The 2026 NFL Draft is upon us. Big boards have been assembled, prospect meetings have wrapped up and the rumor mill is spinning. The Los Angeles Rams are one of the most unpredictable teams in the draft because of their minimal roster needs, allowing them to go a number of different directions in the first round.
Will they stand pat and take a receiver? Maybe an offensive lineman? Or could they trade up for a prospect they covet?
We’re rounding up all the latest rumors and reports surrounding the Rams as the draft approaches, updating this story leading up to Round 1.
Rams told Ty Simpson he was a first-round pick when he was deciding to declare
Simpson is one of the most polarizing prospects in the class and it’s clear the Rams have some level of interest in him. Ian Rapoport shared a fascinating bit of news before the draft, reporting that Les Snead was among those who told Simpson that he was a first-round prospect.
Rams have made calls about moving up and down
According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, the Rams have explored the possibility of trading both up and down in the first round. He speculates that they could target a skill player if they move up, naming Jeremiyah Love and Jordyn Tyson as possibilities.
Makai Lemon loves the Rams
After playing at USC, Lemon would reportedly love to stay in L.A. and play for the Rams. NFL Network’s Bridget Condon reported that Lemon loves the Rams and “Matthew Stafford, he loves the coaches, and he would love to be there with the Rams here in Los Angeles.”
Rams could target pass rusher early
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN shared some intel before the draft and he says one GM told him that the Rams could target a pass rusher early, knowing Byron Young only has one year left on his deal.
Rams “spent time on” Alabama WR Germie Bernard
According to Fowler, if the Rams don’t take a wide receiver in the first round, Bernard is a player they could target. He reports that the Rams “spent time on” Bernard leading up to the draft, looking into the projected Round 2 pick.
Glazer: Rams aren’t planning to trade up
Jay Glazer of FOX Sports said on Wednesday that he has an idea of what the Rams plan to do on Thursday night, but he doesn’t envision them trading up from No. 13. In fact, it doesn’t sound like they’re going to trade the pick at all, though moving down sounds more likely.
“They’re not going to trade the pick,” Glazer said. “There’s been talks about them trading up — I don’t see that, per se, happening. I don’t see them trading the pick for a player at this point or something along those lines.”
Rams reportedly love Kenyon Sadiq and Makai Lemon
According to Peter Schrager of ESPN, Sean McVay loves Sadiq and the Rams love Lemon as a prospect, too. So it sounds like those are two players they’re eyeing in the first round.
“Sean McVay loves Kenyon Sadiq. They love Makai Lemon in that building. They do. And he might be the pick at 13 and that’s clean and that’s easy,” Schrager said. “I do know McVay has an affection for getting a receiver or a tight end in this draft. And if it’s not Lemon, I think Sadiq would be great.”
Todd McShay is “expecting some kind of fireworks” from Rams in Round 1
McShay has the Rams selecting Ty Simpson at No. 13 in his latest mock draft from Wednesday morning, and in it, he wrote that he believes Les Snead is up to something bigger than sitting at 13 and taking a WR.”
“I’m expecting some kind of fireworks,” he added.
The Rams are a pivotal team in this draft for their unpredictability.
“Open secret” that the Rams like Ty Simpson
ESPN’s Dan Graziano continued to add fuel to the fire that the Rams like Alabama QB Ty Simpson. In his column on Wednesday, he once again linked the Rams to Simpson, saying it’s an “open secret that they like him.”
And then there’s the Ty Simpson factor. The Rams have been connected to the Alabama quarterback in league circles for a while now. It’s an open secret that they like him. When they still had the No. 29 pick, they seemed like the team to watch for Simpson. But since No. 13 feels too soon to take him, that talk has quieted down. Now, many wonder if Simpson could tumble out of the first round entirely.
But as I said, the Rams don’t appear to have any crying needs for which the 13th pick could help them in their effort to win the Super Bowl at home. So, could they trade down from No. 13 and still take Simpson later in the round? Possibly. Could they just bite the bullet and take Simpson at No. 13 if they like him that much? Unlikely, but again, this is a tough team to predict.
Some are watching to see if Rams trade up for Jeremiyah Love
Also in Graziano’s column, he speculates whether the Rams might move up for the top running back in the class, Jeremiyah Love. He says “some people are even watching” to see if the Rams move up for Love in the first round.
