The Los Angeles Rams enter the 2026 season as Super Bowl favorites because they have some of the top players at their respective positions. Matthew Stafford at quarterback, Puka Nacua at wide receiver, Myles Garrett at edge rusher.
But beyond those superstars, the Rams also have young players primed to make names for themselves in 2026. They're not household names yet, but this season, they could break out and have a major impact on Los Angeles' Super Bowl push.
Keep an eye on these six players as breakout candidates.
TE Terrance Ferguson
Ferguson made the most of his limited opportunities last year, turning his 11 receptions into 231 yards and three touchdowns. As a rookie tight end, the transition from college to an offense as complex as Sean McVay's was challenging,
but he's much more comfortable now – and also healthy.
He's playing every skill position on offense except running back, and with the Rams' reliance on 13 personnel, he's going to be on the field a lot. Ferguson already showed his potential as a deep threat last year but his best asset in college was picking up yards after the catch. If the Rams unlock that part of his game, he'll be in for a big season.
OLB Josaiah Stewart
Stewart will be the first guy off the bench when Garrett or Byron Young need a breather, which will be more often than people think. The Rams are trying to keep Young fresh and healthy with his lingering knee issues, so he'll be rotated in and out fairly frequently.
Stewart was a force when he was on the field last season and now playing with more freedom and confidence, he should continue to improve throughout the year. His combination of speed and power is excellent.
RB Blake Corum
Kyren Williams is the Rams' No. 1 running back, and he'll probably stay that way for most of the year, if not all season. But Corum will undoubtedly eat into Williams' carries. ESPN's Dan Graziano even predicts that Corum could potentially overtake Williams at some point this season.
Corum was great at the end of last season, essentially alternating drives with Williams to keep both players fresh. If that continues this year, Corum will top 1,000 yards rushing without much trouble. He’s the more explosive of the two backs, as well, giving him big-play potential.
RT Warren McClendon Jr.
McClendon proved to be an upgrade over Rob Havenstein while filling in for the injured veteran last year, locking down the starting right tackle job for this season, as well. It’s a contract year for the young lineman, giving him a lot to gain with a breakout season.
He was one of the best right tackles in football last season and has the potential to take even bigger strides now that he’s gained experience and gone up against Myles Garrett (at times) and Byron Young in practice.
S Kamren Kinchens
Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, Quentin Lake and even Kam Curl get a lot of praise and attention in the secondary, but don’t forget about the ball hawk Kinchens. He was an interception machine at Miami and already has six in two years as a pro.
He’s someone who likes to take chances and make plays on the ball, which he’ll have more opportunities to do this season behind a pass rush like the Rams’. He’s can jump routes and drive on the ball, knowing the quarterback will likely have to get it out quickly. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him double his career interception total this year.
K Harrison Mevis
The Thiccer Kicker was a stud last season after replacing Joshua Karty and he didn’t miss a single kick all preseason. Playing for one of the highest-scoring teams in the league, Mevis will be kicking PATs and field goals often this season and if he can kick with the accuracy he showed last year, he’s going to catch the attention of a lot of people.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: 6 potential breakout players for the Rams in 2026
