility to pursue these options was created through Stafford’s recent contract restructure, a move that reduced his 2026 cap hit and opened the door for both the McDuffie acquisition and an additional late-stage signing. That restructuring was strategic, designed to give the Rams one more opportunity to push their roster into true contention.
All of these decisions converge at one critical point: Pick No. 61.
This selection, early in the second round, is the fulcrum of the Rams’ draft strategy. It is where the board begins to thin, but where starting-caliber talent remains available. It is also where the Rams can address multiple needs without the pressure of the first round. If the team successfully trades down from No. 13 and acquires additional picks, No. 61 becomes part of a cluster, a sequence of selections that can be used to systematically fill gaps across the roster. If they remain at their current positions, it becomes a targeted decision.
Now, when you consider everything that has been done to date, quarterback is firmly in play here. Prospects such as Garrett Nussmeier, Drew Allar, Ty Simpson, and Carson Beck represent developmental options who can be brought along behind Stafford, providing both insurance and a potential bridge to the future. Offensive tackle is equally viable, particularly if a player with starting traits begins to slide into this range. Wide receiver, while less urgent at this point, remains a possibility if the value aligns with the Rams’ evaluation.
What is clear is that Pick 61 is a foundational asset.
Stepping back, the broader context is clear. The Rams are coming off an NFC Championship appearance that ended in a 31–27 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on January 25, 2026. That result confirmed that the current roster is competitive at the top of the conference, but it also showed where depth and roster balance still need to be addressed.
The offseason program begins April 20 with voluntary workouts, followed by OTAs from May 26 through June 11 and mandatory minicamp on June 15–16. Those dates will provide the first on-field look at how the roster is coming together, but the key decisions that shape that roster are being made now, particularly with the draft approaching.
The current structure of the team includes established players at key positions, along with recent additions in the secondary, but the draft remains the primary opportunity to address depth across the roster. With Pick No. 13, Pick No. 61, and Pick No. 95, followed by no selection until Pick No. 207, the focus is on how to use those picks, or potentially move them, to fill out multiple areas rather than relying on a single addition.
The approach to this draft is tied directly to that structure. Adding more selections between Pick 95 and Pick 207 would give the Rams additional opportunities to address multiple positions, while remaining at No. 13 would limit those opportunities to a smaller number of players. These are the decisions in front of the team over the next three weeks.
This is not about redefining the roster, but about building around what is already in place and addressing the areas that remain open. The draft provides the clearest path to doing that, whether through adding players at current positions of need or adjusting draft position to increase the number of selections available. Over the next 22 days, those decisions will determine how the Rams complete the roster heading into the 2026 season.
As we head into the final stretch before the draft, the next week becomes especially important in terms of how much, if anything, we actually learn about the Rams’ direction. One consistent takeaway, reinforced by reporting from the writers at Rams Wire, is just how little the organization reveals during this process. The Los Angeles Rams do not operate like most teams when it comes to pre-draft evaluation. They rarely conduct traditional top-30 visits, and it is not typical to see Les Snead or Sean McVay publicly tied to combine meetings with prospects. In many cases, they do not attend the combine in the same way most teams do, further limiting the amount of publicly available information.
Instead, their approach is far more controlled. The Rams will attend select pro days and occasionally conduct private workouts, but even those instances are limited in visibility and often go unreported. This is by design. The organization has built a reputation for keeping its evaluation process tightly managed, avoiding unnecessary exposure that could signal interest in specific players.
Because of that, tracking their draft intentions requires a different approach. Any confirmed meetings, whether at the combine, pro days, or private workouts, carry more weight, simply because so little information is made public. Over the next week, attention will remain on those limited data points, as they offer one of the only windows into how the Rams may be shaping their board ahead of the draft.
This is who the team met with so far:
Quarterbacks
- QB Garrett Nussmeier, LSU (private workout): Nussmeier confirmed the Rams will fly out to meet with him before the draft.
Running backs
- RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame (combine): The Rams met with Love, the top RB in the class, at the combine.
Wide receivers
- WR Brenen Thompson, Mississippi State (combine formal): Thompson was one of the Rams’ formal meetings at the combine.
- WR Makai Lemon, USC (combine): In addition to meeting with Lemon at the combine, Les Snead also attended his pro day.
- WR Caleb Douglas, Texas Tech (private workout): Douglas has a private workout scheduled with the Rams, among other teams.
- WR De’Zhaun Stribling, Ole Miss (combine formal): Stribling confirmed he has a formal meeting with the Rams at the NFL combine.
Offensive line
- G/C Micah Morris, Georgia (combine): The Rams met with Morris at the combine, though it’s unclear if it was formal.
- OT Alex Harkey, Oregon (private workout): The Rams have a private workout with Harkey before the draft.
- G Nick Dawkins, Penn State (pro day meeting): Dawkins spoke with the Rams and other teams at his pro day.
Defensive line
- DL Jalen Satchell, Michigan State (pro day meeting): The Rams met with Satchell at Michigan State’s pro day.
- DL De’Jon Benton, Hawaii (pro day meeting): Benton had a meeting with the Rams at his pro day.
Edge rushers
- OLB Rueben Bain, Miami (combine formal): Bain, arguably the top edge rusher, had a formal meeting with the Rams at the combine.
- OLB Darryl Peterson, Wisconsin (multiple meetings): Peterson confirmed he’s had multiple meetings with the Rams so far.
Linebackers
- LB Josaiah Trotter, Missouri (combine formal): Trotter had a formal meeting with LA at the combine.
- LB Treylin Payne, Texas State (pro day meeting): Payne met with the Rams at Texas State’s pro day.
- LB Jake Golday, Cincinnati (private meeting): The Rams will hold a private meeting with Golday, one of the top linebackers in the class.
- LB Kyle Louis, Pitt (extensive pro day meeting): Louis met “extensively” with Rams personnel at Pitt’s pro day.
Cornerbacks
- CB Mansoor Delane, LSU (combine formal): Delane had a formal meeting with the Rams at the combine and could be a target if he’s there at 13.
- CB Keionte Scott, Miami (combine formal): Scott, who had an excellent pro day, met with the Rams at the combine.
- CB Chris Johnson, San Diego State (private workout/film session): Johnson, a versailte CB, had a private workout or film session with the Rams.
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