NFL · 7 hours ago

Rams’ 2026 Draft Could Give LA Missing Pieces To Dominate 2026 Season

Aiden Checketts

Host · Writer

Rams Strategy Focuses on Bolstering Defensive Front
Many scouts and analysts across the NFL may think Ponds will not succeed just because of his height, but his speed, physicality, and production are factors that say the opposite. In the right scheme, Ponds could become a great to elite slot corner.

The Rams in the NFL Draft will continue to bolster the secondary, and adding a player like Ponds gives Shula great versatility with his defenses to play a blend of man or zone, so the Rams don’t become one-dimensional with their coverages against great offenses.

If the Rams can make a significant improvement in the secondary, the defensive front should be able to get home and help to create one of the NFL’s more balanced defenses, which should lead to a very deep playoff run and hopefully raise the Lombardi once again in SoFi Stadium.
Rams Target Final Pieces for Super Bowl Run
With the 2026 NFL Draft now less than a month away, each organization is doing the finishing touches on its draft prep and who it could select. The Los Angeles Rams are in a unique spot, as they were one game away from the Super Bowl and seem to have addressed their one need in the secondary with the additions of Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson.

At one point, the Rams had two first-round picks with number 13 overall and number 29 overall, but general manager Les Snead decided to use the 29th pick to trade for McDuffie to get a bona fide corner to improve LA’s biggest weakness, which ultimately cost them a chance to hoist another Lombardi Trophy.

There are very few holes on the Rams’ roster, but it is never a bad idea to add more depth at any position. One of the areas LA could look to add is a wide receiver three behind Puka Nacua and Davante Adams to provide depth and production in case either Nacua or Adams misses time in 2026.
Round 1 Pick 13 (No. 13 Overall)
There are several places the Rams could go with the number 13 overall pick, but it seems that the best option would be wide receiver Makai Lemon from the USC Trojans. Lemon had a very productive college career with the Trojans and progressed every single season. In his freshman season, Lemon totaled six receptions for 88 yards, and then in his sophomore year, 52 catches for 764 yards and three touchdowns.

In his final season, Lemon gave his best with 79 receptions for 1,156 yards, 11 touchdowns, and an average of 14.6 yards per catch. Lemon has the production that many NFL teams would be looking for, but also has three years of experience under the great college coach Lincoln Riley.

Standing at 5'11 and 195 pounds, Lemon provides a very physical receiver who could line up all over the field with his physicality, speed, and athleticism. Throughout his 2025 campaign, Lemon made multiple contested catches and created lots of explosive plays, which have made him a tremendous value as one of the top receiver prospects.
Lemon's Fit in McVay's High-Powered Scheme
As far as his fit with the Rams, Lemon could fit right into the slot with Los Angeles already having Nacua and Adams. Nacua works all over the field on the outside, and Adams has a similar skillset, but last season was able to be very effective in the red zone.

Lemon could become a great target for Matthew Stafford over the middle and could be a player Sean McVay uses in the screen game to move the chains consistently. The receiving room for LA is already great, but if the Rams can add Lemon, this group could get even better and give every defense many mismatch problems across the offensive formation.

No matter where LA goes, the roster already is great, but adding depth could make this roster elite. The selection of Lemon allows Los Angeles to strengthen an already great group and potentially put them over the top to win the second Super Bowl of the McVay era.
Round 2 Pick 29 (No. 61 Overall)
Throughout the 2025 season, it became very clear that the Rams had a major weakness in the secondary as the corners were consistently getting beaten for big plays and could not contain the NFL’s elite receivers. That is why Snead and McVay went out to improve the cornerback room with the additions of McDuffie and Watson.

With corners having the ability to play on the outside or in the slot, the Rams could look to find one of the better slot corners in this draft with cornerback D’Angelo Ponds out of Indiana. Ponds is a bit undersized at 5'9, but his experience, physicality, athleticism, speed, and production are factors that could heavily outweigh that one downside.

Ponds played three seasons in college, with one at James Madison and two with the Indiana Hoosiers. Ponds was very high on coach Curt Cignetti, which led him to stay with Cignetti for his entire career, and it paid off as Indiana won a National Championship.
Versatility and Speed Highlight Ponds' Draft Profile
For his career, Ponds recorded 167 tackles, 31 pass breakups, seven interceptions, one forced fumble, and two touchdowns. Ponds really showed out during 2025. During Indiana’s College Football Playoff run, Ponds made one of the more impressive plays as he intercepted Oregon quarterback Dante Moore on the first play of the CFP Semifinal and took it back for a pick-six.

Overall, Ponds is a great prospect, and the Rams could get a great corner if they choose to make this selection. In LA’s defense, Ponds could provide defensive coordinator Chris Shula great versatility, being able to cover receivers in the slot, and if needed, use his physicality in the run game. Ponds also has elite speed as he ran an unofficial 4.31 40-yard dash at Indiana’s Pro Day.

Ponds’ speed gives LA the ability to match any of the NFL’s fastest receivers across the field because Ponds also has the physicality, even if he is a bit undersized. In addition, if the Rams feel the need, they could have Ponds learn how to return kicks to make plays on special teams.
Rams Strategy Focuses on Bolstering Defensive Front
Many scouts and analysts across the NFL may think Ponds will not succeed just because of his height, but his speed, physicality, and production are factors that say the opposite. In the right scheme, Ponds could become a great to elite slot corner.

The Rams in the NFL Draft will continue to bolster the secondary, and adding a player like Ponds gives Shula great versatility with his defenses to play a blend of man or zone, so the Rams don’t become one-dimensional with their coverages against great offenses.

If the Rams can make a significant improvement in the secondary, the defensive front should be able to get home and help to create one of the NFL’s more balanced defenses, which should lead to a very deep playoff run and hopefully raise the Lombardi once again in SoFi Stadium.
Rams Target Final Pieces for Super Bowl Run
With the 2026 NFL Draft now less than a month away, each organization is doing the finishing touches on its draft prep and who it could select. The Los Angeles Rams are in a unique spot, as they were one game away from the Super Bowl and seem to have addressed their one need in the secondary with the additions of Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson.

At one point, the Rams had two first-round picks with number 13 overall and number 29 overall, but general manager Les Snead decided to use the 29th pick to trade for McDuffie to get a bona fide corner to improve LA’s biggest weakness, which ultimately cost them a chance to hoist another Lombardi Trophy.

There are very few holes on the Rams’ roster, but it is never a bad idea to add more depth at any position. One of the areas LA could look to add is a wide receiver three behind Puka Nacua and Davante Adams to provide depth and production in case either Nacua or Adams misses time in 2026.

Rams’ 2026 Draft Could Give LA Missing Pieces To Dominate 2026 Season

BETTING NEWS

FUTURES

EDITOR'S PICKS

For the Best of SportsGrid, Grab the App

BETTING NEWS

FUTURES