Rams land a Tyler Higbee successor in this unique 3-round Rams mock draft

When it comes to the Los Angeles Rams' draft strategy with their first opportunity to make a selection, the team has exercised a polarizing but predictable pattern over the past two years. Despite the perceived Rams roster needs at the time, the front office has made every effort to trade up and select the best tight end rookie prospect in the draft.

In 2023, the Rams tried to trade up and select Utah pass-catching tight end Dalton Kincaid. In 2024, the Rams tried to trade up and select Georgia pass-catching tight end Brock Bowers. On both occasions, the Rams were denied. Of course, the Rams' past two draft classes have been remarkably successful. So it's clear that the Rams can and have dealt with rejection of late.

The thing about any draft is the unlikely chance that a talented rookie prospect will fall on Day 1 of the NFL Draft. The reasons for players falling may simply be the fact that talent is more abundant at other positions, and teams focus on positions that seem to be depleting quickly. Sometimes, a falling player is simply due to no NFL teams having strong roster needs at that position. And sometimes, players tumble due to questions or concerns. Teams prefer to be 100 percent sold on a rookie to invest a Round 1 pick into selecting them.

Just last year, the phenomenal abundance of popular Day 1 offensive positions like quarterback, wide receiver, and offensive tackle pushed many projected Top 10 defensive players into the bottom half of Round 1, The performance of projected Top-10 rookie outside linebacker Jared Verse was never in question, If you need that confirmed, Verse earned Defensive Rookie of the Year last season.

And he was selected by the Rams with the 19th overall pick.

So yes, rabbits can be pulled out of hats on draft day, and the Rams' recent draft experience confirms it can happen. So, what magic might happen for the team in the first three rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft? Let's take a peek:

Day 1 - 26th overall pick

While the 26th overall pick may seem rather late to the Day 1 draft party, there are several reasons favoring the Rams' Round 1 selection. For starters, 25 prospects are already off the board. With fewer options at 26, the Rams can focus on the best fit for the team among the remaining players. That mitigates the Baskin-Robbins paralysis of having too many choices.

It also creates an affordable on-ramp for any NFL team that wants to trade back in for a second Round 1 pick. In the 2025 NFL Draft, every team has a pick on Day 1. But for quarterback-needy teams, it makes better sense to grab an elite talent early in the draft, and then negotiate the best deal to trade back in to select a talented quarterback.

But let's presume that the Rams stand pat at the 26th overall pick. Who might be there for the taking? I ran 15 different three-round mock drafts using Pro Football Focus' online mock draft simulator. Surprisingly, here are three intriguing options that popped up for each of the Rams' selections.

Option 1 - TE Colston Loveland

While it may seem unlikely, if either Penn State tight end Tyler Warren or Michigan tight end falls below the top 20, look for the Rams to start ringing phones off the hook. The intense focus of the Rams to select a top-tier tight end does not fade during the 2025 NFL Draft. If anything, I expect the presence of two elite tight ends to put the Rams front office into a feeding frenzy as soon as Warren or Loveland is selected.

What will the Rams do with a talented rookie tight end? I don't know. The recent past of this team optimizing rookie offensive weapons is a bit of hit or miss in the recent past. The team certainly made excellent use of rookie WR Puka Nacua. But neither rookie WR Tutu Atwell nor RBs Kyren Williams or Blake Corum made much of an impact in their rookie seasons.

Selecting Loveland instantly levels up the 12-personnel package, as well as infusing an ideal option to sit veteran TE Tyler Higbee to ensure he stays fresh all season. I don't see Loveland flirting with 1000+ receiving yards in his rookie season. That is not a fault of Loveland. I just cannot see this offensive designing enough targets for him for that to be a realistic goal.

Option 2 - WR Luther Burden III

So much has been written about rookie WRs Matthew Golden, Travis Hunter, Emeka Egbuka, Tet McMillan, and Jayden Higgins that not much has been mentioned about Missouri WR Luther Burden. Well, it's time to correct that oversight. Burden oozes Rams offense. Standing 6-foot-0 and weighing 206 pounds, Burden starts to fit a Rams physical profile from the get-go.

A swift route-runner, Burden has been clocked at 4.44 seconds in his 40-yard dash. He is a natural offensive weapon and playmaker, and was not optimally challenged in Missouri's offense. He will be challenged effectively in the Rams' offense. Burden's most productive season occured in 2023, which could allow him to slide a bit in the draft. His 2024 season production regressed considerably.

Burden is a dangerous and versatile offensive weapon. He is very effective as a receiver, runner, and punt returner. In his three college seasons, he averaged nine touchdowns per season consistently among his various roles. The most difficult aspect of fully appreciating Burden's body of work is distinguishing his production separately from the quality of his quarterback. Considered among the top wide receivers available in the 2025 NFL Draft, Burden has the elite upside that will pry opportunities away from other receivers, even in his rookie season.

Option 3- CB Maxwell Hairston

Perhaps the rookie prospect I am most excited about is Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston. Unlike other rookie prospects who must not only earn their place on the roster by winning competition in training camp, Hairston seems to have a clear path to a significant contributing role in the Rams' defense. Since DC Chris Shula had made ample use of a strong and rapid rotation throughout his defense, Hairston can be worked harder in direct proportion to his demonstrated ability in practice and previous games.

Best of all, Hairston not only covers and prevents completions to receivers. He is an opportunistic cutpurse whenever the football is in the air. Much like DB Kamren Kinchens, he loves to take the football away. In his final two seasons with the Kentucky Wildcats, he picked off six passes and even recorded three pick-sixes over that time frame.

Standing 5-foot-11 and weighing 183 pounds, Hairston may not be the largest cornerback on the draft board. But he runs a 4.28-second 40-yard dash (very fast), has remarkable form in both a backpedal and flipping his hips, clings like velcro to his receiver assignment, has an instinctive understanding of how to use the sidelines as a second defender, and processes routes like a supercomputer.

Hairston will need time in the weight room, more coaching, and time to develop into a well-rounded defensive back who can play the physical style demanded of an NFL defensive back. But he has enough coverage chops to roll onto the field for specific defensive coverages. And the Rams would do well to land a solid rookie cornerback who is a turnover machine.