Over the last couple of years, the Los Angeles Rams have taken an aggressive mindset when it comes to the NFL Draft. In 2024, they tried to trade up for Brock Bowers, but were unable to get a deal done. Last year, they tried to trade up in the first round for Tet McMillan and Emeka Egbuka while teams stood firm. While the Rams were unable to trade up in the first round, they traded up three other times in the draft.
When it comes to fanbases, the preference seems to always be trade back. Trading back equals more picks later in the draft and therefore more darts to be thrown at the board. That’s more chances to hit on a player late in the draft. Sometimes, that works out. However, trading back also means passing on better talent. In 2019, the Rams traded back from 31st overall all the way down to 61st overall to take Taylor Rapp. They passed on drafting seven Pro Bowl caliber players in the process.
Oftentimes, the idea of more picks ends up being better than the picks themselves. In an ’all-in’ type of year, it makes sense for the Rams to go for a player that can make an immediate impact rather than trade back for a player that may take 2-3 years to develop and begin to tap into their potential.
It’s been said multiple times at this point that the 2026 draft class is weaker than previous years. This is a less-heralded draft class overall. Again, while more picks provide more chances to find gems in a weaker class, having more picks in this weak draft really doesn’t help this current Rams team. That doesn’t mean that good players can’t be found, but there may just be less of them.
There are three blue-chip, day-one impact starts that the Rams could realistically get depending on how far they fall. Those three players are linebacker Sonny Styles, running back Jeremiyah Love, and safety Caleb Downs. All three of those players help the Rams get to a Super Bowl this year. Depending on how teams feel about Rueben Bain Jr., he could potentially fall as well.
Styles is an immediate upgrade over Omar Speights and continues to improve the level of the back seven. Love gives head coach Sean McVay a Todd Gurley-esque running back who the Rams nearly won a Super Bowl with in 2018. While the Rams brought back Kam Curl, defensive coordinator Chris Shula has shown how creative he can be with defensive backs, especially safety. The Rams have consistently used three or four safeties on the field at the same time. At minimum, Downs takes over for Jaylen McCollough as the dime linebacker and is another upgrade at that spot.
If the Rams take a wide receiver in the first round, that player has a ceiling as WR3 in the offense in 2026. There are obviously exceptions of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. However, Van Jefferson had 19 receptions as a rookie which is the type of role that a drafted player would slot into. If the Rams take a tackle, that player becomes a sixth man on the offensive line. An argument can be made that the only other player at a position that makes a significant impact immediately is Kenyon Sadiq at tight end, but even he may slot in as the third tight end on the roster.
This isn’t to say that the Rams need to trade up inside the top five. However, if one of the four players listed above falls between picks 8-10, it might be worth Les Snead making a phone call and trying to move up.
It all comes back to what the Rams are trying to do this season and where the roster is at. This is a team trying to get over the hump and win a Super Bowl. While they can certainly draft for the future, if there is an opportunity to take an impact player, that helps them achieve that goal.
Sitting at the 13th overall pick, there is a better chance of moving up inside the top-10 for a premier talent than there has been in past years. A big reason why the Rams were unable to get a deal done with the Panthers last season was because a drop from eighth overall to 26 is significant. The Rams won’t have that roadblock this season.
At the end of the day, the Rams are going to have options. That’s a good place to be for Snead and co. However, while the idea of more picks in a trade back is enticing, the Rams may be better off trading up and trying to acquire the best talent that this draft has to offer.
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