With the arrival of CJ Daniels, would the Los Angeles Rams expect the rookie to take an immediate WR2 role?
The Los Angeles Rams had a quiet and somewhat confusing draft. After taking Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson at No. 13, the team would forego taking a pass catcher until the sixth round, which was Miami wide receiver CJ Daniels.
Daniels was drafted after the Rams also moved up, surrendering two of their seventh-round picks to take him. Considering he was the only wide receiver taken, could the team expect him to take an immediate, substantial role?
While this may sound like an odd question to ask or even answer, looking at the current depth chart and crop of receivers behind Puka Nacua and Davante Adams might point to that fact.
One of the biggest issues the Rams had in 2025 was in their pass catching department, hence why their 2026 draft was panned by many. While they had the chance to take a talent like USC's Makai Lemon, whom they were continually mocked to, they chose Simpson.
Head coach Sean McVay also indicated that Lemon was a huge part of their discussions before deciding on taking the Alabama signal caller.
With Daniels coming in as the only receiver taken, he could be in line to have a substantial role if he can show strong skills in training camp and preseason.
The reason for this potentially controversial take is that the Rams' pass catchers in 2025 underwhelmed heavily. Granted, having players like Nacua and Adams on the team might make distribution a bit hard to come by; it could be that no other receiver truly emerged as a solid alternative.
Longtime veteran Tutu Atwell had been re-signed and was expecting to make a bigger impact, but an early hamstring injury led him to fall down the depth chart and eventually remain a healthy scratch. He has now joined the Miami Dolphins.
Xavier Smith secured 303 yards and no touchdowns, but his 16.8 yards per reception average could point to his potentially taking a leap in 2026. Konata Mumpfield brought in 92 yards and one touchdown, but he was seldom used.
Jordan Whittingon also brought in 171 yards. Atwell managed more than all three, but missed seven games altogether.
The point is the Rams have had a deficit in their receiving department, which is why there was a strong belief they would have addressed the receiver position in the 2026 NFL Draft. They did so with Daniels, but there is always a risk with players in the later rounds not making a huge impact.
That is not always the case, as Nacua was a fifth-round pick. Daniels could easily impress with his work ethic, and there is a big reason why the Rams traded up to take him.
Daniels had a 75.8 percentage with contested catches, and has a good 6-foot-2 and 200-pound frame to be a solid weapon for Matthew Stafford. He could be an oversized slot weapon to match up well with Nacua and Adams as deepfield threats.
Daniels has yet to play in the NFL, but has 2,104 yards and 17 touchdowns over the last three years in college. This includes 1,067 yards with Liberty in 2023.
If Daniels can lock in and show a skill set above his rookie designation, he could find himself as a big-time rotational WR2 with the Rams.