Rams will pick #46 in the second round of the draft on Friday
On the same night that Jacksonville Jaguars GM James Gladstone re-embraced the “F them picks” mantra by trading away next year’s first rounder to land phenom Travis Hunter, Los Angeles Rams GM Les Snead is entering a new era by picking up an extra 2026 first round selection in a trade back with the Atlanta Falcons. A year after Snead was mocked on social media for trading a future second rounder in a move up for Braden Fiske, he now finds himself on the other end of the scales by making Atlanta pay a steep price for their aggressive maneuver.
The Falcons used pick #26 on EDGE rusher James Pearce of Tennessee, a player they reportedly considered at #15 when they instead took Georgia EDGE Jalon Walker. They entered the draft as a pass-needy team and certainly made this a priority on Thursday night.
The Rams were sandwiched between two selections that will make for an interesting reflection point moving forward. The New York Giants traded with the Houston Texans to pick Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart at #25. At #27 the Baltimore Ravens drafted Georgia DB Malaki Starks.
Reactions on social media platform X were extremely one-sided in favor of Los Angeles. Rams fans are outright giddy about the haul and the fact the team will have two first round picks next year.
Les Snead finally wins a trade?
“We though Atlanta’s value was best for us”
Look at this shit eating grin. Man I love these 2. pic.twitter.com/kmoEgQnQI9
— The Dizzle (@Nmartin55) April 25, 2025
Falcons pick up 2,010 points and the Rams pick up 2,873. Difference is around the 67th pick in the draft. A lot of upside for the Rams if the Falcons have a bad season.
— Jason_OTC (@Jason_OTC) April 25, 2025
Reaction by one source to #Falcons trading a future 1st to come back in: “WTF?”
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) April 25, 2025
To get a future one is a big deal to move back just 20 spots.
-Sean McVay— J.B. Long (@JB_Long) April 25, 2025
WE GAVE UP OUR FIRST????!! https://t.co/m2Ji64gDJ2
— Akash (@YZR_Fantasy) April 25, 2025
Elite organization in the Rams stay winning.
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) April 25, 2025
The Falcons traded away a future 1st??? Are they okay? Seriously.
— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) April 25, 2025
Falcons are banking–banking!–on that first rounder next year being a late one. But they’re also banking on Walker/Pearce being the long-awaited panacea for their pass rush, and to be fair, we asked for it!
— The Falcoholic (@TheFalcoholic) April 25, 2025
The Rams absolutely scammed someone in a trade for once and will still probably land an impact WR at 46.
What a time to be alive. Love it.
— Sosa Kremenjas (@QBsMVP) April 25, 2025
Genuinely feel like Terry Fontenot is actively trying to get fired.
— Ollie Connolly (@OllieConnolly) April 25, 2025
The 2026 first-round pick part… https://t.co/wl86qr823b
— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) April 25, 2025
Are Rams collecting picks to find a QB in 2026?
Rams have their arsenal to find a QB in 2026 now. Absolutely zero complaints about that.
— Joe Mazzi (@JoeMazziFB) April 25, 2025
The 2026 first in the trade back with Atlanta gives the Rams so much flexibility.
1. Can use it at the deadline to trade for a star.
2. Can also hold on to it and add two first-round caliber players next year.
3. Could also use it as ammo to move up for QB1 post-Stafford.— Blaine Grisak (@bgrisakTST) April 25, 2025
Picks are fun…gible.
— Kara Henderson Snead (@KaraHenderson) April 25, 2025
Les Snead pick hoarding?
— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) April 25, 2025
So now the Rams have two first rounders in a talented quarterback class in 2026. https://t.co/3A7EsoLwOA
— Adam Grosbard (@AdamGrosbard) April 25, 2025
Raheem Morris gets his own draft pick (kind of)
The Rams traded their second of two third round picks, which they only had because Raheem Morris left LA to take the head coaching job in Atlanta as a minority candidate. That selection now belongs to the Falcons as part of the back and forth in this package.
The Rams traded pick #26 and #101 to Raheem Morris and the Falcons. That #101 pick was a comp pick that was awarded to the Rams once Raheem was hired with Atlanta.
Pretty cool.
— Rams Bros. (@RamsBrothers) April 25, 2025
Raheem getting his own comp pick back
— JT Pearson (@JTPearsonNFL) April 25, 2025
And Les Snead makes his 52nd trade as a General Manager #Rams.
— Erin Coscarelli (@erincoscarelli) April 25, 2025
