Rams 7-Round Mock Draft with trades: Will Les Snead be active on draft night?

The NFL Draft is officially just 10 days away before we find out what the Los Angeles Rams do with the 26th overall pick. Most, if not all, of my mock drafts up to this point have been done without trades. That’s done on purpose as trades are difficult to predict. However, before draft season is over, doing one mock draft with trades is necessary. General manager Les Snead has been active in the past and that could be the case once again, especially in this draft class.

As I wrote last week, trading back remains the best option for the Rams with the 26th overall pick. That gives the Rams more capital to move around throughout the draft, but also provides more options and potential value.

36th Overall – TE Mason Taylor, LSU

*Note: Traded Pick 26 to Jaguars (Luther Burden III) for pick 107 and 182

It’s possible that the Rams could go cornerback here, especially if one of Trey Amos or Maxwell Hairston are available. At the same time, the Rams brought back Ahkello Witherspoon and retained Darious Williams for another season. It’s also worth remembering that they signed Emmanuel Forbes at the end of last season. That’s not to say that the Rams don’t have a need at cornerback. However, the Rams may prioritize the position a little differently than some would like. Bringing back Witherspoon allows for the Rams not to force a cornerback early in the draft.

At some point in the draft, the Rams are going to take a tight end. It’s a position of need and it seems to be something that head coach Sean McVay has wanted as well. If the Rams don’t get Colston Loveland in the first round, Mason Taylor is a great backup plan. Like Loveland, Taylor is alignment versatile and is a natural receiver with good ball skills. He may be more of a ‘get in the way’ blocker, but he’s able to pivot defenders. Taylor is a good route runner and gives the Rams a legitimate receiving threat at tight end.

64th Overall – WR Jayden Higgins, Iowa State

*Note: Traded pick 90, 107, and 195 to the Eagles for pick 64

After aquiring pick 107 in the earlier trade, the Rams trade for another second round pick which is where the value seems to be in this draft. Much like the earlier trade, the Rams prioritize the offensive side of the ball. With Davante Adams and Tutu Atwell both essentially on one-year deals, the Rams need to bring in a potential starter behind them. Higgins is a perfect fit.

Taking away the connection to Nate Scheelhaase, Higgins is still a great fit for the Rams offense. He prides himself on being able to play all three wide receiver spots. Despite being 6’4, Higgins is a sharp route-runner. That size also helps him in contested catch situations and as a blocker. Higgins may not contribute right away like Van Jefferson, but there is upside here in years two and three.

101st Overall – LB Smael Mondon Jr., Georgia

The first selection outside of the top 100 and first original pick comes at linebacker. Watching Smael Mondon Jr. and it’s hard not to see a Rams player. It’s possible that the Rams could wait until later in the draft to take a linebacker on day three after re-signing Troy Reeder. However, the signing of Reeder shouldn’t affect the Rams too much at the position.

When Mondon was healthy, he was a very productive player at Georgia. He had 50 or more tackles in each of the last three seasons. Mondon is rangy and his background as a safety makes him comfortable in coverage. He has good read-react quickness and is a disciplined tackler. While Mondon may not contribute right away, he brings special teams upside early.

127th Overall – OT Jalen Travis, Iowa State

If the Rams are going to find an heir to Rob Havenstein, the third or fourth round is the perfect place to do it. Someone like Ozzy Trapilo makes a lot of sense here as well. If Marcus Mbow falls, he could also be an option. Travis brings three years of starting experience with 27 career starts. He started at Princeton on the right side before moving to the left side over the last two years.

Travis has dealt with injuries which could be a red flag after the Joe Noteboom experience. However, this is a player that can play on the left or right side and he moves very well in the run game. This is the perfect type of player to let sit for a year or two and develop as he has all of the physical traits for a starting NFL tackle. Travis gives the Rams options and depth which is what they need on the offensive line.

182nd Overall – RB Jarquez Hunter, Auburn

Hunter is likely going to be a lock for me at the running back position for the Rams late in the draft. This is not only a player that they’ve met with, but he has a lot of traits that they like in the position. While he may not have the home-run speed, he had the sixth-most explosive efforts at the Senior Bowl for a running back and he is consistently able to pick up chunks. According to “The Beast”, Hunter had 42 carries of 10 yards or more sixth most in the FBS in 2024. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Hunter overtake Blake Corum.

190th Overall – CB Robert Longerbeam, Rutgers

Longerbeam may not be the most exciting pick, but he plays tougher than his size at 5’11, 175 pounds and brings outstanding ball skills and instincts. He had 24 passes defended over the past two seasons. He was also the third fastest cornerback at the Shrine Bowl and his 40-yard dash was in the 87th percentile at the Combine. Longerbeam is a competitive, scrappy player which the Rams will like to have in their cornerback room.

201st Overall – DL Ty Robinson, Nebraska

The Rams need some defensive line depth and a player like Ty Robinson makes a lot of sense. While he’s only 288 pounds, his motor always runs hot and has the good initial quickness at the snap that the Rams like. Robinson can rotate as a pass rusher early as he develops.

202nd Overall – iOL Caleb Rogers, Texas Tech

Rogers is exactly the type of offensive lineman that the Rams have drafted late in past years. He’s very similar to Tremayne Anchrum in the sense that he can play multiple spots along the offensive line and is a team-first guy. His nickname at Texas Tech was “Captain Rogers” and he has experience at four of the five spots on the offensive line. He’s simply a reliable, energetic player with good versatility which makes for good depth.