
Judge grants Oklahoma LB Heinecke extra year
Oklahoma linebacker Owen Heinecke granted an extra year of eligibility for 2026 after court ruling.
ESPN analyst Ben Solak advises the Los Angeles Rams to trade up aggressively in the draft to secure immediate contributors. With the 13th overall pick and a win-now mentality, the Rams are positioned to push for another Super Bowl title.
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The Los Angeles Rams nearly made a run all the way to the Super Bowl last season, coming up just short against the eventual champion Seattle Seahawks in the NFC title game. Theyâve since made notable additions to their roster with Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, while simultaneously losing minimal talent in free agency.
The Rams are positioned well to push for another ring next season, especially holding the 13th overall pick and three in the top 100 of this yearâs draft.
Because Los Angeles is in win-now mode, ESPNâs Ben Solak argues the Rams should be aggressive in the draft and target players who are ready to contribute now. In his piece about how each team can ace the draft, Solak wrote this about the Rams, urging them to âtrade up aggressively.â
It's rare that I write this in the predraft process, but here goes: Don't draft for the future. Draft for the now. Trade up aggressively. Find the last infinity stone. Every year with Stafford might be your last. Eventually the Rams will need a quarterbacking heir, but coach Sean McVay is well-compensated and regarded for a reason -- he'll help solve that problem when it comes. For now, just win.
The bottom line:Â Push for the Super Bowl. Draft pro-ready players, ideally at tackle, wide receiver and linebacker. Trade up!
Les Snead has already said itâs unlikely that the Rams will trade up from No. 13 in the first round, but that doesnât mean he was being 100% truthful. It could have been a smoke screen to throw everyone off, or if thereâs a player they covet that falls into their range, Snead could strike by moving up.
The Rams should trade up to acquire pro-ready players who can contribute immediately, as they are in a win-now mode aiming for another Super Bowl title.
The Rams should focus on drafting players at tackle, wide receiver, and linebacker to strengthen their roster for the upcoming season.
Ben Solak is an ESPN analyst who provides insights on NFL draft strategies, recommending that the Rams be aggressive in their draft approach.

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Either way, Solakâs argument is sound. Teams are always drafting for the future and the Rams should still account for that with whoever they pick. However, not every team is in position to win a Super Bowl like the Rams are, while also picking in the top 15.
If someone like Carnell Tate or Sonny Styles were to fall to, say, No. 10, the Rams should strongly consider giving up a Day 2 pick to go get them. Theyâd immediately make the team better, and at this point, Los Angeles should be aiming for quality, not quantity.
Snead said last month that the Rams were comfortable trading away Day 3 picks in this year's draft for McDuffie because they feel the class is a bit thin in the later rounds. By that logic, they shouldn't mind giving up additional picks to go up for a potential All-Pro talent.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: ESPN analyst explains how Rams can ace the 2026 NFL Draft