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With the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine taking place this week, all eyes will be on the top prospects in the draft class. The Los Angeles Ramsaren't sending Les Snead or Sean McVay to Indianapolis to see the workouts in person but rest assured, they'll be watching from back home in Los Angeles.
The Rams have a couple of roster needs that stand above the rest, including cornerback and wide receiver. And in our latest seven-round mock draft using PFF's simulator, we address both positions early on – including a double-dip at cornerback in Rounds 1 and 2.
At the top, we have the Rams adding an explosive receiver with the 13th overall pick, taking a chance on an oft-injured prospect with a high ceiling. In this mock, the Rams wait on a quarterback until Day 3 and also select a boom-or-bust inside linebacker who once dominated at LSU.
Injuries are a legitimate concern with Tyson but he's one of the most explosive and exciting receivers in the class when healthy. The Rams can afford to take a shot on him as their No. 3 wideout with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams established on offense. And if Tyson overcomes his durability concerns in the NFL, he has legitimate WR1 potential.
He can win downfield, elevate over defenders and runs great routes, which is a perfect combination for a 6-2 receiver in Los Angeles' offense.
After passing on some of the top cornerbacks at No. 13, the Rams go with Cisse at No. 29. He's viewed as the fourth- or fifth-best cornerback in the class by analysts and will dramatically help the Rams' secondary right away. He comes with good size and a willingness to help in run support, while also boasting great athleticism to hang with top receivers on the outside.
He only had two interceptions in college, which is a slight concern, but the Rams need guys who can simply cover. The ball skills would be a bonus.
A double-dip at cornerback should not be out of the question for Los Angeles, especially if it doesn't add a proven veteran in free agency or via trade. Johnson can play in the slot or on the outside, and he's coming off an excellent season at San Diego State where he allowed just 18 catches on 43 targets for 185 yards, with no touchdowns and four interceptions.
A tandem of Cisse and Johnson in the secondary will quickly solve the Rams' cornerback issues.
Bell is a monstrous tackle prospect at 6-foot-9, which might be a concern for some because he'll struggle with leverage. But he's the type of prospect the Rams tend to target after taking an unconventional path to the NFL through JUCO and eventually Miami.
The Rams won't need him to start right away with Alaric Jackson and likely Warren McClendon Jr. locked in as the tackles, but he can develop into a quality swing tackle.
Perkins' stock has taken a hit over the last two years since tearing his ACL. He's undersized and too small to play on the edge full-time, but as an off-ball prospect, he has some upside if he can recapture some of his pre-injury speed and explosiveness. Despite lacking the desired size more teams want in a linebacker, he would fit the Rams well as a complement to Nate Landman.
Payne was a team captain and played all over the secondary at Kansas State, which sounds exactly like the type of safety the Rams covet. According to PFF, he played 123 snaps in the slot, 386 in the box and 176 back deep last season.
Safety isn't a high priority, and it might be completely off the Rams' radar if they re-sign Kamren Curl, but assuming Curl departs, having an experienced leader and versatile playmaker on the backend would help Los Angeles.
With Matthew Stafford back for another year, the Rams can wait on taking a quarterback and prioritize other, more immediate needs to maximize their chances of winning it all next season. Robertson is athletic and can make plays inside or outside the pocket, possessing the traits Sean McVay might want in a young quarterback.
Drafting someone like Robertson would give the Rams another player to compete with Stetson Bennett and potentially another backup for a spot on the roster. He threw for 3,681 yards and 31 touchdowns with 12 interceptions last season.
With Byron Young, Jared Verse and Josaiah Stewart, the Rams are in good shape at outside linebacker. But they may not be able to keep everyone long-term because of the salary cap, making outside linebacker an underrated need. O'Neill went from James Madison to Rutgers after recording 13 sacks for the Dukes in 2024, and though his production didn't carry over for the Scarlet Knights, he plays with a high motor and great effort.
Maryland is a better receiver than blocker, using his 6-foot-4 frame to make catches over the middle for SMU. He had 1,495 yards and 19 touchdowns in four seasons for the Mustangs. Maryland would provide some depth at tight end in the event that Tyler Higbee leaves or retires, developing behind Colby Parkinson, Davis Allen and Terrance Ferguson.
Lacy played six years of college football, so he accumulated a lot of experience at South Alabama and Louisville. He was a versatile playmaker who topped out at 1,316 yards and seven touchdowns at South Alabama in 2023, but what makes him especially intriguing for the Rams are his return skills. He had 454 punt return yards on 25 attempts last season, taking two back for touchdowns. He also returned 12 kickoffs for 251 yards in 2025 after averaging 38.2 yards per kick return with one touchdown in 2024.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: LA Rams 7-round mock draft: Pre-NFL combine edition
Continue reading...
The Rams have a couple of roster needs that stand above the rest, including cornerback and wide receiver. And in our latest seven-round mock draft using PFF's simulator, we address both positions early on – including a double-dip at cornerback in Rounds 1 and 2.
