Rams' 7-round mock draft cements their status as Super Bowl favorites

The Los Angeles Rams already traded away their own allotted first-round pick to acquire All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie, but thanks to last year's draft night trade with the Atlanta Falcons, they're in a prime position to add another difference-maker with the 13th overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.

This coming season feels as all-in as the Rams have ever been. Star quarterback Matthew Stafford and wideout Davante Adams may retire thereafter. It wouldn't be shocking if GM Les Snead spent more draft capital to score another impact veteran.

Assuming the Rams hold onto all of their remaining 2026 picks, here's a seven-round mock draft where they add a new playmaker for Stafford and build roster quality depth on Days 2 and 3.

Rams ramp up Super Bowl hype with stellar 7-round mock draft

Round 1, Pick 13 — Makai Lemon, WR, USC

It's conceivable that Stafford will be back in 2027. Not so much the case with Davante Adams, who was on the trade block this offseason. USC's Makai Lemon is a prospect the Rams local scouts should be all over, and he's an ideal fit as a weapon who can lift LA's passing attack to another level.

Lemon is slippery in the open field, strong at the catch point, rarely drops the ball, and is physical enough to do the dirty work in the running game as a blocker. This may not be the boldest pick, but whether it's Lemon or another wideout, the Rams should be zeroed in on this position on Day 1.

Giving Stafford a wide receiver trio of Lemon, Adams, and Puka Nakua, combined with Sean McVay's willingness to deploy 13 personnel, would cement Los Angeles as an even more versatile, dangerous offensive unit.

Round 2, Pick 61 — Gennings Dunker, OL, Iowa

An endearing, gritty Iowa road grader whose red mullet-stache combo will make him a fan favorite wherever he lands, Gennings Dunker is a prime target for Los Angeles in the second round.

Whether he sticks with his college position of right tackle or kicks inside to guard, Dunker could be the Rams' long-term solution at either spot. Incumbent tackle Warren McClendon Jr. is due for free agency in 2027, as is veteran right guard Kevin Dotson. Dunker could function as a solid fill-in option as a rookie if either of McClendon or Dotson gets banged up.

Round 3, Pick 93 — Jaishawn Barham, EDGE, Michigan

The Rams pulled from Michigan's undersized edge defender talent pool with 2025 third-rounder Josaiah Stewart. Why not go back to the well at the same spot in the draft with Jaishawn Barham?

Whereas Stewart sports a more compact frame at 6'1", 251 pounds, Barham is 6'3", 243 pounds, who's more known as a vicious edge-setting run defender. Stewart profiled as a superior pass-rushing threat. Those skill sets would be a nice complement to each other.

Los Angeles also has several big decisions to make on contract extensions for Byron Young and Jared Verse. Adding insurance to the rotation to cap off Day 2 is a sound strategy, not to mention a fun Stewart-Barham reunion story that somewhat parallels how the Rams brought Verse and Braden Fiske together from Florida State in 2024.

Round 6, Pick 207 — Skyler Gill-Howard, DT, Texas Tech

Speaking of contingency plans, before the Rams shell out big money for Young and/or Verse, they're likely to prioritize a new deal for stud interior defender Kobie Turner. Nevertheless, they could use another body at defensive tackle, which is where Skyler Gill-Howard could fill in.

There wouldn't be much pressure on Gill-Howard to contribute right away. Still, he's a solid rotational piece who had five sacks at Northern Illinois in 2024. In his injury-shortened year at Texas Tech, Gill-Howard put up a 90.0 PFF pass rush grade on 104 such snaps. SGH's unconventional build (6'1", 280) and functional strength make it difficult for blockers to gain leverage on him.

Round 7, Pick 232 — Andre Fuller, CB, Toledo

The acquisitions of McDuffie and another ex-Chiefs corner in Jaylen Watson give the Rams the luxury of waiting until late in the draft to add secondary depth. Emmanuel Forbes is the primary boundary CB3 option, and Fuller is at least a decent contender to enter that mix. He can also play special teams to keep the diminutive Forbes away from kick coverage.

Toledo's program is on a bit of a roll in churning out viable NFL defensive backs. Safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren could join Eagles star Quinyon Mitchell as the Rockets' second first-rounder in the past few years. Fuller is plus-sized at 6'1", 200 pounds, gave up a 56.5 passer rating last year, and logged an 89.8 PFF run defense grade.

Round 7, Pick 251 — Toriano Pride Jr., CB, Missouri

Speaking of low passer ratings when targeted, Toriano Pride Jr. yielded a 53.4 mark and a 44.4% completion rate against primarily SEC competition. Pride missed on only 6.5% of his tackle attempts, too.

It's unclear why Pride hasn't garnered more pre-draft buzz. He blazed a 4.32 at the Combine and has the versatility to play the nickel. The Rams would love to scoop him up so late in the draft proceedings.

Round 7, Pick 252 — Louis Moore, S, Indiana

Few if any proven options exist on LA's current safety depth chart behind stellar starters Kam Curl and Kamren Kinchens. Marginal athleticism is one knock on Louis Moore, but he's rarely out of position and was a key pillar for an Indiana defense that won the national championship.

Moore was the Hoosiers' primary deep safety this past season, and he was charged with only one TD allowed against six interceptions. Such elite ball production at a newly top-tier program is a combination that's hard to come by near the Mr. Irrelevant stage of the NFL Draft.