The Los Angeles Rams set themselves up for a potentially spectacular 2026 draft class when they swapped out of their 2025 first-round pick (No. 26) 2025 and third-round pick (No. 101) with the Atlanta Falcons for their 2025 second-round pick (No. 46), seventh-round pick (No. 242), and 2026 first-round pick.
According to PFSN’s Owain Jones’ projections, the Rams will be in a prime position with the 11th and 23rd overall picks. In a draft class considered richer in talent than even 2025, the Rams are well-positioned to get themselves a skill position player and a quarterback for the future.
However, for this exercise, we’ll focus on the skill side.
Which Skill Position Player Will the Rams Target First?
We are still far from the draft, much less the end of the 2025 season, but it’s still fun to game out who could go where. If the Falcons’ season goes poorly, Jones thinks the Rams will opt to bolster their backfield.
Jones writes, “The resurgence of the NFL running back continues. Jeremiyah Love could be the next elite rusher drafted in the top 15. The Notre Dame running back is a bulldozing runner, possessing the physicality and relentless movement to attack running lanes and demolish contact with authority.”
“At 6’0″ and 210 pounds, Love has the agility and spatial awareness to make defenders miss while having the elite instincts and vision to unleash chunk plays.”
Why Would the Rams Draft Another Running Back?
The Rams just signed Kyren Williams to a team-friendly three-year, $33 million contract with $23 million guaranteed. They also have second-year running back Blake Corum, who has been showing some skills in 2025 with 14 carries for 99 yards and a touchdown across the first three games of 2025. Behind them is rookie Jarquez Hunter, a bruising and powerful back the Rams drafted in the fourth round in 2025.
So, with so much running back talent, why get another one? Easy: When you have talent all over the field, you can easily ignore the urge to draft for “need” and draft the best player available on your board. Especially so when none of your current running backs have been a breakaway threat.
The Rams have an obvious need at quarterback with Matthew Stafford at 37. However, unless Garrett Nussmeier drops to them, there’s little reason not to go after the most dynamic playmaker at 11th overall.
The Rams could talk themselves into a corner back. The world saw how easily A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith shredded the Rams’ smaller defensive backs in Week 3’s comeback win by the Philadelphia Eagles.
However, as the wise man says, don’t draft for need, draft the best player available.
