It took 1 Combine drill for 3 wide receivers to send Rams the loudest message

The Los Angeles Rams selected Louisville wide receiver Tutu Atwell in Round 2 of the 2021 NFL Draft. At the time, fans gave Atwell a frosty reception, as a coveted center in Creed Humphrey was still on the board. In 2025, the team doubled down on Atwell, spending $10 million to retain him for one more season and keep the bench warm.

By all accounts, both the team and the fans are ready to move on from that failed experiment.

But what of a speedy deep-threat receiver? It seemed that the offense had a void when it came down to stretching defenses. And while the offense favored multiple tight end formations in 2025, the addition of a speedy wide receiver in 12-personnel packages could compel opposing secondaries into a no-win dilemma:

Run double coverage on a deep threat, exposing the box to runs and tight end short routes. Or, attempt single coverage deep and surrender an explosive play.

The thing is, LA no longer has a deep threat speedster. Oh, but that could change very quickly, and general manager Les Snead needn't spend valuable picks to acquire a deep-threat wide receiver. The NFL combine showcased multiple swift wide receivers, and all could be selected on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft.

So who may have caught LA's attention?

3 wide receivers sent the Rams the loudest message at the NFL combine

(1) Mississippi State WR Brenen Thompson

The LA Rams do not make their pre-draft meetings public, but the word is out that the team did meet with Mississippi State wide receiver Brenen Thompson at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. After he recorded a 4.26-second time in the 40-yard dash, the reasons seem apparent. Standing 5-foot-9 and weighing 169 pounds, Thompson is simply Tutu Atwell 2.0.

But he does offer an advantage over Atwell. He can decelerate, break db ankles with double moves, and defeat press coverage out of the gate. He is a real option for LA in this draft, and he could fall to Day 3.

(2) Oklahoma WR Deion Burks

Oklahoma wide receiver Deion Burks is a smidge bigger than Brenan Thompson, but don't look for him to be leading the blocking on jet sweeps. Standing 5-foot-10 and weighing 180 pounds, he is a crisp route runner who is also blessed with great footwork, double moves, and yards after the catch.

He transferred to Oklahoma, where he continued to showcase NFL-quality skills. While his number don't jump out, his tape does. He is NFL ready. And that means he could don The Horns in 2026.

LSU WR Zavion Thomas

LSU wide receiver Zavion Thomas is another speedy wide receiver option for Los Angeles. He adds the bonus of special teams savant, having returned one punt and two kickoffs for touchdowns. Better still, he is a versatile offensive weapon who put up over 1200 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, while rushing for 198 yards and one touchdown.

Curiously, he has a late Day 3 projection, but he could be the best of the bunch in terms of what the team needs. Of course, he's raw and will need time to earn his role on offense. But it's safe to assume that nobody on this list will see much playing time in 2026. Thomas could be the most likely Rams rookie.

As always, thanks for reading.