Les Snead's early free agency moves shake up latest 7-round Rams mock draft

The Los Angeles Rams have made significant strides to close the gap between this team and other NFL top contenders. It's clear that general manager Les Snead has a plan: remain aggressive to ensure he can add key contributors who fit the LA culture.

So far, so good.

But as the second wave of free agency hits, it's important to stop, look, and listen. The roster is rounded out, and the presumed starters for 2026 are on board. But that does not mean that the work is done. Per OverTheCap.com, Los Angeles has 61 players under contract and just under $15 million of remaining cap space.

The team has 29 training camp roster spots to fill. And if you view all current players as making the team, there are eight more players yet to be added to the team who will either make the active roster or the practice squad. And this team has just seven draft selections.

Worse still, the team has a huge gap to address from pick 93rd overall to pick 207th overall. Okay, what might a Rams draft look like?

Latest Rams Mock Draft loads up on offensive playmakers

Round 1- USC WR Makai Lemon

NFL Draft guru Justin Melo continues to mock USC wide receiver Makai Lemon to the Rams, and it makes too much sense. He is a walking offensive arsenal, a tactician whose robust routes match his nutcracker hands. He can be where he needs to be and catch that football. Most intriguing, wherever he is, so too are the LA Rams scouts.

Round 2 - TRADE: Rams send picks 61 and 207 to Denver Broncos for picks 62 and 108

LA wants to fill in the gaps from 93rd overall to 207th overall, and manages to find a team willing to trade up for the cost of a fourth-round pick. General manager Les Snead loves the deal.

Round 2 - LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier

The team needs a future quarterback, and LSU rookie quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is the perfect combination of huge upside with enough rawness to allow him to drop to Round 2. He is a pocket passer, but has enough awareness to evade a pass rush. LA needs a backup quarterback to coach up into a future starter, and Nussmeier checks the boxes.

Round 3 - Penn State OT Drew Shelton

With the retirement of right tackle Rob Havenstein and the promotion of Warren McClendon to starter, the offense needs a swing tackle. Penn State's rookie offensive tackle is ideally cut out to be that guy. At 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds, he has the size and power to dominate at the line of scrimmage. And starting at left tackle for two years in Big Ten competition has forged solid blocking skills.

LA loves Day 2 and Day 3 offensive linemen. Drew Shelton will extend the tradition.

Round 4 - Iowa State DT Dominique Orange

Los Angeles loves the production from both defensive linemen, Kobie Turner and Poona Ford. So why not add another defensive rock from the same quarry? Defensive lineman Dominique Oraange (don't you just love the name?) is a 6-foot-2, 322-pound powerhouse who can anchor the defense at nose tackle, but possesses the quickness to slide outside to a defensive tackle or even defensive end position.

He needs to be more consistent, but he can dominate even elite competition.

Round 7 - Florida Edge Tyler Sapp

Edge rusher Tyler Sapp projects as high as Round 3, but he falls in this mock draft as he is a hybrid who does not fit a natural NFL category. He can play a two-point outside linebacker or put his hand in the dirt and line up as a defensive lineman.

You can bet defensive coordinator Chris Shula will love figuring out ways to make Tyler Sapp more effective.

Round 7 - Stanford CB Collin Wright

Los Angeles wants to restock the secondary shelves, and Stanford cornerback Collin Wright is a solid selection. A three-year starter, Wright arrives intending to upgrade special teams. But he is versatile, experienced at playing outside, slot, or inside in nickel packages. He is a solid communicator and coordinator, elevating his chances to get the nod if a teammate gets dinged up.

Round 7 - SE Louisianna DT Kaleb Proctor

Snead loves the small-school football passion in rookies, and Southeast Louisiana defensive tackle Kaleb Proctor is one such football player who dominated the competition. Not everyone believes that Proctor can flourish in the NFL, which is why he remains on the board. But Snead believes.

Second-year defensive lineman Ty Hamilton did not step up in his rookie season, creating an opportunity for Proctor to sneak into the roster. And Proctor's collegiate dominance makes him an intriguing candidate for special team production.

With an LA roster in need of a successor to aging veterans, adequate depth, and a much better group of special team players, the 2026 NFL draft takes on brand new importance. But if Les Snead can manage a haul like this, Super Bowl LXI is a real possibility.

As always, thanks for reading.