The Los Angeles Rams entered the 2026 offseason with a plan and for all intents and purposes, they have executed that plan to near perfection. As a team on the cusp of winning another Super Bowl, the goal should always have been to address their immediate needs in free agency and then fill in the rest of the roster during the draft.
Heading into the offseason, the Rams’ biggest need came at cornerback. By trading for Trent McDuffie and signing Jaylen Watson, the Rams addressed that need with two experienced players. The Rams also re-signed Kam Curl to keep some of the chemistry on the backend of the defense. They also worked to improve the special teams unit by signing Grant Stuard.
There are certainly some positions that many would have liked to see the Rams address in free agency. However, the front office addressed the most imminent needs and that has laid the groundwork for the draft. Here’s what the offseason so far suggests about the potential draft plans.
1. Offensive skill player to be priority in draft
Nobody would have been surprised had the Rams gone out and signed Rashid Shaheed, Alec Pierce, or Romeod Doubs. However, the Rams stayed the course and didn’t sign an experienced wide receiver. That shouldn’t have been a huge surprise considering how they have handled the position in recent years. The top two wide receivers in the offense tend to be experienced while WR3 is a rookie or player on a rookie contract. This allows the Rams to continue replenishing at the position.
In 2021, Van Jefferson served as the WR3 as a player in year two and the following season, the Rams drafted Tutu Atwell in the second round. The Rams used more tight ends last year and it’s possible that they trust the continued development of Xavier Smith and Jordan Whittington. Still, it seems more likely that the Rams would like to upgrade behind Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. There is an assumption right now that the Rams will draft a wide receiver at 13. Even if they don’t take a wide receiver with their first pick, it’s probably safe to say that one of their first two picks will be a wide receiver.
2. Linebacker may not be considered a need
It’s another Rams offseason which means it’s another offseason of the fan base desperately hoping that the team will upgrade at linebacker. However, unless a player like Sonny Styles falls to the Rams at 13, it seems very unlikely that the Rams will draft a linebacker. Heading into the offseason, adding a player that could potentially compete with Omar Speights but also have an impact on special teams was a need. By signing Grant Stuard, the Rams at least addressed the second part of that.
By signing Stuard, the Rams are showing that they have more confidence in Speights than the fan base. This is a team that has typically been light at the position on the roster. Since 2017, the Rams haven’t spent a top-100 pick at linebacker. A player outside of the top-100 isn’t pushing a two-year starter in Speights, and roster spots are limited. Many also seem to like Shaun Dolac. Are the Rams keeping five linebackers? If the Rams take a linebacker in the draft, a player late who can push Dolac or addressing the position after the draft seems more likely.
3. Rams trust better cornerback play will help pass rush
The Rams were never going to spend big on the pass rush during free agency. However, adding a veteran here would have made sense. Jared Verse, Byron Young, and Josaiah Stewart are an excellent trio. Still, this is a group that could have used a veteran voice when things get difficult. There are still a handful of veteran edge rushers available that the Rams could add before training camp. With that said, this is a group that the Rams seem to be confident in.
Last season, the Rams edge rushers didn’t have a problem getting to the quarterback. Young and Verse both ranked inside the top-15 in pressures. The hope here seems to be that better cornerback play will help the pass rush and result in more drive-ending sacks.
4. Offensive line depth might be biggest need
Right now, the only move that the Rams have made on the offensive line is re-signing David Quessenberry. With Quessenberry back, it made sense not to add another veteran piece as depth. However, the Rams could look to add developmental depth in the draft. As it stands, the only players under contract on the offensive line after this season are Alaric Jackson, Beaux Limmer, Dylan McMahon, and AJ Arcuri.
During the draft, the Rams should be looking to add a swing tackle that can either play both left and right tackle or someone that can play tackle as well as a guard spot. It also may not be a bad idea to draft someone that has some versatility on the interior. The Rams haven’t drafted an offensive lineman inside the top-200 since taking Steve Avila 36th overall in 2023.
5. Nothing is guaranteed on special teams
The Rams appear to be putting more of a focal point on special teams and allowing Bubba Ventrone some say in the players that he brings in. They signed Joe Cardona who has some experience playing under Ventrone early in his coaching career with the New England Patriots. Grant Stuard also played one year with the Indianapolis Colts under Ventrone. Stuard will replace Troy Reeder as the experienced special teams player on the roster. Additionally, the Rams have had a pre-draft meeting with at least one kicker in Iowa’s Drew Stevens.
Harrison Mevis brought some stability to the kicking game, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see Ventrone bring in his own guy and at least have some competition at that spot. The same could be said about Ethan Evans. Evans was inconsistent in 2025 and Ventrone could look to bring in his own guy. Special teams was an issue last year and simply running it back with a new coordinator wasn’t going to solve it. The Rams may keep Mevis and Evans, but as an experienced special teams coordinator, Ventrone may have more say than Chase Blackburn did.
6. Option is open for a quarterback
There are three ways we can look at how the Rams have handled the quarterback position this offseason. The first two are that the Rams are waiting to see how the draft unfolds until signing a more experienced backup or they are waiting for Jimmy Garoppolo and Kirk Cousins as they hold out for potential starting opportunities. A less likely scenario is that the Rams trust Stetson Bennett as the backup quarterback behind Matthew Stafford.
The Rams seem to value Bennett’s role as a third quarterback. He’s an experienced player and has been in the offense the last two years. Similar to John Wolford, he’s like having another quarterback coach. Still, Bennett doesn’t prevent the Rams from drafting a quarterback such as Ty Simpson, Garrett Nussmeier, Drew Allar, or Cade Klubnik, even if they are simply long-term backup options outside of Simpson. If the Rams are unable to get a rookie quarterback that they are comfortable with, the option should still be there to go back to the safe option and sign Garoppolo after the draft.
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