After that brutal divisional round loss to the eventual Super Bowl champs, the Los Angeles Rams front office had some thinking to do. The team would end up with the 26th pick in the draft, faced with a few avenues of choice. Secondary? Receiving core? Tight End? Matthew Stafford did just turn 37, and that old brigade seems to keep getting older.
Les Snead opted for a trade with Terry Fontenot, sending over the 26th pick (along with the 101st overall) in a package for the Atlanta Falcons’ 46th, 242nd, and most covetously, their future 2026 first-round pick.
2026 NFL Draft: How the Falcons’ Pick Shapes the Rams’ Future
Equal Footing
It wasn’t the fact that this year’s class was considered to be on the weaker side, or even the disparity in value, but it was the gall of Fontenot and company to put it all on the line for a group that needs tender care in its developmental stage. We saw how Arthur Smith managed, right? This is a team that never quite found its footing after… You know… 28-3?
Sure, most consider the NFC South to be among the weaker divisions in the league, but Tampa Bay seems pretty consistent, and if Carolina can get it right? We’ll ignore whatever’s going on in New Orleans, but you get the picture. Why waste valuable draft equity on a team that—sorry, Falcons fans—is not in “win-now” mode?
In no way should you disrespect the player Atlanta selected with that 26th pick— Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr. may grow from the prospect he was listed as—but this is a front office that has been hit-or-miss since Fontenot took the reins. How’s Kyle Pitts been for you fantasy owners? Still hoping he’ll hit big? The fanbase may claim drafting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was the right move, but why pay Kirk Cousins the 4-year/$180M contract?
In recent years, the Rams have made a killing off trading back in the draft. The “forget those picks” mentality is nothing but a faded catchphrase on your favorite Super Bowl t-shirt. Now, head coach Sean McVay and Les Snead have instead carefully cultivated a group of young guns, stockpiling late-round gems, building towards even brighter days in Los Angeles.
But what about 2026?
It remains to be seen how newly drafted tight end Terrance Ferguson does—a fresh, reliable sub-in for Tyler Higbee. Additionally, stacking the depth chart with linebackers like Michigan’s Josaiah Stewart or Ole Miss’s Chris Paul Jr. can do wonders for an already blitz-happy defense. The concern is about the future of the quarterback position.
Last offseason, Stafford entered a very public contract dispute with the front office. This played out like a game of chicken, with the Rams kindly asking Stafford to take a look around the league at the current state of QB-needy teams. Naturally, Stafford obliged, but what he found after leaving that plenty comfortable $5B SoFi Stadium was a few measly cobbled-together franchises in Las Vegas and New York. Upon seeing a thing like that, one might consider quitting the game altogether—but the two parties made up, and here we are in 2025.
Next Steps
There are a few options here, depending on how the Rams do this season. If Snead and McVay feel the team is still trending in the right direction, and they see two “ready to start” athletes in next year’s class, the team could benefit from further talent in the secondary. Any number of cornerbacks could make the transition to a team with heavy-pressure tendencies.
What’s more likely is the Rams using that same “trade back” theory and swapping another year’s worth of first-rounders. With that, Snead could either make a selection with the higher pick or gamble and get even more value in 2027.
The most interesting part of owning the Falcons’ pick is considering the aforementioned QB position. Next year’s class will be one of the most lopsided in recent memory. With stars like Clemson’s Cade Klubnik, LSU’s Garrett Nussmeir, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, and Penn State’s Drew Allar—and haven’t even mentioned the idea of Archie Manning rolling into Pittsburgh—a trade-up scenario isn’t out of the question.
But something tells me Sean McVay is picky about who’s taking snaps, so if the Rams are going to bank on grooming fresh talent, he’ll want a quarterback who can hang for the next decade. Or at least until he can trade him to the Lions.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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