Rams latest mock draft lands Big 10 QB and plenty of hole-plugging talent

Why would any NFL team vying for the top seed in the upcoming playoffs have any interest in the 2026 NFL Draft in Week 12 of the season? Well, the Los Angeles Rams happen to be blessed with two Round 1 picks, one of which is now projected to fall as early as the eighth overall selection.

Of course, that is the reward from the Atlanta Falcons, and the willingness of general manager Les Snead to defer a 2025 Round 1 selection to 2026.

This was supposed to be a draft loaded with college quarterbacks. But injuries and deferring draft eligibility have whittled the pool of quarterbacks down to a handful of intriguing prospects. Thankfully, the ever-increasing value of the Falcons' pick, LA will remain within range to land a top prospect if that is Snead's choice.

Will the Rams pull the trigger on a quarterback in 2026? The timing is ideal, as the team still has veteran Matthew Stafford on board. But how many more years will he perform like 2025? That forces the front office to prepare for that someday now.

In this mock, draft, as you will see, getting a next-generation quarterback may be in the cards.

Rams land a host of collegiate help in this 3-round mock draft

While the most promising contributors have typically come on Day 3 of the draft for Los Angeles, the team has never enjoyed two Day 1 picks before since hiring head coach Sean McVay. And so, throw everything out the window in terms of what the team is likely to do from the past.

Everything has changed. And so has the team's latest mock draft:

Round 1 - Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza

After playing two seasons in Les Snead's backyard (at California), quarterback Fernando Mendoza has taken his skill set to Indiana. He is a 6-foot-5, 225-pound rookie prospect who is not wowing everyone, but who remains projected as a Top-10 prospect.

There are too many teams in need of a quarterback, so if Mendoza falls within LA's reach, he will either be the selection or the team will receive a trade offer that it simply won't refuse.

Mendoza is a sniper in the pocket, tossing 30 touchdowns to just three interceptions. He has thrown for 2,641 yards, while rushing 62 times for 216 yards and five touchdowns. He stands tall in the pocket, even in the face of blitzes, pulling the ball down when all hope is lost and still managing to run for positive gains.

While not an expert at tossing a deep ball, his skillset brings a full arsenal of offensive weaponry while he grows that deep-pass expertise. Best of all, he will likely have a year to play benind Matthew Stafford and level up.

Round 1 - Penn State cornerback AJ Harris

It's surreal to comprehend that after the team lands a franchise quarterback, they can continue shopping on Day 1 for more roster help. But by the time the team returns on Day 1, the likelihood of finding a franchise offensive tackle or wide receiver is low indeed. But Penn State cornerback AJ Harris may still be there, and he is an ideal rookie to handle an Emmanuel Forbes role in the secondary

Standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 191 pounds, Harris has that Stretch Armstrong wingspan that is so vital to denying receivers of the football. He appears to be ideally engineered for the role and makes a perfect addition to a surprisingly effective secondary that is loading up on blue-chip talent.

Round 2 - Florida center Jake Slaughter

While Coleman Shelton has played well in 2025, the truth is that the team's interior offensive line is only as good as its starters. The challenge right now is that despite what appeared to be ample depth in training camp has proven to be inadequate depth since the season started. Rookie center prospect Jake Slaughter changes all that.

In what appears to be a bumper crop of center talent in the 2026 NFL Draft, Slaughter is arguably the best of the bunch. Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 303 pounds, he is suitably sized to settle in between left guard Steve Avila and right guard Kevin Dotson. He is a pass-protecting phenom, a huge buttress right up the middle, which is vital for a quarterback. Doesn't it make sense to pair up a rookie center with a rookie quarterback?

Round 3 - Missouri offensive tackle Cayden Green

The history of the team investing in an offensive tackle typically starts in Round 3. And Missouri offensive tackle prospect Cayden Green is one of those huge upside players who simply need a bit of coaching to polish up the makings of a true NFL offensive tackle. Green is huge, standing 6-foot-5 and tipping the scales at 324 pounds.

He was very raw, but demonstrates rapid development. He is still a work-in-progress, but exhibits the passion of a blocker who loves what he does and is eager to learn ways to do it better. He instinctively plays with excellent leverage and has a nice pop out of his initial stance.

Three rounds, four superb rookies, and an entire Day 3 remaining to round out the roster. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. But not this time. The LA Rams have an opportunity to reload their roster for continued postseason success. And if they draft like this, they will.

As always, thanks for reading.