Kamren Kinchens is far from only Rams candidate on breakout watch

The Los Angeles Rams seemingly stand on the doorstep of a fantastic season. Amid all the hype surrounding blockbuster trades and underrated upgrades, let's pause for a moment. Super Bowl success won't happen without younger players stepping up.

Fans who know this are already peeking around the corner for LA's next breakout star. There are many contestants in the running. In fact, opinions are so diverse that settling on a favorite has become a bit controversial even among Rams fans.

All half-dozen of the following breakout candidates offer solid reasons to believe they are poised for a leap. Who are they? Let's take a look.

Will Rams' 2026 breakout star please stand up?

1. Safety Kam Kinchens

Kinchens has played second fiddle to veterans Quentin Lake and Kam Curl in his two NFL seasons. But as Lake's role has evolved to emphasize his versatility all over the field, Kinchens has quietly assumed his his vacated responsibilities at the back end of the secondary.

A sure-handed tackler, glinty-eyed ball-hawk, and fearless competitor, he is finally receiving overdue recognition.

2. Running back Blake Corum

Corum was one of the Horns' breakout stars in 2025, more than tripling his production. After he made the most of an increased workload, there is no reason to tap the brakes on his fast-paced rise. Corum is the type of running back who gets stronger with more work.

3. Edge rusher Josaiah Stewart

There is a lot of buzz surrounding the Rams pass rush. But in all the hullabaloo over Myles Garrett and Byron Young, not enough is being said about second-year dynamo Josaiah Stewart. After impressing across a light rookie workload, he has blazed through training camp. Expect his playing time to to increase significantly this season.

4. Wide receiver Konata Mumpfield

After a cameo appearance in his rookie season, Mumpfield is poised for a much larger role this season. Despite converting only 10 of 23 targets last year, he flashed enough promise that the Rams remain confident in his ability. Benefiting from consistent work with Matthew Stafford and familiar with the offense, Mumpfield is ripe for a substantial uptick in efficiency and production.

5. Tight end Terrance Ferguson.

Similarly, Ferguson has already made quite the impression on his teammates and coaches this summer. Seen as a tight end replacement for the gutsy physicality of former Rams receiver Cooper Kupp, Ferguson fell far short of his rookie goals. In Year 2, he is on track to exceed even the loftiest expectations.

6. Aaron Donald's next chapter

This list would not be complete without mentioning Aaron Donald's potential unretirement. The wildest of wildcards, Donald would be a factor on the defensive front from the moment of his return. He motivates and elevates everyone around him.

And if he can replicate his 2023 production - eight sacks, 53 tackles 16 tackles for loss - he would certainly enter the running as a "breakout" star on the Rams defense.

Who is your favorite to break out in 2026? Did we miss anyone? Or will multiple players to share the honors?

As the Rams embark on another win-now season, it's fair to worry that the cost of winning today will exact a heavy toll on the future. This growing list of blossoming playmakers suggests that the future could be every bit as bright as the present.

As always, thanks for reading.

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