LA Rams accidentally painted themselves into corner for 2026 NFL Draft

In Round 3 of the 2023 NFL Draft, Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead may have saved the entire franchise by finding defensive tackle Kobie Turner and outside linebacker Byron Young. The team took a huge gamble by investing the 77th and 89th picks into a pair of rookies who he hoped might contribute to a devastatingly thin defense.

They didn't. They dominated.

Young was the 13th-rated edge rusher from that draft. Turner was the 10th-rated defensive tackle. Rookies viewed as superior to the pair were selected on Day 3. However, many players chosen earlier in the draft failed to deliver the same production. It was such a transformative draft that LA rebounded from a 6-11 season to compete in the NFL playoffs once again.

Now, Snead has painted himself into a corner. He must replicate a similarly successful draft in 2026.

The 2023 rookie draft class was originally comprised of 14 players. 11 of those rookies were selected on Day 3. Nine players remain on the team, five of whom are starters. That's quite a haul from a draft that did not begin until the 36th pick overall.

Rams did the impossible, but may need a sequel to remain relevant

The LA Rams salvaged their 2023 NFL season by masterfully infusing rookie talent into the foundations of the team. While nobody wants the team to repeat a process of rebuilding the roster on the fly, many of those inexpensive rookie contracts expire at the end of this season. Like it or not, Les Snead cannot pay everyone.

No, this is nothing new. The very year of that 2023 NFL Draft, the team faced a similar cash crunch. In many ways, it was the lack of funding for veterans that forced the team to entrust so many untested and inexperienced rookies.

Now the team is nearing another logjam of adequate funding. Undoubtedly, the team has included the framework for drafting today for future roster needs. In some ways, the best match of rookies in this draft to the current performance and production of 2023 rookies may steer Snead in his quest to restock the roster.

It's unlikely that LA can expect to match the dominance of wide receiver Puka Nacua in this draft. But every other starter from 2023's draft may soon be competing with his rookie replacement in training camp this year.

The LA Rams benefited tremendously from the unexpected brotherhood of Kobie Turner and Byron Young. Now, the Horns hope to recapture that same magic in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Here's hoping they can. As always, thanks for reading.

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