The Los Angeles Rams should have a ton of fun with the 2026 NFL draft. They own two picks — their own No. 29 selection and the No. 13 selection from the Atlanta Falcons — and can make sizable upgrades to multiple positions of need ahead of the upcoming season.
And now that they know Matthew Stafford is coming back, the need for a quarterback early in the draft has diminished. Now, L.A. can focus on positions they’d like to fortify, especially at cornerback and offensive line.
Those are the two positions FOX Sports lead college football analyst Joel Klatt targeted in his new mock draft. He took Penn State offensive guard Vega Ioane at No. 13 and Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell No. 29.
The Rams might feel tempted to go after another weapon on offense. If Makai Lemon were still available, he’d be a no-brainer pick for them. So, the next best thing they can do to help Matthew Stafford out would be to get him some protection. I love Ioane. He didn’t allow a sack in the last two years, and he might be the best interior offensive lineman in the draft.
The Rams have a few corners that are set to be free agents this offseason. So, why not bring in an All-American corner? Yes, I know it’s another Clemson player going in the first round after its underwhelming season. That doesn’t mean some of the Tigers’ top players aren’t NFL-caliber, though. Terrell is one of those guys and can play on the outside.
Terrell at No. 29 makes a lot of sense if he falls that far. The Clemson product had three interceptions, four sacks, nine tackles for a loss, 25 defended passes and 125 combined tackles in three college seasons. He would slot in to at least the No. 2 cornerback on the Rams’ depth chart.
Ioane at No. 13 is a bit of a head-scratcher, though. While he’s clearly a good player, the Rams are locked in at guard with Steve Avila and Kevin Dotson. The irony, too, is that Ioane has been compared to Avila by at least one draft analyst.
While Avila and Dotson will be free agents after the 2026 season if they aren’t extended, both have been great starters for the Rams over the past three seasons. Drafting a depth piece at No. 13 might be a luxury the Rams can’t afford in a win-now season, unless it means Avila or Dotson aren’t coming back.
The Rams could go in many different directions with two first-round picks, but this is one avenue that would be questionable at best.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: 2026 draft: Rams make interesting pick in new FOX Sports mock draft
