Under-the-radar Rams receiver could find his groove before most expect

The Los Angeles Rams didn't get a whole lot from receiver Konata Mumpfield in his rookie season. It's not like they were expecting to. He was a seventh-round pick, No. 242 in the 2025 draft, without blazing wheels or formidable size. He finished the year with 10 catches on 23 targets, good for 92 yards and a touchdown.

There's no reason Mumpfield can't take a major leap this season. Davante Adams certainly thinks he can, calling him "The TRUTH" in a recent Instagram post. His trajectory last season backs up Adams' claim, at least insofar as Mumpfield is poised to improve.

It was Mumpfield, not sophomore Jordan Whittington, who featured more regularly in the offense when Adams was sidelined with a hamstring strain late in the year.

Mumpfield's 2025 box scores won't wow anyone; his year's production is roughly equivalent to two quarters' worth from Puka Nacua. But he became manifestly more involved down the stretch and into the playoffs, and it showed in his comfort level on the field.

Mumpfield could be darkhorse Rams contributor

Make of it what you will, but starting in Week 16 against the Seahawks - yes, that game - Mumpfield outpaced Whittington in targets by a considerable margin. Part of that had to do with Whittington getting banged up in the finale. Still, in Mumpfield's last six games, including the playoffs, he was targeted 20 times to Whittington's three targets in five healthy games during that span.

That's admittedly underwhelming at face value, especially considering that Mumpfield brought in only eight of those passes for 72 yards. Xavier Smith filled Adams' shoes more substantially during his absence in the regular season, before falling out of the picture in the postseason. 

Focusing on Mumpfield's statistical trajectory is only one small slice of the pie. He saw at least 20 offensive snaps in 10 of the Rams' last 11 regular-season games, after reaching double digits only once in the first six contests. Mumpfield featured most prominently in L.A.'s game plan against the Bears in the playoffs, but he averaged 20 snaps over the three games.

Targets and snap counts don't mean anything by themselves, but Mumpfield's increased involvement came with a visible jolt in confidence, too. He looks like he belongs on an NFL field. Quarterback Matthew Stafford became increasingly willing to feed the ball his way. 

The promise Adams has seen from Mumpfield during his rookie year and the 2026 offseason is enough for him to reiterate his confidence in the former Pittsburgh Panthers wideout. Last season, Adams even compared Mumpfield to his own younger self.

Mumpfield may not be the next Davante Adams, but there is certainly untapped potential in his game. Capping off a solid college career, he peaked as a senior with 52 catches for 813 yards and five scores.

He has yet to carry over that steady production as a pro, but based on his upward rookie trend and his growing comfort in L.A.'s system, don't be surprised - and Rams fans won't be - if he makes a Year 2 jump the rest of the league isn't ready for.

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