LOS ANGELES — The Rams just blew up the draft board. General Manager Les Snead sent shockwaves through the league by shipping the No. 29 overall pick to the Kansas City Chiefs for All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie. Snead didn’t just rent a player; he handed McDuffie a historic four-year, $124 million extension. The front office is officially in win-now mode as the 2026 league year kicks off tomorrow. This blockbuster move entirely rewrites the Los Angeles Rams 2026 Mock Draft. They still hold the No. 13 overall pick, courtesy of last year’s trade with Atlanta. So, who gets the call?
Kenyon Sadiq: The Speed Demon Tight End
ESPN’s Jordan Reid continues to project Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq to Los Angeles. Sadiq flat-out flew at the combine, clocking a blistering 4.39-second 40-yard dash. That is the fastest time by a tight end in over two decades. He torched defenses in 2025, racking up 51 receptions for 560 yards and 8 touchdowns.
Keep in mind, Los Angeles reportedly agreed to a two-year deal to bring back veteran Tyler Higbee. But head coach Sean McVay heavily utilized 12 and 13 personnel last season. Adding Sadiq gives Matthew Stafford a mismatch nightmare. Sadiq doesn’t just catch passes; he blocks with pure aggression in the run game. You can picture him sealing the edge while Kyren Williams bursts through the gap.
Makai Lemon: A Local Weapon for Stafford
NFL.com’s Charles Davis looks closer to home. He projects the Rams will grab USC wide receiver Makai Lemon. Lemon shredded the Big Ten last year, hauling in 79 catches for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Stafford already throws to six-time Pro Bowler Davante Adams and rising star Puka Nacua. Dropping Lemon into that receiver room borders on unfair. Lemon tracks the ball beautifully and explodes after the catch. He practically lived in the end zone for the Trojans. Adding him forces opposing safeties into impossible decisions.
Colton Hood: Doubling Down on Defense
CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson takes a different angle. Even after the McDuffie blockbuster, Wilson predicts the Rams will select Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood. Los Angeles faces an exodus in the secondary with Ahkello Witherspoon, Cobie Durant, and Roger McCreary hitting unrestricted free agency. They need bodies.
Hood plays with an edge. The Volunteers defensive back racked up 50 tackles, eight pass breakups, and an interception in 2025. He attacks the perimeter run and locks down receivers in press-man coverage. Pairing a rookie enforcer like Hood across from McDuffie gives defensive coordinator Chris Shula a lethal tandem. The energy shift in that defensive room would be immediate.
“Damn…”
— Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs Quarterback (reacting to the McDuffie trade on X)
Playoff Implications / What’s Next
The Rams sit in the driver’s seat. Snead plugged a massive hole by acquiring McDuffie, freeing up the 13th pick for a pure talent grab. If they draft Sadiq or Lemon, the offense transforms into an unstoppable machine. If they draft Hood, the secondary immediately becomes one of the fiercest units in the NFC West. Free agency officially opens on Wednesday, March 11. Watch for Snead to hunt for bargain edge rushers before finalizing his final draft board.