So, if the Rams think they can find the impact receiver in the second round or later, what do they do in the first? Could be anything. Some people are even watching to see if they make a big move up for Love, who would be a very exciting cherry on top of their offensive sundae. There’s always the chance they trade down the way they did last year.
“There’s a lot of (Kenyon) Sadiq intrigue” from the Rams
In his final mock draft, Peter Schrager has the Rams trading down from No. 13 to 17 and taking Kenyon Sadiq. He adds that “there’s a lot of Sadiq intrigue in the Rams’ building,” and that’s coming from a guy who’s friends with Sean McVay. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire?
Rams could take an OT if one of the big three falls
Ian Rapoport said on “Fitz & Whit” that he doesn’t believe the Rams will take an offensive tackle in the first round, but if one of the top three guys falls to them, they could consider it because “the value is so insane.”
“I don’t think they’re going to take a tackle, OK? I don’t know,” Rapoport said. “But I don’t think they’re going to take a tackle, but they might, because one of the three top tackles might fall to them and then it’s like – the Rams don’t need a starter. Like, they’re good. They are good. So a great tackle might fall to them, and even though they don’t really need to take one, the value is so insane, you might be like, ‘I’m just going to take one because he’s that good and he won’t be a starter this year, but he’ll be a starter in the 10 years after.'”
“A lot of teams are kind of expecting” Rams to trade up for a top WR
This rumor comes from Shrine Bowl director Eric Galko, who says it would make sense for the Rams to move up for a top receiver.
“I think the Rams moving up for a receiver, and one of the best guys in this class, is really appealing to them and I think a lot of teams in the NFL are kind of expecting it right now – that if the Rams can get one of the top two or three guys, they will not make that mistake and miss on those guys,” Galko said.
Rams have done “extensive work” on Ty Simpson
Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported Monday that the Rams have done “extensive work” on Simpson leading up to the draft, an indication that they could be interested in selecting the Alabama quarterback at some point in the first two rounds.
Rams spent extra time with Garrett Nussmeier pre-draft
Another quarterback the Rams have shown interest in is Nussmeier from LSU. Pelissero reported that the Rams have spent “extra time” with Nussmeier, flying to visit him and work out the former Tigers quarterback.
LA has “at least sniffed around” on trading up from No. 13
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated shared on Monday that the Rams have “at least sniffed around” on trading up in the first round, though he “wouldn’t count on it.” It’s unclear who the Rams might think about trading up for.
Cornerback remains a position of focus
Despite adding Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson already this offseason, the Rams are still looking into the cornerback position in the draft. According to Breer, they’ve continued to do “a lot of work” on corners.
Edge rusher could be a sneaky target for Rams in Round 1
The Rams are in great shape at outside linebacker with Jared Verse, Byron Young and Josaiah Stewart, but they may not be satisfied. With Young entering the final year of his contract, Adam Schefter said on his podcast that he wouldn’t be surprised if the Rams took an edge rusher in the first, calling it a “sneaky” target for them.
Rams linked to Dillon Thieneman
Safety isn’t viewed as a need for the Rams after extending Quentin Lake and Kam Curl, but Todd McShay isn’t ruling it out. He said on his podcast that he has “seen some connection” between the Rams and Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman, who’s projected to be a top-20 pick.
No wide receiver at 13?
So much of the focus for the Rams leading up to the draft has been on wide receivers, with that being perceived as their biggest need. However, McShay isn’t so sure they’re going to target a wideout at No. 13. He wrote in his latest story that he thinks the Rams are more likely to draft a wideout in the second than the first.
As of this writing, I think the Rams are more likely to draft a wide receiver in the second than in the first. What’s the difference between Makai Lemon and De’Zhaun Stribling in that system? They could also get Germie Bernard or Chris Bell in the second. That frees up the Rams to use the 13th pick on their best player available. This pick is a huge deal in the league. If it’s not a receiver and it isn’t Simpson, who is it? They don’t have a glaring need. Their selection could throw off the plans for the next handful of teams and become one of the biggest pivot points in this first round.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams 2026 draft rumors: Tracking the latest news, buzz and reports
Reporting by Cameron DaSilva, Rams Wire / Rams Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
