One position that the Los Angeles Rams will be looking at during the 2026 NFL Draft is wide receiver. It’s very possible that the Rams look at wide receiver at 13 and if they don’t take one in the first round, they most certainly will on Day 2.
Throughout the draft process, I’ve watched around 40 wide receivers. With each player, I grade a series of traits and then those traits get put into a ‘Rams fit’ formula based on things that the team tends to value at the position. The result is a ‘Fit Grade’. This isn’t necessarily a list ranking the best wide receivers in the class, but ranking them by how they fit the Rams. It’s the reason you might see a consensus Day 3 player like CJ Daniels graded higher than a consensus second-round player like Chris Brazzell.
While this is technically a fits ranking, I like to look at things in buckets and tiers. Many teams, including the Rams, do the same. Below is every wide receiver that I’ve watched separated into five Rams fit tiers.
Elite/Excellent Rams Fits
- Makai Lemon, USC – 9.1
- Carnell Tate, Ohio State – 8.95
- Germie Bernard, Alabama – 8.95
- Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State – 8.9
- Antonio Williams, Clemson – 8.8
- KC Concepcion, Texas A&M – 8.7
- Skyler Bell, UConn – 8.55
- Denzel Boston, Washington – 8.5
- Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana – 8.5
A lot of nuance is needed when it comes to Makai Lemon. I’ve been on the record saying that Makai Lemon isn’t a fit within the current infrastructure of the Rams offense. This is a player that I am very conflicted over. Normally he would be the perfect Rams fit at wide receiver. However, Puka Nacua played more from the slot last year than previous years and that unlocked another level. Do the Rams limit Nacua’s overall value in the offense with a projected slot wide receiver at 13? Lemon may be the Rams’ best option at 13, but I’ve had some internal conflict with him due to the overlap in skill set with Nacua. Still, that’s not going to affect his overall fit grade.
There are two other prospects that I do want to bring up who would be excellent fits in the current iteration of the Rams offense. Antonio Williams was one of my favorite wide receivers to watch in the 2026 class. Williams is an excellent route-runner, especially over the middle of the field and is great after the catch. The Clemson wide receiver is explosive and had just a 1.4 percent drop rate last season. That doesn’t mention that he’s alignment-versatile and has the speed to make plays on a vertical plane.
One of the more polarizing players for the Rams is wide receiver KC Concepcion. Concepcion is an excellent separator and may be the best in the class. He’s a good route-runner and has the ability to create explosive plays down the field. Concepcion is also a dual threat in the sense that he has punt return experience which the Rams need. Where Concepcion needs to improve is his drop rate. However, this is something that can be coached. Many wanted the Rams to sign or trade for Rashid Shaheed and Concepcion brings a similar skillset.
Great/Very Good Rams Fits
- Josh Cameron, Baylor – 8.3
- Cyrus Allen, Cincinnati – 8.1
- CJ Daniels, Miami – 8.1
- De’Zhaun Stribling, Ole Miss – 8.1
- Chris Bell, Louisville – 8.05
- Chris Brazzell, Tennessee – 8.05
- Kevin Coleman, Mizzou – 8.05
- Ted Hurst, Georgia State – 8.05
- Lewis Bond, Boston College – 8.05
- Bryce Lance, NDSU – 8.0
- Ja’Kobi Lane, USC – 8.0
- Elijah Sarratt, Indiana – 8.0
Heading into this next tier, De’Zhaun Stribling is a player who generally surprised me. He brings good size and because of that, there is a strong, physical aspect to his game. Stribling is extremely competitive when it comes to run blocking which the Rams will value. As a deep threat on the outside, Stribling is able to win down the field and along the sideline.
One of my favorite wide receivers in this class is Bryce Lance from North Dakota State. His deep-ball tracking ability is among the best in the class and his 9.98 RAS showcases the type of athlete that he is. If he hits his ceiling, we could be looking at a player similar to Alec Pierce.
Above Average/Good Rams Fits
- Kaden Wetjen, Iowa – 7.85
- Kendrick Law, Kentucky – 7.75
- Eric McAlister, TCU – 7.75
- Tyren Montgomery, John Carroll – 7.7
- Malachi Fields, Notre Dame – 7.7
- Deion Burks, Oklahoma – 7.65
- Reggie Virgil, Texas Tech – 7.65
- Dae’Quan Wright, Ole Miss – 7.6
- Keelan Marion, Miami – 7.6
- Chase Reynolds, BYU – 7.6
Virgil is someone that generally surprised me as well and this is a player in the mid-late part of the draft that the Rams could find themselves really liking. The Texas Tech wide receiver is similar to Jordan Whittington in the sense that he’s full go all the time. He’s extremely competitive between the whistles. Virgil transferred to Texas Tech from Sean McVay’s alma mater at Miami (OH) and brings the ability to win vertically. He was also a very good special teams player, playing on both kick and punt coverage units during his freshman and sophomore seasons.
Below Average/Okay Rams Fits
- Zachariah Branch, Georgia – 7.45
- Brenen Thompson, Mississippi State – 7.45
- Zavion Thomas, LSU – 7.4
- Eric Rivers, Georgia Tech – 7.25
- Colbie Young, Georgia – 7.25
- Caleb Douglas, Texas Tech – 7.25
- Donaven McCulley, Michigan – 7.1
- Aaron Anderson, LSU – 7.0
There has been some discussion about Zachariah Branch and his fit with the Rams. However, if the Rams draft one of Branch or Brenen Thompson, we would remain in this toxic relationship with undersized, speedy wide receivers. We’ve done this dance with Tavon Austin and then Tutu Atwell. Branch is 5’9, 177 pounds. There’s no questioning his explosiveness, but he needs to be in an offense that will design specific touches for him. That likely won’t be the case in the Rams offense where route running is valued. Much of the same can be said about Thompson who is 5’9, 164. We’ve been there, done that and I’d rather not do it again.
Not a Rams Fit
- Harrison Wallace III, Ole Miss – 6.9
- Malik Benson, Oregon – 6.75
- Chris Hilton, LSU – 6.75
- Jeff Caldwell, Cincinnati – 6.7
- Barion Brown, LSU – 6.35
- Vinny Anthony, Wisconsin – 6.3
We’ve finally reached the final tier here and Jeff Caldwell may be the most built like past Rams draft picks. Athletically, he profiles similar to Ben Skowronek and Jacob Harris. Like Harris, he’s very raw but brings excellent traits with his size, speed, and explosiveness. As a developmental player, he might make sense. However, the Rams don’t necessarily have the roster spots at wide receiver to take that type of player.
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