1st clue of Rams draft interest surfaces as team formally meets top prospect

Well, one data point does not a trend make. But if you are looking for any hints, clues, or bread crumbs as to who the Los Angeles Rams may be targeting in Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft, look no further. NFL analyst Ryan Fowler reports the first formal meeting between LA and a top rookie prospect.

It seems that the Horns are meeting with LSU defensive back Mansoor Delane. Of course, Los Angeles is one of nine NFL teams meeting with Delane. Five of those teams select earlier than LA.

While some fans may be anxious over the team's meeting with Delane becoming public so quickly, the Rams need for secondary help is widely known. Better still, the depth of cornerback talent in the 2026 NFL Draft could afford general manager Les Snead the chance to find a starter on Day 3.

That all means that meeting with Delane is not risking getting shut out of a game-changing cornerback.

The official meeting with Mansoor Delane, combined with Jermod McCoy's refusal to work out, could work to LA's advantage. It could give other NFL teams the false sense that the team is focused exclusively on Delane. But many seasoned fans have learned that the team is impossible to link to specific players due to pre-draft meetings.

The only pattern seems to be LA's drafting at positions that got plenty of pre-draft attention.

Mansoor Delane is very much in play for Rams in Round 1

Of course, the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine will play a huge part in how mock drafts rank rookie prospects. But it's been quite obvious that at the 13th overall pick, the LA Rams will have many talented prospects to choose from.

And cornerback Mansoor Delane may still be on the board when general manager Les Snead makes his first pick.

Of course, fans have little experience in Day 1 events. Since hiring head coach Sean McVay in 2017, Los Angeles has made just one first-round selection. And it will be very difficult to top the impact that outside linebacker Jared Verse made on this defense in his rookie season.

The Horns will have two chances to do so in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Will the team sit tight at 13? While the team traded back in the 2025 NFL Draft, the team attempted to trade up in three previous drafts. Even the 2024 NFL Draft that yielded Verse only happened because LA failed to trade up.

If the team is willing to be patient, they could emerge with a Day 1 starter for 2026. One such instant starter is Mansoor Delane. The draft is starting to heat up, and Los Angeles is starting to gather information on the top prospects on their draft board.

As always, thanks for reading.