It won’t be long before the 2026 NFL Draft is here, and the Los Angeles Rams are set up well with two first-round picks. For a team that has made just one first-round selection since 2017, it’s quite the change for Les Snead and Sean McVay’s squad.
Considering they were a few defensive stops, a red zone touchdown or a cleanly fielded punt away from potentially reaching the Super Bowl, they don’t have much to do in order to make another run a a ring next season. Matthew Stafford is back, Puka Nacua is the focal point of the offense and a core of young defenders will all remain in the mix next season.
That doesn’t mean there aren’t holes to fill, but the Rams can compete for a ring with the current construction of their roster. That being said, there’s always room for improvement.
Using Pro Football Focus’ mock draft simulator, we put together a full seven-round projection for the Rams, addressing all of their biggest needs – beginning with corner and wide receiver in Round 1.
13. CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
This is a strong class at the cornerback position and Delane is one of the best out there. He may not be the most physical corner, given his slimmer frame, but when it comes to covering receivers, he has an incredibly high ceiling.
Delane would give the Rams a true No. 1 cornerback on the outside, someone with the speed and length to match up with bigger receivers down the field. He’s the type of player who can completely transform Los Angeles’ secondary.
29. WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
Puka Nacua and Davante Adams can both line up in the slot but Concepcion is at his best when aligned inside, which would allow the Rams to keep their other top two receivers on the outside. And despite being undersized, his speed and elusiveness make him a dangerous playmaker in the open field.
Given the physicality of Nacua and the finesse of Adams, having an explosive run-after-catch guy like Concepcion would help the Rams. Plus, as an added bonus, he’s an electric return specialist – which we all know Los Angeles could use.
KC CONCEPCION TAKES THE PUNT RETURN BACK FOR THE TD 🔥
The Aggies extend the lead 👀 pic.twitter.com/sNF1o01FHn
— ESPN (@espn) October 26, 2025
61. QB Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss
Matthew Stafford officially announced he’s coming back for another season in 2026, which allows the Rams to be a little bit more passive at quarterback this offseason. They don’t have to force a pick on a quarterback in the draft but if Chambliss is there in the second round, the Rams should absolutely consider taking him.
He has the traits Los Angeles should be looking for in a quarterback, throwing with good accuracy and anticipation during his time at Ole Miss. He’s also athletic and mobile, which is the type of quarterback Sean McVay has often looked for at QB2 behind Stafford. Les Snead even hinted at wanting a mobile quarterback back in 2024. Chambliss would be a great player to sit and develop for a year or two, and given his unique skill set, it’d be fun to see what McVay could do with a dual-threat quarterback.
93. OT Brian Parker II, Duke
Offensive tackle became a less pressing need for Los Angeles this offseason thanks to the emergence of Warren McClendon Jr. at right tackle. However, anyone who watched D.J. Humphries play last season knows the Rams need a quality swing tackle.
Parker can be that player, having experience at both left and right tackle during his college career. Assuming Alaric Jackson and McClendon will be the starters next season, Parker can compete to be the No. 3 tackle.
167. LB Kyle Louis, Pitt
Nate Landman is locked in after signing his three-year extension during the season but even with all the sub-packages the Rams run, they need a second linebacker. Louis can be an upgrade over Omar Speights, especially in coverage.
Just look at how fluid he is when dropping back. This is a textbook way to run this drill at the Senior Bowl.
Here is every one-on-one coverage rep by Pittsburgh LB Kyle Louis: pic.twitter.com/QEcl5gWuFw
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) January 30, 2026
Louis is undersized but with a thumper like Landman already in the mix, he’s a nice complement as a weakside linebacker.
206. OLB Patrick Payton, LSU
Josaiah Stewart is a great young player to have as the No. 3 edge rusher, and even Desjuan Johnson emerged as a valuable contributor late in the year after moving to outside linebacker, but Payton would add some needed depth at that position. He’s got plenty of size to be a 3-4 edge rusher at 6-foot-5, bringing the length the Rams look for at the position.
209. CB Jeadyn Lukas, Clemson
It would be reasonable for the Rams to double-dip at cornerback even earlier than this but no matter when it happens, they should take a second corner in this class. Lukas would be a developmental prospect for the Rams to bring along at some point in the next couple of years, adding much-needed depth to the secondary.
232. S Peyton Bowen, Oklahoma
Kamren Curl is a pending free agent and if he returns, safety becomes a bigger priority alongside Kamren Kinchens, Quentin Lake and Jaylen McCollough. Bowen has decent size at 6 feet tall but he had just two interceptions and one forced fumble in his career.
250. TE R.J. Maryland, SMU
Tyler Higbee’s future is up in the air with an expiring contract and retirement potentially on the horizon. The Rams are flush with depth at tight end with Colby Parkinson, Davis Allen and Terrance Ferguson, but this is a good time to restock the position. Maryland is more of a receiving tight end than a blocker but there’s room for development in both areas.
255. DL Keeshawn Silver, USC
Silver played at North Carolina, Kentucky and USC, bringing great size at 6-foot-5 and the pedigree of being a former five-star recruit. The Rams can never have enough depth on the defensive line, especially with Silver bringing more length than their current D-linemen.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: 2026 NFL mock draft: Full 7-round LA Rams projections
