The first wave of free agency wrapped up with the Los Angeles Rams filling some major needs at tackle and on the defensive line. At the same time, it also made some of the Rams bigger needs that much more clear. With the first wave of free agency wrapping up, it also meant a new wave of mock drafts.
It’s hard to say that the Rams have one clear need which should leave their options open in the first round. General manager Les Snead won’t be forced to show his hand and can go best player available. While there are some common names floating around for the Rams, they could go in several different directions. Below are where some of the experts have the Rams going at 26 overall.
A player that I’ve been really high on throughout the draft process and would be a great fit for the Rams offense is tight end Colston Loveland if he is there at 26. Let us know who you want the Rams to take in the first round in the comments below.
Jourdan Rodrigue, The Athletic: CB Azareye’h Thomas, Florida State
In the Athletic’s most recent beat writer mock draft, Rodrigue traded back with the Buffalo Bills at 30 while also picking up a selection at 109. In this scenario Colston Loveland was gone at 14 overall. Jahdae Barron was on the board at 26, but went at 27 while Malaki Starks was selected at 24th overall. A trade back does seem like a very possible scenario for the Rams. This is a team that will find a lot of value in the third and fourth rounds. Getting another pick in that area while also grabbing a top cornerback makes sense.
The Lions and Bills both called the Rams inquiring about a possible trade. Detroit attempted to convince the Rams to send back one too many extra picks by using the powerful bond of friendship as a negotiation tactic, but Snead wasn’t biting and kept his beloved fourth-rounder this year, his fourth-rounder in 2026, plus got pick No. 109 in a sweet deal with Buffalo and only had to move back four spots. Thomas is a long corner with good range who gives the Rams the size they badly need in their secondary, to pair on the outside with veteran Darious Williams (even though veteran starter Ahkello Witherspoon is back under contract for another season). Cobie Durant could move into the slot full-time with the selection of Thomas, who adds youth and talent to the DB room to match much of the rest of the defense.
Diante Lee, The Ringer: S Malaki Starks, Georgia
While Starks may not be someone that many have as a top need or top option for the Rams, he’s also not someone that should be completely written off. He’s arguably the best safety in the class and would be a nice, versatile player to add to the Rams defense. If Chris Shula wants to lean into dime and three or four safety packages, it’s possible that the Rams don’t need a coverage linebacker.
Instead, adding a versatile and physical defensive back that can make tackles around the box and also adds the element of coverage could be more what they need. Last season, the Rams used two linebacker sets almost sparingly at times. It’s no secret Shula leaned into dime packages as the Rams played the fourth-most snaps with six or more defensive backs. Starks is a great fit and would be an interesting chess piece for Shula.
“The Rams’ youth movement on defense continues, bringing in the rangy and instinctual Starks to compete for snaps at safety or in the slot. Starks didn’t win anyone over with his testing at the combine, but GPS tracking often clocked him moving at or near the highest miles per hour in the combine’s on-field drills. That play speed is evident on his tape from Georgia as well. Starks tackles well both in space and near the box, he’s been an excellent defender at the catch point throughout his college career, and he can match up in man coverage against tight ends and some slot receivers. Knowing how creative defensive coordinator Chris Shula was last season, Starks would be a welcome addition to his simulated pressure or coverage schemes in L.A.”
Todd McShay, The Ringer: CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky
Hairston is a great fit for the Rams defense and one of my personal favorite cornerbacks in this draft class. The Rams value speed and ball skills and Hairston is just that. He also fits their size profile on the outside.
“I love this pick for the Rams. They nailed it along the defensive front last year with Jared Verse and Braden Fiske, and now they get one of my favorite players this year. Hairston’s tackling is still a work in progress, but he’s an equally adept man and zone cover corner, and he has elite ball-hawking skills, notching three pick-sixes throughout his college career. And he just so happens to be the fastest man in the class (running a combine-best 4.28-second 40-yard dash).”
Mel Kiper, ESPN: CB Azareye’h Thomas, Florida State
It’s another nod for Florida State’s Azareye’h Thomas. Thomas is a little bigger than what the Rams have typically drafted at cornerback. Still, he has the ball production in terms of pass breakups. The Rams brought back Ahkello Witherspoon, but they could still use a young player in the secondary that they can build around. Thomas is that player.
“The Rams went heavy on Florida State defenders last April, drafting Jared Verse and Braden Fiske in the first two rounds. They both had great rookie seasons. Why change the approach now? Let’s give L.A. another Seminole, this time in the secondary. Thomas is big, quick and long. And while he doesn’t have eye-popping INT numbers (two over three seasons), he makes plays on the ball. He broke up 19 passes at FSU. Thomas would boost the Rams’ pass defense, which allowed 29 passing TDs and 7.6 yards per attempt last season (both tied for fifth worst).”
Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Media: CB Trey Amos, Ole Miss
We are three-for-three with the Rams adding a player to their secondary in the first round. This time, it’s Trey Amos from Ole Miss. Amos is more of a press corner and the Rams play a lot of off-man. However, he does bring good ball skills and physicality.
“The only question I had about Amos was his pure speed, but he put any concerns to rest at the NFL Scouting Combine with his 4.43-second 40-yard dash.”
Kyle Crabbs, The 33rd Team: LB Carson Schwesinger, UCLA
While the Rams need a linebacker, it’s hard to see them taking one in the first round. This has historically not been a position that the Rams have invested in early in the draft during the Les Snead and Sean McVay era. The earliest they have taken a linebacker was Ernest Jones at pick 103.
“The local prospect may be too good to pass up here. Schwesinger is a dynamic linebacker who gives the Rams something they simply haven’t had other than Bobby Wagner’s cameo season in 2022.”
Ryan Fowler, The Draft Network: LB Carson Schwesinger, UCLA
A second consecutive appearance for Schwesinger to the Rams. Again, Schwesinger fits a need and is a good player. However, for the same reason that it’s unlikely that the Rams would take Jihaad Cambpell, the same is true for Schwesinger. This is simply not a position that the Rams have invested in with a top-100 pick, let alone a pick in the first round under McVay and Sean.
“A name that has consistently popped, Carson Schwesinger is a bowling ball with knives in the middle of a defense and projects as a green dot for a long time. Considering the youth movement up front for L.A. over the last few drafts, adding a player like Schwesinger fills a need at the position while plugging in one of the draft’s elite triggermen and one-on-one tacklers. He’d play off the likes of Braden Fiske, Jared Verse, Byron Young, and Kobie Turner extremely well.”
John Kosko, Pro Football Focus: TE Colston Loveland, Michigan
With the Denver Broncos signing Evan Engram in free agency, it crossed off one more team that would be in the Colston Loveland sweepstakes. Still, a lot would need to happen for Loveland to fall to 26. He’d be a great fit in the McVay offense as he’s a great route-runner. The big question is whether or not he’ll be available. At the same time, not many thought Jared Verse would be available at 19 last year.
“After releasing Cooper Kupp, the Rams need a reliable weapon to play in-line and as a big slot. Loveland is the perfect fit for that role, as his length would give quarterback Matthew Stafford a big target over the middle of the field. While he lacks consistent power as a run blocker, Loveland, if utilized properly, can thrive as a weapon in the passing game.”
