Should the Rams take any of these 4 picks?
All four of these mock drafts I’m using were made within the last two days. Which of these four picks — two tackles, one corner, one linebacker — would do the most to help the Los Angeles Rams?
Maybe your answer is none of them, but try to imagine a world where it has to be one of these four. Which of these four picks would be best for the Rams, in your opinion?
I’ll share the write-ups of each of these mock drafters and then post a poll in the end. Jump into the comments to share your reasons why you picked one over the others.
CB Maxwell Hairston (Hayden Winks, Underdog)
SEC corners with official 4.2s speed are very live for Round 1 selections. Hairston was a productive zone player with great closing speed and recovery skills. The Rams are a zone-based defense most years, and it’s the position they’ve ignored in the draft recently.
Should the Rams focus on corner in the draft, since they didn’t do it in free agency?
OT/OG Kelvin Banks, Texas (Thor Nystrom, Fantasy Life)
The Rams re-signed LT Alaric Jackson, but RT Rob Havenstein is entering the last year of his deal. There is a debate in the draft community currently about whether Banks is a guard or a tackle. The beautiful thing about this pick is that the Rams would have some runway to find that out on their own.
As a rookie, Banks could be developed while essentially functioning as the primary backup at four different positions. He’d end up seeing the field plenty as a rookie. And would presumably assume Havenstein’s old RT post in 2026.
The Rams have no apparent plan for life after Havenstein, unless you still like Warren McClendon.
LB Jihaad Campbell, Alabama (Ralph Vacchiano, Fox)
Trade down from No. 26 with the Buffalo Bills
They could use help in a lot of areas on defense, but getting some help right in the middle would be smart, even though it’s not usually a high-priority position for them. Late in the draft, they can make an exception for this 6-3, 235-pounder. He’s probably the best off-ball linebacker in the draft, and has the speed to come off the edge, too. The Rams could also trade back and select a corner, but Campbell has more value in this spot.
Campbell could be the highest rated linebacker in this class, but is first round too high for an off-ball linebacker?
OT Josh Simmons, Ohio State (Owain Jones, PFN)
Josh Simmons would have challenged for the OT1 spot in the 2025 NFL Draft if it wasn’t for a season-ending knee injury in October. Until then, the Ohio State left tackle hadn’t conceded a sack.
At 6’5” and 317 pounds, Simmons is an elite athlete and fluid mover who can compete on an island thanks to his flexibility, strong anchor, and natural awareness.
Simmons is a different tackle than Banks, possibly one who had better tape last year, but that comes with an injury and the fact that he wasn’t this highly rated before 2024.
