There’s no doubt that the Los Angeles Rams will have options in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, despite having so many options, they need to be able to get it right. While they need players who can contribute right away, they need to balance that with players that they can build around for the future. Building around Matthew Stafford needs to be the priority. At the same time, if the Rams mortgage the future like they did in 2021, Stafford won’t be around to keep them competitive if they take that same route.
Pro Football Focus recently laid out the worst-case scenario in the 2026 NFL Draft for each team in the NFC. When it comes to the Rams, contributor John Kosko wrote that the worst-case scenario for the Rams would be trading 2027 and 2028 picks while failing to add impact players in what could be Matthew Stafford’s last season. Said Kosko,
“Matthew Stafford has flirted with retirement the past few years, as he’s dealt with nagging injuries. At 38, he isn’t getting any younger. At the same time, Stafford is coming off the best season of his career, finishing the regular season with an elite 93.3 PFF passing grade — marking his first time posting a 90.0-plus passing grade. NFL history shows us that quarterbacks don’t have a long shelf life after they turn 37 years old, Tom Brady notwithstanding. Our most recent example is Aaron Rodgers, who won back-to-back MVPs but has been playing at an average level since then. Stafford likely has one or maybe two more great seasons left in the tank. With two first-round picks, finding immediate high-impact players is a must for one last Super Bowl run before Stafford hangs up the cleats.”
While the Rams may be hoping for certain prospects to fall to 13, their options are open enough to the point that they can feel comfortable simply taking the best player available. The worst thing that the Rams can do is trade 2027 and 2028 picks as Stafford could be gone by 2028. Had the Rams not had Stafford in 2023, that may have been a true rebuilding year instead of one that they made the playoffs. It’s important for the Rams to find an impact player with the 13th overall pick, but not force anything and mortgage the future. The Rams were able to get Trent McDuffie by giving up the 29th overall pick and a future third-round selection. With the amount of big contracts looming, the Rams need to be able to keep their options open with rookies on cheaper contracts.
Given how the Rams have approached the offseason, it’s going to be very difficult for them to mess up the 2026 draft. As long as they remain smart, the Rams should be just fine come April.
