Have you ever played the Madden video game franchise mode where you can draft a roster from the entire NFL? It’s quite the exercise and can create some exciting new rosters.
NFL.com’s Chad Reuter did something similar ahead of the 2025 season to see how teams would shake out through seven rounds of drafting. He based the order on each team’s original 2025 draft selections, so every team finished with seven picks.
Here’s how the Rams’ roster shook out, and Reuter’s reasons for each pick.
Round 1, Pick 26: WR A.J. Brown
“Brown is a force when healthy, scoring seven or more times in five of his six years in the league.”
Round 2, Pick 39: QB Sam Darnold
“The Rams gamble that Darnold’s renaissance in Minnesota is more than a one-year peak.”
Round 3: DT Zach Allen
“Allen’s pass-rush acumen makes him a nice fit on the outside of the Rams’ three-man front.”
Round 4, Pick 103: OT Dion Dawkins
“Dawkins doesn’t get the credit he deserves from casual fans for his efforts, but the eight-year starting left tackle has made the Pro Bowl four straight seasons.”
Round 5, Pick 154: EDGE Rashan Gary
“After taking Zach Allen in Round 3, the selection of Gary gives the Rams a formidable front on defense.”
Round 6, Pick 167: CB DaRon Bland
“Bland only played seven games last year, but the Rams hope he returns to his 2023 form, when he scored five touchdowns on nine interceptions for Dallas.”
Round 6, Pick 218: TE Evan Engram
“Engram joins A.J. Brown as the top targets for Sam Darnold in this exercise. The former Giant and Jaguar signed with Denver in March as he looks to rebound from an injury-shortened 2024 season.”
This is an interesting mix of players. The Rams get a stable offensive attack with Darnold, Brown and Engram as well as an anchor on the offensive line, but no running back. And on defense, the roster has a penetrating defensive line and one good cornerback. Ironically, this is kind of similar to the team’s current breakdown.
It helps, too, that the Rams would still have head coach Sean McVay leading the charge with the rest of his staff.
OK, but where did the team’s actual players go in this draft? They were scattered throughout all seven rounds in the order you’d expect them to go:
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: How would the Rams look if they could draft from the entire NFL?
Reporting by Tyler Greenawalt, Rams Wire / Rams Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
