After months of preparation, the Los Angeles Rams are finally ready to embark on the three-day journey that is the NFL draft. They’ve got seven picks at their disposal and a championship-caliber roster, which puts them in a great position.
Les Snead and Sean McVay don’t need any advice when it comes to finding quality prospects and navigating the draft, but we’re going to offer it anyway.
Here are seven things we believe the Rams must do in the draft.
Draft a wide receiver in the first 3 rounds
There’s no denying the fact that the Rams are quite good at finding wide receivers outside the first round. Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, Van Jefferson. Heck, even Josh Reynolds was a good find. But the later it gets in the draft, the harder it is to come away with quality receivers.
That’s especially true for the Rams this year, as they don’t have any picks in the fourth or fifth rounds. That’s a big gap between their last Day 2 pick and their first on Day 3.
They don’t have to force a wide receiver at No. 13, but they’d be wise to take one in the second or third if they miss out in the first. Germie Bernard and De’Zhaun Stribling are two players who could be options in the second.
Focus on special teams late in the draft
The Rams wisely addressed their problematic special teams unit this offseason by hiring Bubba Ventrone as their coordinator and signing both Joe Cardon and Grant Stuard as free agents.
They shouldn’t stop there. The draft is the perfect place to find special teams contributors, whether it’s a corner who can line up at gunner or a wide receiver who can return punts.
Los Angeles should put an emphasis on improving its special teams unit in the sixth and seventh rounds.
Find a viable swing tackle
Sean McVay mentioned that the Rams are happy to have David Quessenberry back as their third tackle. Fair, but he shouldn’t be the only guy competing for that job. He couldn’t even beat out D.J. Humphries last season, and Humphries was a weak link when called upon.
The Rams can kill two birds with one stone by taking an offensive tackle fairly early. Not only will it give them a swing tackle behind Alaric Jackson and Warren McClendon Jr., but that player could also viably replace McClendon if the Rams don’t extend him beyond 2026.
Add depth at guard
Kevin Dotson and Steve Avila give the Rams one of the best guard tandems in football. The problem is, both are in the last year of their contracts and it’ll be difficult to pay each of them.
Even with Justin Dedich and Beaux Limmer on the depth chart, the Rams should consider drafting another starting-caliber guard in the event that both Dotson and Avila don’t return in 2027.
Don’t force a pick on a quarterback
Los Angeles has drafted just one quarterback under McVay: Stetson Bennett. He doesn’t look like a successor behind Stafford, which is why the Rams might consider drafting a quarterback this year.
They just shouldn’t force one.
If there’s a guy they really like, sure. Take him. But don’t draft a quarterback for the sake of drafting one. The result could be another Bennett situation, having a guy sit on the depth chart as the QB3 for three years.
Taking Ty Simpson at No. 13 would feel like a reach. So would drafting just about any other quarterback in the second. The sweet spot might be the third round for a guy like Garrett Nussmeier – if the Rams like him as a prospect.
Pass on running backs not named Jeremiyah Love
Every year since 2018, the Rams have drafted a running back. In nine drafts under McVay, the only time they didn’t address the position was in 2017, his first year as a head coach.
If there’s ever been a time for the Rams to pass on running backs in the draft, it’s this year. They just extended Kyren Williams, they drafted Blake Corum in the third round in 2024 and spent a fourth-rounder on Jarquez Hunter just last year.
They have enough high-end talent and depth already, especially with Ronnie Rivers back, too. The only exception is Jeremiyah Love if he were to somehow fall close enough for them to trade up without mortgaging their future.
Go for quality over quantity
The Rams were a few plays away from reaching the Super Bowl last season. They were a few plays away from the NFC title game the year prior. The roster has changed slightly, but the core remains intact, and it’s a good core to have.
Given the current construction of the roster, they’re conceivably one player away from putting themselves over the top. With just about every position group in good shape, the Rams should consider compiling picks to go up for prospects they covet.
If that means giving up a Day 2 selection to go get Carnell Tate, so be it. Or if they want to make a play for Sonny Styles at linebacker, pull the trigger.
This draft should be more about quality over quantity for a team like the Rams.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: 7 things the Rams must do in the 2026 draft
Reporting by Cameron DaSilva, Rams Wire / Rams Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
