PFF mock drafters get Rams' 1st-rounder right choosing from 3 enticing options

At least for now, the Los Angeles Rams can look forward to drafting just their second first-rounder since taking quarterback Jared Goff first overall in 2016. Of course, the first Round 1 rookie chosen was 2024 first-rounder Jared Verse. And he turned out okay.

Assuming they hold onto it, the No. 13 pick in 2026 would be their highest selection in the Sean McVay era.

Spending it on a top corner seemed like a strong possibility not long ago. After the Trent McDuffie trade and the Jaylen Watson signing, however, cornerback is no longer such a pressing need. The Rams could still draft one, but perhaps in a later round.

Within that context, Pro Football Focus mock drafters Trevor Sikkema and Dalton Wasserman assembled a tempting menu of prospects to consider: USC receiver Makai Lemon, Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq, and Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling. 

From a pure talent perspective, it's hard to go wrong with any of the three, but Sikkema and Wasserman ultimately landed on the pick that makes the most sense both for LA's present roster and future outlook.

PFF mock draft gives the Horns 3 elite options to choose from

OT Monroe Freeling, 13th on PFF big board

Drafting Freeling would accomplish several things. One, it would fill the vacancy created by Rob Havenstein's retirement. Two, it would groom a potential replacement for backup David Quessenberry (if not supply an instant upgrade).

Three, depending on just how NFL-ready Freeling is, it could provide competition for projected starter Warren McClendon. While McClendon graded out freakishly well, clocking in as PFF's seventh-ranked tackle, he has made only 15 career starts (10 last season).

Is that a large enough sample to anoint him as the starting right tackle, no questions asked? Quite possibly, but maybe the Rams still want insurance. With an immobile, 38-year-old quarterback(even an MVP one), the offensive line must remain a high priority. 

Finally, McClendon is entering the final year of his rookie deal. If his outstanding play continues, he will be one more expensive member of a young core that has already outshot LA's future budget. They won't keep all of them. Having Freeling as a ready-made starter in 2027 would give them one less thing to worry about. 

He could already provide depth. PFF graded the 6-foot-7, 315-pound junior as a top 10 pass blocker  (and still above average in run blocking). Battling SEC pass rushers, Freeling allowed just one sack, zero quarterback hits, and five total pressures.

TE Kenyon Sadiq, 14th on PFF big board

Sadiq has quickly become a darling of many Rams fans' mock drafts, and the appeal is self-explanatory. 

As demonstrated by his 4.39 40-time (best among tight ends at the combine) and overall stellar combine showing, Sadiq is a monster athlete. With the Ducks last season, he led the FBS in receiving touchdowns at the position. His receiving skills could make him the third pass catcher the Rams need badly behind Puka Nacua and an aging Davante Adams. 

The obvious pushback is that the Rams don't really need a tight end. They just re-signed Tyler Higbee. Last year, they drafted Terrance Ferguson in the second round. Sure, Sadiq could be the top tight end of the future, but Los Angeles must prioritize the short-term as they go all-in on another Super Bowl. 

Still, his athletic profile and elite NFL upside are impossible to dismiss, making him worthy of consideration. 

WR Makai Lemon, 15th on PFF big board

Spoiler alert: Lemon was Sikkema and Wasserman's pick, and rightly so, despite his slightly inferior big board ranking. The largest hole on the roster is the one eating away at the receiver room. Currently, there is no third receiver. 

Is it Xavier Smith? Jordan Whittington? Tutu Atwell is almost surely not coming back, and he fizzled out, anyway. Those aren't inspiring choices. 

Lemon, meanwhile, is an all-around playmaker who profiles as an impact contributor in year one. PFF's fourth-ranked receiver by overall grade, he compiled 79 catches for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. Per PFF, those numbers all ranked 11th or better in the FBS. 

Although more of a slot weapon than a deep threat, Lemon can create chunk plays through his shiftiness, ripping off receptions of 70-plus yards in each of the past two seasons. Maybe, given the failure of the Atwell and Van Jefferson experiments, Lemon will not be viewed as a deep-ball specialist. 

Instead, the Rams would be using their highest draft pick in a decade on an immediate producer. Once Adams is gone, voila, there's his replacement. If Lemon is available at No. 13, it's difficult to imagine a better fit for the Blue and Yellow. 

Let's all manifest together: welcome to Los Angeles, Makai Lemon.