Rams' reluctance to test drafted rookies isn't helping the near future

The Los Angeles Rams drafted 11 rookies over the past two seasons. Three are no longer with the team. Of the remaining eight players, only tight end Terrance Ferguson (2025), wide receiver Konata Mumpfield (2025), and edge rusher Josaiah Stewart (2025) have played a noticeable number of snaps this season.

Meanwhile, no 2026 drafted rookie has made an impact. While that may not be a problem today, it does call the future into question. After all, the Rams cannot hope to extend over 24 veterans playing in the final year of their current contracts.

So where will the next wave of starters come from?

Rams fans are unlikely to see much from drafted rookies this year

That's a great question, and one that doesn't have an obvious answer so far. That team won't have sufficient cap space to extend every player. LA has already spent multiple 2027 draft picks on 2026 players. And for now, the talent pipeline, typically filled with young players beginning to make their marks in the NFL, is not pumping enough into the team to make much of a difference.

The harsh reality is that if fans did not see much from rookie receiver CJ Daniels or tight end Max Klare through the first four games, they are unlikely to see much later this year. Both positions have been weakened by early-season injuries.

Yet the Rams haven't given either offensive rookie a single target so far.

That's just how it is as an offensive rookie in Los Angeles. Yet it was the presence of skill players on the draft board that became the most popular criticism for drafting quarterback Ty Simpson.

Rams' draft picks do not support a roster makeover in 2027

Exactly how many of the Rams' original seven 2027 draft picks remain? Right now, it's down to just four. And worse still, they will only make one selection in the first two days of the three-day event:

• * Round 1 traded to the Cleveland Browns for DE Myles Garrett
• Round 2
• * Round 3 traded to the Kansas City Chiefs for CB Trent McDuffie
• Round 4
• Round 5
• Round 6
• * Round 7 - Traded to the Baltimore Ravens with CB Tre White for a 2026 Round 7 pick

Still, the team is not totally without young talent. Two undrafted edge rushers - Wesley Bailey and Darryl Peterson III - are in position to be contributors this season. Undrafted inside linebackers Omar Speights and Shaun Dolac are contributors. And the secondary enjoys the consistent play of cornerback Josh Wallace and safety Jaylen McCollough.

Unfortunately, undrafted players tend to take multiple years of development on the Rams' roster before they truly pan out. On the other hand, Draftees can be plug-and-play contributors in Year 1, as LA fans discovered in both the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

Fans may need patience to see 2026 rookies in meaningful action. But if these players are to assume significant roles a year from now, they will need opportunities sooner rather than later.

As always, thanks for reading.

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