NFL insider Todd McShay expects the Los Angeles Rams to go an unconventional route in the first round of the upcoming draft.
The Los Angeles Rams are expected to make big moves as the 2026 NFL Draft approaches. The Rams could go a multitude of ways with the No. 13 overall pick, but many expect them to bolster their wide receiver room and select a premier player at that position.
That is the expectation; however, NFL insider Todd McShay believes the Rams will go against wide receiver expectations in the first round and use that pick on another position.
"As of this writing, I think the Rams are more likely to draft a wide receiver in the second than in the first," McShay wrote. "What’s the difference between Makai Lemon and De’Zhaun Stribling in that system? They could also get Germie Bernard or Chris Bell in the second. That frees up the Rams to use the 13th pick on their best player available. This pick is a huge deal in the league."
Many experts have mocked the Rams to draft a wide receiver. As of late, the Rams have been linked to USC wide receiver Makai Lemon.
However, McShay believes the Rams will save that position for the later round and instead go best player available. While a wide receiver could be the best player at No. 13, there is a chance that the player selected may be an offensive lineman or some other surprise position.
On top of that, it is not a guarantee that Lemon will be available at No. 13. The New York Giants traded DT Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals, and in exchange, New York received the No. 10 pick.
New York could very well bolster their wide receiver room with one of their two first-round picks in Thursday's draft. If that happens to be the case, and the Rams don't like what they see at 13, they could trade back and acquire more picks in the later rounds.
The Giants having two top 10 picks doesn't directly increase the Rams' odds of trading back; however, it certainly reshapes the board in a way that could push the Rams toward that direction.
Nothing is set in stone, but it could certainly cause a ripple effect, and the Rams could be preparing for that.
Rams general manager Les Snead isn’t tipping his hand when it comes to their first-round pick, which comes as no surprise. Snead is known for weighing every option and will continue to explore all avenues to build the strongest roster possible.
All eyes will be on Thursday for the Rams; however, Los Angeles has also been known to make most of their noise on Days 2 and 3 in the draft.