Projecting Rams' receiver hierarchy is anyone's guessing game

The Los Angeles Rams lay claim to the best wide receiver duo in the game in Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Few teams boast such sure-handed dominance in the receiver room. Plenty of teams, though, have more impressive depth farther down in the rotation. For the Rams, it's a murky scrum after Nacua and Adams. 

That's not to say they don't have options. Jordan Whittington is due for a bounce-back season. Xavier Smith profiles as a threat downfield. Konata Mumpfield has a year under his belt and there is ample excitement around rookie sixth-rounder CJ Daniels. 

Following two free square entries atop the depth chart, it's almost impossible at this pre-training-camp date to predict what form the Horns' receiver hierarchy will take. What follows is one fan's best guess at how it all shakes out.

Projecting 2026 Rams receiver depth chart

1. Puka Nacua. His 2025 season was arguably the best-ever for a wideout.

2. Davante Adams. He led the league in receiving touchdowns despite missing three games. Contrary to some expectations, he could be even more productive in 2026.

3. Jordan Whittington. This is where it gets tricky. Whittington took a step back as a sophomore. He accounted for less total production and faded down the stretch. He was less explosive, averaging under 9.5 yards per catch. 

Still, when Torry Holt believes in a young receiver, there's probably something there. And, true, Whittington is everything the Rams look for. He has size, strength, and contributes as a blocker. He was productive as a rookie and could easily reclaim a bigger role this season. Rams want to believe. They just have to see it.

4. Xavier Smith. Relative to their contributions last season, Smith and Whittington are flipped in the projections among remaining Rams wideouts. Smith ranked third among L.A. receivers with 303 receiving yards. Whittington finished fifth, behind now-Dolphins receiver Tutu Atwell. 

Smith certainly has a shot to step into Atwell's role full-time, but historically, head coach Sean McVay hasn't leaned too heavily on his deep threats. He hasn't favored small receivers in general, and as a 5-foot-9-er, Smith faces an inherent disadvantage despite the opportunity the Rams' roster presents. That doesn't mean he won't repeat as the team's third-leading wideout. 

5. Konata Mumpfield. Despite an unimpressive final stat line, he became more involved toward the end of last season, during Adams' injury absence, and into the playoffs. The Rams remain intrigued by the former seventh-round pick, and with a year of experience in McVay's system, it feels fair to give the edge over Daniels. Heck, it's fair to give him a chance at leapfrogging the others.

6. CJ Daniels, the aforementioned. While there is justified excitement around the rookie receiver out of Miami, he is, well, a rookie, without the standout physical traits to separate from L.A.'s other young receivers out of the gate. That said - stop if you just heard this about a Rams receiver before - the competition should be wide-open enough that Daniels will have the chance to nose his way to the top if he really shows out in training camp.

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