Rams should keep these 5 prospects in mind as NFL Draft resumes on Day 2

Day 1 of the NFL Draft delivered its fair share of surprises, none less so for Los Angeles Rams fans than taking quarterback Ty Simpson at 13th overall. Whatever you think of that pick, the draft waits for no one - even those still grieving over the lost chance to draft one of Makai Lemon or Rueben Bain Jr. in the first round. On to Day 2. 

The Rams still have appealing options on the board and roster holes to fill in the second and third rounds. The roster remains without a No. 3 receiver. Inside linebacker is another position that could use an upgrade. The offensive line needs depth at tackle.

General manager Les Snead can be counted on to flout expectations, but here are five prospects he should have on his radar entering Day 2 of the festivities.

Five prospects to monitor on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft

Wide receiver - Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee (Round 2); De'Zhaun Stribling, Mississippi (Round 3)

Officially listed at 6-foot-4 and 198 pounds, with a 4.37 40-time, Brazzell is gifted with a rare blend of size and speed that could add another dimension to the Horns' offense. In his senior season, he accounted for 62 catches, 1,017 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns as a big-play machine for the Volunteers. 

Brazzell will draw plenty of suitors in the second round, so adding him to LA's roster may require trading up from No. 61. If he's still on the board a few picks into the 50's, making a move could make sense after Snead passed on a receiver earlier. 

Stribling could be in play when the Rams hit the clock at No. 93. Like Brazzell, he offers both size (6-foot-2, 207 pounds) and speed (4.36 40-time). Last season at Ole Miss, he compiled 811 receiving yards on 14.7 per catch and six touchdowns. 

Stribling's elite composite speed grade earned him a Relative Athletic Score of 9.57 out of 10, a 95th percentile rank at the position over the last 40 years. While his college production is not a match for Brazzell's, his strength, vertical speed, and blocking ability make him an intriguing Round 3 target. 

Linebacker - Jake Golday, Cincinnati (Round 2); Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh (Rounds 2-3)

Excellent in pass coverage and elite against the run, Golday might be the most complete Day 2 linebacker. For the Bearcats in 2025, he racked up 105 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and six tackles for loss. Per Pro Football Focus, his 90.6 run-defense grade ranked 17th in the nation out of 809 qualified LBs. 

A projected second-round pick, Golday profiles as a reliable force the Rams could use in the middle of the field. Nate Landman is solid all around, but Omar Speights, the other starting inside linebacker, struggles in coverage. Golday might not replace him off the bat, but Los Angeles would draft him, anticipating a future starter alongside Landman. Even as a rookie, Golday could provide depth alongside Shaun Dolac and Troy Reeder. 

Although Louis is a linebacker by position, his smaller size at a shade under 6 feet and 220 pounds makes him more of a hybrid 'backer-safety in dime packages. He's used that versatility to his advantage, coming up with 10 sacks, 24 tackles for loss, and six interceptions over his last two college seasons. 

Like Golday, Louis is viewed by some as a Round 2 selection, but he could easily slip into the third (he falls 86th on Pro Football Network's consensus board). Even if he doesn't slide all the way to the Rams at 93rd overall, they could move up a few spots or, ideally, trade back from No. 61.

In that scenario, they would acquire both Louis and Day 3 draft capital to bridge the canyon between their picks at Nos. 93 and 207. 

Offensive tackle - Markel Bell, Miami (Round 3)

Bell is an interesting one. At 6-foot-9, he is of generational stature, utilizing his length in pass protection to sweep defenders into his embrace. Failing that, he can still disrupt their progress to the quarterback by virtue of his sheer reach. Amid Miami's run to the national title game, per Pro Football Focus, he allowed no sacks and one quarterback hit all season.

At the same time, his size hurts his center of gravity in the run game. That could be a concern for Sean McVay and the Rams. Bell's issues in run blocking lower his rookie floor. Settling for less wow-power later in the draft could ultimately give the Horns more of what they need in terms of a contributing swing tackle. Or, they might still take Bell, but wait until Day 3 to do so.

If the first round is any indication, however, the Rams consistently refuse to be predictable. Even if Bell doesn't seem like a very "Ramsy" pick, perhaps his upside as a pass protector strikes Snead's fancy. 

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