Here's what notable draft experts have to say about Rams draft class

The day after the annual NFL draft remains a very busy time for both the Los Angeles Rams and fans who have been glued to their smartphones, computer monitors, or televisions for the past 96 hours. In the case of the Rams, the team is scouring the nation with contract offers in hand to lure any remaining collegiate free agents to sign with the team and round out the Rams roster until the 90-man roster limit is reached.

For fans, it's a day of frustration and enlightenment. Frustrating in that it's quite the challenge to get real and updated information about who the team has and will sign to the roster after the draft. But it's enlightening too, as the day after the draft yields the draft grades for all 32 NFL teams. If you love details, projections, and bold predictions, we have you covered. You can get all of the three-day event actions summarized just by clicking the link here. We even tossed in a bold prediction for each rookie selection.

But if you want to know what other's think, we have that too. We surveyed most of the major sports media for their post-draft grades for the Rams 2025 rookie class, and summarized them for you below:

CBS Sports

When it comes to initial draft grades for NFL teams, keep in mind that the grade is a subjective assessment. But, what does it really represent? Since no plays have been made, the marks are more about how the author agrees with the team's selections in terms of relative to other rookies, and far less about the team's needs and fit. So, CBS Sports writer Chris Trapasso gave the Rams a solid initial grade because he viewed the players selected quite favorably.

I will give him credit. He did seem to have his bearings about what the Rams needed. And he cited Rams GM Les Snead's ability to dart and weave throughout the draft to get specific players who seem to fit the team.

Initial Grade: A

Pro Football Focus

When it comes to Pro Football Focus, they seem to walk a solid balance between what a rookie prospect brings to the table and what the NFL team needs in terms of personality and skillset. Their review of the Rams' draft class was fair and pointed. Since PFF is quite knowledgeable about rookie prospects' college production, they do a much more thorough job of grading selected rookies than a typical window shopping approach of: 'Oooh, I like that. Oh no, I don't like that.'

Because they hold a huge database of college players, this is a solid draft assessment to spend time reading. I like their player-by-player run-down.

Initial Grade: B+

Pro Football & Sport Network

Despite the absolute lovefest for the Rams' final three picks of the draft, PFSN railed on about how they did not like the OLB Josaiah Stewart selection in Round 3. Not understanding the need for an edge rusher to replace absent Michael Hoecht, the preferred selection was QB Jalen Milroe. The argument made does not support that, as Milroe will sit all season long behind both veteran QBs, Matthew Stafford and Jimmy Garoppolo.

It was nice to get more positive feedback about Day 3 additions.

Initial Grade: B-

ESPN

ESPN's draft guru, Mel Kiper, calls it like he sees it, and he's been at this so long that he always seems to find a new perspective that many others do not seem to notice. He noticed that the Rams failed to address the cornerback position, which, despite the Rams' confidence in the group, was an Achilles' Heel of the defense.

"The biggest question for me: Why didnt Snead take any corners? I see issues when looking at the Rams depth chart. That's still a weak group.

At the same time, L.A. has a sizable hole at cornerback and could have filled it at No. 26. The defense allowed a 59.9 QBR last season, which ranked 28th in the league, and allowed 12 touchdown passes of 20-plus yards, which tied for 30th. Will Johnson, Maxwell Hairston, and even Azareyeh Thomas all could have made sense."

Mel Kiper

He loved the Rams' acquisition of the Atlanta Falcons' first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Kiper loved the Rams' selection of ILB Chris Paul Jr., whom he called a tackling machine. Kiper had a few comments about the Rams' other picks, but it was the absence of a cornerback in this draft class that drove his initial draft grade down.

Initial Grade: B-

NFL

The NFL analysis seemed to love the Rams' acquisition of a first-round pick in 2026, but was less positive about players selected in this draft, and the cost of moving up and down the board to get them. This was never a draft about getting starters for the Rams, but the concept of additional skills and solid backups seemed to be lost in this assessment.

Initial Grade: B+

Sports Illustrated

I didn't need to read more than Matt Verderame's name in the byline to know the tone that was coming in the Sports Illustrated initial draft grades, and he did not prove me wrong. Since Verderame was the draft analyst who lobbied hard for the Rams to give up multiple picks to trade up from 26 to 24, it was easy to anticipate the Rams' rookie additions sailing over his head.

They did.

Verderame cited cliche over substance in this one. No future quarterback? Check. In a poor QB class. Linebacker? Check. The Rams do not value the position to pick an inside linebacker in Round 1. And he should at least mention the fact that the team did add ILB Chris Paul Jr. Keep in mind that Verderame gave the Rams 2024 draft class a B, one of his lowest grades.

Initial Grade: C

USA Today

It's hard to tell if USA Today's draft grade article is written by someone with intimate knowledge of each NFL team or simply a general overview of the NFL at large. NFL reporter Nate Davis covers all 32 teams, but does so in broad strokes. There was little more of value to Rams fans in this one than one more attaboy for acquiring the Atlanta Falcons' first-round pick in 2026.

Initial Grade: B

If you toss the Sports Illustrated anomaly, the Rams come in with a B grade across the board. Considering the Rams made the last first pick of any NFL team, settled for six selections, and aimed for specific niche roles that general NFL draft analysts seldom invest the time to understand, it's not a bad grade. And it's all about the first thoughts, not rooted in any performance or objectivity. So, teams that pick early get great grades simply from that 'wow' factor.

Aggregate Grade: B

And yet, we know that when the pads go on and the football is snapped, Rams players will show up as well, if not better than those from other teams. Ultimately, that is the litmus test for every team's rookie class.

As always, thanks for reading.

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