At the top, we have the Rams adding an explosive receiver with the 13th overall pick, taking a chance on an oft-injured prospect with a high ceiling. In this mock, the Rams wait on a quarterback until Day 3 and also select a boom-or-bust inside linebacker who once dominated at LSU.
Round 1, No. 13: WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
Injuries are a legitimate concern with Tyson but he's one of the most explosive and exciting receivers in the class when healthy. The Rams can afford to take a shot on him as their No. 3 wideout with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams established on offense. And if Tyson overcomes his durability concerns in the NFL, he has legitimate WR1 potential.
He can win downfield, elevate over defenders and runs great routes, which is a perfect combination for a 6-2 receiver in Los Angeles' offense.
Round 1, No. 29: CB Brandon Cisse, South Carolina
After passing on some of the top cornerbacks at No. 13, the Rams go with Cisse at No. 29. He's viewed as the fourth- or fifth-best cornerback in the class by analysts and will dramatically help the Rams' secondary right away. He comes with good size and a willingness to help in run support, while also boasting great athleticism to hang with top receivers on the outside.
He only had two interceptions in college, which is a slight concern, but the Rams need guys who can simply cover. The ball skills would be a bonus.
Round 2, No. 61: CB Chris Johnson, San Diego State
A double-dip at cornerback should not be out of the question for Los Angeles, especially if it doesn't add a proven veteran in free agency or via trade. Johnson can play in the slot or on the outside, and he's coming off an excellent season at San Diego State where he allowed just 18 catches on 43 targets for 185 yards, with no touchdowns and four interceptions.
A tandem of Cisse and Johnson in the secondary will quickly solve the Rams' cornerback issues.
Round 3, No. 93: OT Markel Bell, Miami
Bell is a monstrous tackle prospect at 6-foot-9, which might be a concern for some because he'll struggle with leverage. But he's the type of prospect the Rams tend to target after taking an unconventional path to the NFL through JUCO and eventually Miami.
The Rams won't need him to start right away with Alaric Jackson and likely Warren McClendon Jr. locked in as the tackles, but he can develop into a quality swing tackle.
Round 5, No. 167: LB Harold Perkins Jr., LSU
Perkins' stock has taken a hit over the last two years since tearing his ACL. He's undersized and too small to play on the edge full-time, but as an off-ball prospect, he has some upside if he can recapture some of his pre-injury speed and explosiveness. Despite lacking the desired size more teams want in a linebacker, he would fit the Rams well as a complement to Nate Landman.
Round 6, No. 206: S VJ Payne, Kansas State
Payne was a team captain and played all over the secondary at Kansas State, which sounds exactly like the type of safety the Rams covet. According to PFF, he played 123 snaps in the slot, 386 in the box and 176 back deep last season.
Safety isn't a high priority, and it might be completely off the Rams' radar if they re-sign Kamren Curl, but assuming Curl departs, having an experienced leader and versatile playmaker on the backend would help Los Angeles.
Round 6, No. 209: QB Sawyer Robertson, Baylor
With Matthew Stafford back for another year, the Rams can wait on taking a quarterback and prioritize other, more immediate needs to maximize their chances of winning it all next season. Robertson is athletic and can make plays inside or outside the pocket, possessing the traits Sean McVay might want in a young quarterback.
Drafting someone like Robertson would give the Rams another player to compete with Stetson Bennett and potentially another backup for a spot on the roster. He threw for 3,681 yards and 31 touchdowns with 12 interceptions last season.
Round 7, No. 232: OLB Eric O'Neill, Rutgers
With Byron Young, Jared Verse and Josaiah Stewart, the Rams are in good shape at outside linebacker. But they may not be able to keep everyone long-term because of the salary cap, making outside linebacker an underrated need. O'Neill went from James Madison to Rutgers after recording 13 sacks for the Dukes in 2024, and though his production didn't carry over for the Scarlet Knights, he plays with a high motor and great effort.
Round 7, No. 250: TE RJ Maryland, SMU
Maryland is a better receiver than blocker, using his 6-foot-4 frame to make catches over the middle for SMU. He had 1,495 yards and 19 touchdowns in four seasons for the Mustangs. Maryland would provide some depth at tight end in the event that Tyler Higbee leaves or retires, developing behind Colby Parkinson, Davis Allen and Terrance Ferguson.
Round 7, No. 255: WR Caullin Lacy, Louisville
Lacy played six years of college football, so he accumulated a lot of experience at South Alabama and Louisville. He was a versatile playmaker who topped out at 1,316 yards and seven touchdowns at South Alabama in 2023, but what makes him especially intriguing for the Rams are his return skills. He had 454 punt return yards on 25 attempts last season, taking two back for touchdowns. He also returned 12 kickoffs for 251 yards in 2025 after averaging 38.2 yards per kick return with one touchdown in 2024.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: LA Rams 7-round mock draft: Pre-NFL combine edition
Continue reading...
