Les Snead is basically playing a different game than the rest of the NFL. For years, the running joke was that the Los Angeles Rams general manager hated draft picks. We all saw the "F--- Them Picks" shirts. But as we look at the landscape of the Rams 2026 draft picks, it’s clear the narrative has flipped.
The Rams are actually loaded. It's weird to say, right?
After a decade of trading away first-rounders for established stars like Jalen Ramsey and Matthew Stafford, the Rams have pivoted. They aren't just holding onto their own selections anymore; they are actively poaching them from other teams. Thanks to a massive draft-day swap with the Atlanta Falcons back in 2025, the Rams have positioned themselves to be the powerhouse of the 2026 offseason.
The Atlanta Heist and Two First-Rounders
The biggest piece of the puzzle is that extra first-round pick. During the 2025 draft, the Falcons got aggressive—maybe too aggressive—to move up for James Pearce Jr. To make that happen, they handed the Rams their 2026 first-round selection.
Honestly, this could be the pick that defines the post-Stafford era.
If the Falcons struggle, the Rams could find themselves with two picks in the top 15. Think about that for a second. A team that usually picks in the 50s or 60s might have the ammunition to move up for a franchise quarterback like Fernando Mendoza or Dante Moore if they decide it's time to move on from Stafford.
Currently, the Rams' 2026 arsenal looks like this:
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- Round 1: Their own pick.
- Round 1: From the Atlanta Falcons.
- Round 2: Their own pick.
- Round 3: Their own pick.
- Round 5: Their own pick.
- Round 5: From the Tennessee Titans (the Ernest Jones trade).
- Round 6: From the Houston Texans (the Ben Skowronek trade).
- Round 6: Their own pick.
- Round 7: From the Baltimore Ravens (the Tre’Davious White trade).
- Round 7: Potential compensatory pick.
You’ve probably noticed the 4th round is missing. The Rams sent that to the Chicago Bears during the 2025 draft to move up for defensive lineman Ty Hamilton. It's a classic Snead move: sacrificing a future middle-round pick to get "his guy" in the present.
Why the Rams 2026 Draft Picks Matter Right Now
Draft capital is more than just names on a board; it's flexibility. Because the Rams have ten projected picks, they can afford to be the most aggressive team at the 2026 trade deadline.
Need a veteran tackle because Rob Havenstein is dinged up? They have the picks to go get one. Want to leapfrog the competition for an elite cornerback like Mansoor Delane? They have the "firepower," as Bret Stuter from Ramblin' Fan put it, to make it happen.
Most people get the Rams wrong. They think the "Stars and Scrubs" approach was a permanent philosophy. It wasn't. It was a window-opening strategy. Now, the window is being propped open by a youth movement and a sudden influx of draft assets.
The Secondary and the O-Line Problem
Look at the roster. Even with the success of guys like Jared Verse and Braden Fiske, the secondary is still a bit of a question mark. The Tre'Davious White experiment didn't exactly pan out long-term, and while the Rams acquired a 2026 7th-rounder for him from Baltimore, they still need a lockdown guy.
Then there's the offensive line.
Havenstein isn't getting any younger. The 2026 draft class is rumored to be deep at tackle—guys like Kayden Proctor or Francis Mauigoa could be sitting right there when the Rams use those first-round picks. If you can land a cornerstone left tackle and a shutdown corner in the same first round, you've basically rebuilt the spine of your team in four hours.
Navigating the Compensatory Pick Formula
The Rams are also masters of the compensatory pick game. While we won't know the official 2026 compensatory picks until the NFL Management Council releases the formula results after the 2025 season, the projections are already rolling in.
Losing guys like Michael Hoecht or Bobby Brown III in free agency usually nets the Rams those late-round "lottery tickets" they love so much. In fact, Nick Bonis from NFL.com projects the Rams could snag at least one additional 7th-round pick for the loss of Demarcus Robinson or others.
These 6th and 7th rounders might seem like junk to other fans, but for the Rams, these are the rounds where they find Puka Nacua.
What This Means for Matthew Stafford
We have to talk about the elephant in the room. Matthew Stafford is a warrior, but he’s also heading into the twilight of his career.
Having multiple first-round picks in 2026 gives the Rams a "Plan B" that they haven't had in years. If the right quarterback falls, they don't have to sell the farm to get him—they already own the farm. They can draft a successor and let him sit for a year, a luxury they didn't have when they traded for Stafford in the first place.
It's a bizarrely healthy position for a team that was supposedly "all in" just a few years ago.
Actionable Next Steps for Rams Fans
If you're tracking these picks, keep a close eye on the Atlanta Falcons' record. Every time Atlanta loses, the Rams' draft value goes up.
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You should also watch the 2025 college bowl season specifically for offensive tackles and cornerbacks. Those are the two positions the Rams are most likely to target with their top-tier capital. Don't just look at the stats; look at the "Snead Profiles"—guys with high RAS (Relative Athletic Scores) and high motor.
The 2026 draft isn't just another weekend in April for this franchise. It is the moment the "new" Rams officially take over.