After addressing many of their immediate needs in free agency and via trade, the Los Angeles Rams will enter the 2026 NFL Draft with the flexibility to truly take the best player available. Still, it’s very possible that the Rams will prioritize some positions over others.
Following recent rumors that the Rams have interest in A.J. Brown, the front office may be showing their cards as to what position they may be targeting in the first round of the draft. The Rams have a clear need at the WR3 spot behind Davante Adams and Puka Nacua. Jordan Whittington is more of a special teams player while Konata Mumpfield and Xavier Smith aren’t quite to the level of being a true third wide receiver in the offense.
According to The Athletic and Pro Football Talk, the Rams were one of the teams in serious talks with the Philadelphia Eagles for Brown, but backed out due to some concerns with his medicals.
The Brown trade discussions may have simply been about opportunity and wanting a more proven wide receiver. At the same time, the Rams may be looking for a legitimate third wide receiver behind Nacua and Adams. That’s a player that the Rams could also add with the 13th overall pick.
If the Rams backed out of the Brown trade due to medicals, that may rule out players such as Jordyn Tyson or Chris Bell. Still, if Brown is the type of receiver that they were looking for, Bell makes a lot of sense as he has elite physicality and dominates after the catch. The same can be said about Omar Cooper Jr.
Makai Lemon could fit that mold of a physical wide receiver as well which is why NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah had the Rams taking the USC wide receiver in his latest mock draft. Said Jeremiah,
“According to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, the Rams were in on trade discussions for Eagles star A.J. Brown, which points to their desire to add at receiver. Lemon has the characteristics they covet in wideouts, with toughness, strong hands and the ability to pick up yards after the catch.”
However, even if the Rams don’t take a wide receiver in the first round, it could be a position that’s on their radar on day two. Elijah Sarratt, Skyler Bell, and Ja’Kobi Lane could be potential fits in the middle rounds. Sarratt and Bell especially fit what the Rams are missing at the position.
With the Rams set to potentially pay Puka Nacua a top-of-the-market contract, it makes sense to keep the rest of the position cost effective on rookie contracts where they can. While wide receiver may not be considered a top need, it is a position that the Rams need to upgrade from a depth perspective. Adams is getting older, and having young depth behind him that can immediately upgrade the WR3 spot and develop into the eventual WR2 is the best-case scenario.
Again, the Rams will have the flexibility to go best player available in the draft because of how they’ve approached the rest of their offseason. With that said, their interest in AJ Brown speaks volumes on how they feel about their need at wide receiver.
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