The Rams are looking to target 14 prospects after the first round of the draft, focusing on non-first-round talent. They have multiple picks in the later rounds to find valuable contributors.
Key points
Rams have 14 non-first-round prospects in mind
They possess two Day 2 picks and four later round picks
Rams excel at finding talent outside the first round
Notable past selections include Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua
Germie BernardCooper KuppPuka NacuaLos Angeles Rams
The draft may start on Thursday night, but it doesn't end there. There are six more rounds after the first, and if any team knows how to hit on non-first-rounders, it's the Los Angeles Rams. They've been one of the best teams in the NFL when it comes to finding gems outside the first round, nailing selections of Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, Kobie Turner, Byron Young and Quentin Lake, among many others.
This year, the Rams don't have fourth- or fifth-round picks, but they do have two on Day 2 and four in the sixth and seventh rounds. That's plenty of ammo after the first round to find quality prospects who can contribute both right away and down the line.
Here are 14 of our favorite non-first-round prospects in this year's class, all of whom could be targets for the Rams depending on how the first night goes.
If the Rams don't go wide receiver in the first round, Bernard should be a real option for them in the second. He's a well-rounded wideout who was consistently productive at Alabama, leading the team in receiving last year and scoring nine total touchdowns with just one drop. He may not be a burner (4.48 speed), but the Rams have never put much stock in 40 times anyway.
Some will view Stukes as a corner, while others will see him as a safety. Either way, he's a ball player. The Rams absolutely love versatility in the secondary and Stukes brings plenty of that. Plus, he was a captain three years in a row at Arizona and is a high-character player who can line up anywhere in the secondary.
He might be the perfect DB for the Rams on Day 2 of the draft, if he even lasts until the 61st pick.
Brazzell would bring a different flavor to the receiver room, being 6-foot-4 with 4.37 speed. The Rams have never had a wideout with that combination of size and speed under Sean McVay, so he could be the field-stretcher and vertical threat Los Angeles has been looking for. He's someone the Rams might be able to snag in the third round before their long break between the 93rd and 207th picks.
CB D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana
Ponds is tiny for an NFL cornerback, coming in just shy of 5-foot-9 and 182 pounds. However, he's incredibly athletic, running a 4.36 at his pro day and jumping 43.5 inches in the vertical at the combine. That allows him to keep up with faster receivers downfield and compete for jump balls against taller targets.
For the Rams, Ponds could help in the slot but they could also try him outside when there aren't bigger receivers on the field.
LB Kyle Louis, Pitt
Louis won't be for everyone but for a team like the Rams that already has a downhill linebacker, he fits well as the Will. He's a free-flowing defender who can roam sideline to sideline and, most importantly, cover. His coverage skills are outstanding for a linebacker, which is an area of need in Los Angeles after opponents targeted its linebackers in the passing game last season.
He's sure to be a Day 2 pick and could be someone the Rams target.
There weren't many defensive backs who got their hands on the ball as much as Clark did. He had at least three interceptions in each of the last four seasons, totaling 15 in that span since 2022. Safety isn't a pressing need for the Rams but he can be an over-the-top defender with the necessary range to take the ball away on deep passes. They don't have a safety with his level of speed (4.41).
Fields is projected to be a Day 2 pick and he could be someone the Rams consider if they don't take a wideout in the first. There's no denying he lacks speed, running a 4.61 in the 40, but he's 6-4 and 220 pounds, so size is his "superpower," as Les Snead would say. He moves well for a receiver that size, and he would give Matthew Stafford the big receiver he's been lacking since coming to the Rams. If Los Angeles is looking for a possession receiver who can win at the catch point, Fields is someone to think about.
The Rams did well selecting one Michigan edge rusher last year when they took Josaiah Stewart, and they could hit on another by taking Barham in the middle rounds. He's 6-foot-3 with 32-inch arms and flies off the line as a pass rusher, beating tackles to their spot as he tries to get around the corner. Sean McVay said himself that the Rams can never have too many pass rushers, and he would add some quality depth to that group.
Davis is intriguing because of the fact that he's 6-4 with nearly 34-inch arms and 4.41 speed. They don't make many cornerbacks like that. There's no question he has some stiff hips and doesn't move very fluidly in coverage, but in zone situations where he doesn't have to turn and run in man coverage often, he can succeed. If the Rams are looking for length at outside cornerback, Davis could be an option on Day 3.
Bell is a monster of a man at 6-9 and 346 pounds, someone the Rams could look to develop into a swing tackle initially and eventually a starter. He has an 87-inch wingspan and nearly 37-inch arms so length isn't the slightest concern with his game. It's his movement and technique that need work. But that's why he's projected to be a mid-round developmental tackle for some team.
Perkins looked like a future first-round pick as a freshman at LSU but injuries and regression have hurt his draft stock, especially given his smaller frame. He isn't a full-time edge rusher but he has experience rushing as a stand-up linebacker, and his athleticism also allows him to play off the ball. Going back to position flexibility, he's someone Chris Shula might be able to maximize on defense as a Day 3 pick.
DL Kaleb Proctor, Southeastern Louisiana
Proctor is a small-school prospect who tested well in athleticism drills and was very productive in his final season at Southeastern Louisiana with nine sacks and 13 tackles for a loss. He would provide the Rams with another interior pass rusher, fitting the mold as a guy with a motor that never stops on the defensive line. He's small for a defensive tackle but that's never deterred the Rams before.
WR/KR Kaden Wetjen, Iowa
Wetjen is one of the best return specialists in the class and is someone who would be an immediate upgrade on special teams as a late-round pick. The Rams have a new coordinator in that department in Bubba Ventrone and knowing he'll help identify prospects on special teams in the draft, Wetjen could be someone the Rams bring in. He had three punt return touchdowns last year alone, as well as one kick return score. In 2024, he returned one punt and one kickoff for touchdowns, too.
Brown would also fill the Rams' void at kick returner. He had six kick return touchdowns in his career, all of them being 99 yards or longer. His speed is undeniable, too, running a 4.40 in the 40-yard dash. Even better, he's not just a returner. He contributed in a big way at wideout for the Tigers, leading the team in receiving yards last season with 532.
Honorable mentions: WR Chris Bell, WR De'Zhaun Stribling, LB Anthony Hill Jr., DB Keionte Scott, OLB Gabe Jacas, S Zakee Wheatley
