Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt would be the Rams’ pick in this mock draft
The 2026 NFL Draft is expected to have at least double the first round quarterbacks of 2025, and that’s with or without superstar relative Arch Manning in the mix. SI’s Daniel Flick posted a 2026 NFL mock draft this week and Manning went back to school in this scenario, but that did not keep five quarterbacks from going in the top-8.
The L.A. Rams then took Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt with the 11th pick, which they will have gotten from the Atlanta Falcons:
The Rams are officially in wait-and-see mode with Matthew Stafford’s long-term future, which naturally puts them in position to draft his future successor. There may not be a better mentor for Leavitt than Stafford, whose arm talent and creativity has often gone underappreciated nationally. Leavitt has a strong arm, playmaking mentality and the confidence to be himself no matter the stage, creating a quality foundation for an eventual starter.
The first five quarterbacks off of the board were Garrett Nussmeier, Drew Allar, Cade Klubnik, LaNorris Sellers, and Fernando Mendoza.
Of course, the Rams could end up with a pick as high as first overall and choose any quarterback they wanted, including Leavitt. Or Manning. So much could happen between now and the next draft, it’s anyone’s guess how L.A. will use their two first round picks or if they will even be interested in any of the quarterbacks who are available.
When a mock draft is posted a year in advance, you can guarantee that at least one-third, and maybe more than half, will not even be considered first round locks by January. Of the six quarterbacks who go in the top-11 of this mock draft, surely at least half will not be early draft picks in 2026.
Leavitt transferred from Michigan State to Arizona State in 2024, his first season as a starter, and he led the Sun Devils to a surprising run in the College Football Playoffs. However, there’s no need to really go into much detail on Leavitt because this is merely a mock draft for things that might happen in 11 months.
And the Rams drafting Leavitt is still a longshot. As it would be if you connected them to literally any player in the next first round.
With their other first round pick in this mock, the Rams took cornerback A.J. Harris.
