3 rookie prospects Les Snead would definitely trade up to select

The Los Angeles Rams have a fairly good idea about their needs entering the NFL draft. The secondary, first and foremost, is an area that general manager Les Snead should look to address. The offensive line could use some depth at tackle. The receiver room is still searching for a bona fide third option. 

With two first-round picks this time around, the 13th and 29th overall, the Horns have options. They can stand pat and take whatever talent falls to them. Or, they could trade up in the draft to take a big swing on upside. That might mean moving into the top 10. It could involve trading up from No. 29 to try and secure two selections in the teens. 

It's not something that is strange for Snead. After all, he's attempted to trade up for a specific player in each of the last three drafts. But now that the team has selected what appears to be its future tight end, is there any other position worth moving up the board to secure for the future?

You bet.

Here are three names Snead might splash for, one at each of the aforementioned positions. 

Rams may view 3 rookie prospects worth trading up for in the draft

Mansoor Delane - Cornerback, LSU Tigers

Mock drafts and big boards tend to list Delane around 10 or 11, putting him just above LA's range. He is, though, one of the best corners available, grading out third overall with a PFF score of 90.5. Remarkably, he held quarterbacks to a 31.3 passer rating when targeted, sixth lowest among nearly 900 ranked cornerbacks. 

It's not just his elite talent. Delane is considered a candidate to win a starting job out of training camp. With Cobie Durant and Roger McCreary both pending free agents, the Rams could be in an even bigger mess than they were last season. Relying on Emmanuel Forbes as a starter probably is not a recipe for success. 

Tennessee's Jermod McCoy is another corner linked to Los Angeles in mock drafts, but given his injury history, Delance is a far safer bet for a defense that needs immediate help. Trading up a couple of spots from 13 could be the difference between adding an impact player and gambling on health. If Snead is feeling ambitious, moving up from No. 29 would allow the Rams to double up in the 10-13 region of the draft. 

Makai Lemon - Wide receiver, USC 

This is an interesting one. The offense clearly needs a No. 3 option behind Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Lemon was highly productive at USC, totaling 79 catches for 1,156 yards and nine touchdowns. Although at 5-foot-11 he isn't a dream contested catch target, he is intriguing as a slot receiver and an all-around playmaker. Think of him as a Golden Tate prototype. 

The thing is, the Rams might not need to trade up to get him. Lemon is frequently mocked to Los Angeles at No. 13. Why burn assets to move up when you don't have to? In practice, though, acquiring Lemon might mean moving up from the 29th pick to corner their desired market. There is a world where Snead could trade up a few spots for Delane and get Lemon, too, by upgrading on that selection later in the round.

Imagine his versatility in the hands of an offensive mastermind like head coach Sean McVay. With Matthew Stafford wanting to get the ball out quickly against pressure, Lemon could be an instant weapon on quick-hitting slants and screen passes. 

Kadyn Proctor - Offensive tackle, Alabama 

The Rams may or may not plan to start Warren McClendon Jr. at tackle next season. They recently re-signed veteran David Quessenberry on a one-year deal. Regardless, Rob Havenstein's retirement leaves a hole on the depth chart, one that needs to be filled. As this team attempts to make one more Super Bowl run in the Stafford era, strong protection on the offensive line will be a high priority. 

Proctor's appeal is obvious. Listed at 6-foot-7, 366 pounds, he is a menace for any defensive lineman to handle. Just try moving him. While Proctor is regarded as having somewhat raw abilities, he is surprisingly athletic for his size. He may need to clean some things up in pass protection - per PFF, he allowed 19 pressures last season, which ranked in the bottom 38 percent among tackles - but, clearly, he offers plenty of talent to work with. Battling big, physical pass rushers in the SEC is excellent practice for the type of monsters he'll be fending off in the NFL. 

Mock drafters vary in their views on Proctor, but generally, he populates the range between LA's two first-rounders. That could make him a target for Snead if he doesn't like what the options are available later on in the round. His physical gifts could allow Proctor to contribute from the jump, and at the very least, he would slide in as a potential Quessenberry replacement in 2027.