Falcons' latest injury woes could make Rams impossible dream come true

The 8-2 Los Angeles Rams have found success on the football field. Curiously, when the season ends, the greater success may be found when the 2026 NFL Draft arrives. General manager Les Snead gambled with the team's Round 1 pick (as he often does). In doing so, he was able to pry the Round 1 pick in the upcoming draft from the Atlanta Falcons.

That pick is suddenly among the top 10 selections in the draft, and may end up rising higher in the draft order. Atlanta has fallen to a record of 3-7, faces three playoff-bound teams, and is at a point where many teams start playing for the future by starting younger players. But the Falcons trade is a glaring gaffe right now.

They are losing on the football field, while losing players to injury on the football field:

At the time of the trade, the Rams were frustrated that the best players sought in the draft were selected and off the board. So they made the next logical step, trading back to Round 2, where selecting their next tier of players would be of optimal value. The Falcons' first-round pick, curiously, could fall anywhere in the round from first to 32nd.

The Falcons had picked at 15 in 2025, so that was likely the assessed value of that pick during the exchange.

Rams may have hit the draft day jackpot with the Falcons pick

The Rams hold solid value in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, thanks in no small part to the additional Round 1 pick. The only change to that post-draft day list is the transfer of a Tennessee Titans fifth-round pick in return for cornerback Roger McCreary and the Titans' sixth-round pick.

The Falcons certainly appeared to have made the better trade early in the season. After defeating the Buffalo Bills in Week 5, they held a record of 3-2 and appeared to be a juggernaut for postseason play. Unfortunately, they ran into a five-game losing streak and have plummeted from postseason to draft day aspirations.

And Rams fans have been along for the ride.

This is no ordinary season for fans. Typically, success on the football field eliminates hopes for anything better than a late Day 1 draft selection. Right now, that is true for the team's allotted Round 1 selection. But the Falcons' pick adds a bit of intrigue to the annual draft event that Los Angeles has not experienced since trading up in 2016 for then-California quarterback Jared Goff.

As the value of the Falcons' pick increases, so too does the likelihood for general manager Les Snead to trade up for the next franchise quarterback.

Right now, LA's quarterback room future is occupied solely by Stetson Bennett. The number of viable quarterback prospects likely to declare in the upcoming draft is dwindling. So if the front office wants a quarterback, it will need to trade up. To do that, it will need a lot more firepower.

Right now, that firepower is increasingly supplied by the Falcons pick.

The Horns have many projected needs for the upcoming draft. Even with 10 picks to spend, there will be some unfilled needs or wants for the 2026 NFL season. Right now, the future is looking much better all the time.

As always, thanks for reading.