Todd McShay, one of the most respected names in NFL Draft coverage, wrote recently that the Los Angeles Rams have plugged holes at corner and could target an underrated need in the first round of next month’s draft:
…I fully expect L.A. to use the 13th pick on a wide receiver. Two fits: Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr. and USC’s Makai Lemon.
Cooper screams Rams, and I think Lemon (who has a higher grade than Cooper) fits the bill of a Sean McVay receiver. Either guy would give the Rams an inside-out target—who
is younger, cheaper, and more explosive than Cooper Kupp was at the end of his Rams tenure—to team with the elite duo of Puka Nacua and 33-year-old Davante Adams. The expectation would be to get (pre-injury) Emeka Egbuka–level impact out of the rookie receiver. It’s what the Bucs were hoping to get from Egbuka when they drafted him to be a no. 3 target alongside Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
One hunch here is that Les Snead could be the wild card to trade up in the first half of Round 1 this year. The Rams have no glaring needs. Certainly not for a starter. They could use another weapon at WR and reinforcements along the O-line, though, so if there’s a player in the top 10 they believe can legitimately help put them over the top next year (more so than the player at that position they can get at 13), Les will move up.
NFL consensus boards show one receiver coming off the board before the Rams are on the clock at thirteenth overall. Carnell Tate is a popular choice for the Washington Commanders at #7.
USC receiver Makai Lemon is the common pick for the Rams at thirteenth overall and included in 28% of mocks, and McShay echoed this sentiment. Jordyn Tyson, an Arizona State product that may be the most polished receiver in this class but battled injuries in college, is seemingly falling down the board to the Jets at #16.
I have my doubts whether Lemon is the right pick for the Rams. His skillset has significant overlap with Puka Nacua. On the other hand, Cooper Kupp and Nacua were able to co-exist for the better part of two seasons, still the Rams’ offense felt less lethal at times in 2023 and 2024. LA needs a pass catcher than can serve as the second or third option this season and then take over Davante Adams’ role on the outside thereafter. Lemon doesn’t seem to fit that mold, but maybe this is something the Rams will address later.
If the Rams wanted to dip into the interior offensive line pool—which isn’t an immediate need unless they decide to not extend Steve Avila and move on after 2026—Olaivavega Ioane is the consensus selection at #14 to the Baltimore Ravens immediately following the Rams’ pick.
One thing McShay nailed was the fact Los Angeles has no major roster needs remaining. Sure, there are places they can tweak and improve ahead of a Super Bowl push, and it’s never a bad idea to futureproof in certain spots. All options are in front of Les Snead and the Rams for the NFL Draft.
