Rams put fans at ease by solving sneaky roster needs in Day 2 mock draft

The Los Angeles Rams have already addressed the most glaring need on the roster, the secondary, by kicking off March with a bang. While they would benefit from a depth addition at cornerback, they can also turn their focus more earnestly to other areas. That applies not only to free agency but to the draft as well.

Although the Trent McDuffie trade cost them three picks in 2026, including the 29th overall, the Rams still have second and third-rounders to work with. That is aside from the No. 13 selection on Day 1.

While the first round will present an opportunity to swing on elite upside, Day 2 could be the time to address overlooked roster needs. For one, the defense is begging for reinforcement at inside linebacker. Current starters Nate Landman and Omar Speights are solid, but good, not great, is where their collective ceiling ends. 

After them, the depth chart is unnervingly bare. 

Los Angeles also has a sneaky need at tackle. Alaric Jackson and Warren McClendon Jr. should be the starters, but the offensive line would benefit from having a swing tackle behind them. David Quessenberry is back on a one-year deal, but, well, he's old. 

There are other areas to address, of course, but those are two of the most important. They are exactly the positions Pro Football Focus has the Rams targeting after taking receiver Makai Lemon in round one. 

Horns fans would happily settle for PFF's Day 2 return 

Second round, 61st overall - Cincinnati LB Jake Golday

Per Sports Reference, Golday racked up 105 total tackles, six tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks as a redshirt senior for the Bearcats. At 6-foot-4, 240 pounds, his solidity and strength made him one of the best run stoppers in the FBS. PFF ranked him 17th out of 809 with a run defense grade of 90.6.

Golday also graded out as a plus in coverage (70th/809), although his combine notes suggest that he could have problems matching up with running backs. He boasts only "average short-area agility." 

Still, having Golday available at No. 61 would be a win for the Rams. Behind Landman and Speights, the ILB depth chart ends at Shaun Dolac. Troy Reeder is a free agent. Even as a rookie, Golday could step in and contribute. 

On the clock in the second round, PFF's Trevor Sikkema and David Wasserman preferred him over the likes of Pittsburgh linebacker Kyle Louis and Arizona cornerback Treydan Stukes. 

"Golday, I think, makes more sense because Golday attacks the line of scrimmage a bit more, so you could factor him into the blitz packages," Wasserman said in a comparison to Louis. The Rams would be glad to see Golday available at No. 61.

Third round, 93rd overall - Miami OT Markel Bell

Given the available options, less deliberation resulted in round three. In Bell, Los Angeles would be drafting a 6-foot-9, 345-pound successor to the retired Rob Havenstein and/or Quessenberry. 

Adding immediate depth isn't the only reason to draft a high-rated tackle. McClendon is entering the final year of his rookie deal and, if he continues to play well, could suddenly become expensive. Jackson will be a free agent after 2027. 

The future rotation is less stable than it seems. 

For his part, Bell was simply a beast for the Hurricanes as they advanced to the National Championship. Per Pro Football Focus, he allowed zero sacks and one QB hit all season. In pass blocking, PFF graded him 17th at the position, ranking in the 97th percentile. 

At 6-foot-9, Bell predictably has more trouble maintaining a strong stance in run blocking. Managing all that size could also pose a problem versus uber-athletic pass rushers in the NFL. 

It's that same reach, though, that helps keep anyone in his reach at bay, buying precious time for his quarterback in the pocket. Matthew Stafford gets it out quickly and isn't going to move around a lot, anyway. 

Simply asking Bell to sweep edge rushers off course in passing downs could be of use early in his career. Meanwhile, he would have the Rams' coaching staff train him how to navigate his physique in the pros.