Sportsvival is already grinding through the 2026 NFL Draft class, and the Rams are one of the more interesting teams in the first round because they are not drafting from their own original slot. Los Angeles owns the No. 13 pick that came from Atlanta, and that gives this front office a real chance to add another impact player for a team that is still trying to maximize its current window while also keeping one eye on the future.
The Rams have been aggressive again this offseason. They traded for cornerback Trent McDuffie and signed him to a long-term extension, added cornerback Jaylen Watson, re-signed safety Kamren Curl, re-signed tight end Tyler Higbee, brought back offensive lineman David Quessenberry, signed linebacker Grant Stuard and long snapper Joe Cardona, and also re-signed Larrell Murchison. This has the look of a team that wanted to patch key spots before the draft so it would not be forced into one desperate move on draft night.
The No. 13 pick is a big part of why the Rams are in a strong position. Los Angeles acquired Atlanta’s 2026 first-rounder in last year’s draft-day swap, with the Falcons sending that first-round pick along with pick No. 46 in the 2025 draft and pick No. 242, while the Rams sent picks No. 26 and No. 101 to Atlanta. That Atlanta selection officially landed at No. 13 overall. Los Angeles then later moved its own 2026 first-round pick, No. 29, to Kansas City in the McDuffie deal, so this Falcons pick is now the Rams’ premium shot in Round 1.
There have been real losses too. Tutu Atwell left for Miami, Rob Havenstein retired, Darious Williams retired, and the Rams also saw Jimmy Garoppolo, Nick Vannett, Troy Reeder, Ahkello Witherspoon, Roger McCreary and Cobie Durant depart, with Durant landing in Dallas and Nick Hampton signing with Carolina. Even with the work already done, this roster still has spots that need more help before the season starts.
Top 3 Rams needs
1. Offensive weapon / pass catcher
The Rams still need another piece for the passing game. Leaguewide draft need breakdowns list wide receiver among Los Angeles’ top needs, and the Rams’ own draft coverage has made it clear that after addressing the secondary, many projections shifted toward offense. This is where a tight end like Kenyon Sadiq can still fit the bigger need. He is not just a tight end pick. He is an offensive weapon pick.
2. Offensive line
This is a major issue, especially after Havenstein’s retirement. The Rams have added depth with Quessenberry, but the right tackle spot and overall line depth still matter for a team trying to protect Matthew Stafford and keep its offense on schedule. Even outside Round 1, this is a spot Los Angeles still has to attack.
3. Linebacker / front-seven depth
Grant Stuard helps, but the Rams still look like a team that could use more range, more tackling, and more depth at linebacker. National draft need breakdowns still list linebacker among the club’s biggest concerns, and some of their offseason departures only add to that conversation.
Sportsvival’s Rams pick: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
At No. 13, Sportsvival has the Rams selecting Kenyon Sadiq, tight end, Oregon. Sadiq is listed at 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds, coming off a 2025 season in which he caught 51 passes for 560 yards and eight touchdowns. He also turned heads at the combine with a 4.39 forty, and the Rams’ own prospect breakdown pointed to his rare movement skills, strong run-game value, and ability to line up all over the formation.
This fit makes a lot of sense for Los Angeles. The Rams used 13 personnel on 30.5 percent of their snaps last season, the highest rate in the Next Gen Stats era, and their tight end production jumped dramatically in 2025. Sadiq gives Sean McVay another mismatch piece, another yards-after-catch threat, and another player who can stress defenses without tipping the offense’s intentions. He would help now, and he would also give the Rams long-term upside at a position they clearly value in a major way.
For Sportsvival, the Rams’ offseason says they wanted flexibility. They repaired the secondary, held onto some important pieces, and put themselves in position to attack offense at No. 13 with the Falcons’ pick. Offensive line and linebacker are still very real needs, but if Los Angeles wants to add a dynamic chess piece for Stafford and keep leaning into multiple-tight-end football, Kenyon Sadiq is the kind of pick that can make this offense even tougher to handle.