Despite their 9-3 record, the Los Angeles Rams have one eye on the 2026 NFL draft. That’s because they own the first round of the Atlanta Falcons after trading out of the first round in 2025.
The Falcons, meanwhile, sit at 4-8 heading into Week 14 and have lost six of their past seven games. Right now, that mark puts Atlanta’s pick at No. 9 in the draft — an incredible spot for the Rams, who are careening toward the playoffs.
There are still five weeks left in the season, though. The Falcons’ pick isn’t set in stone yet and could move around the board as the rest of the year rolls on.
So, where could this pick land by year’s end? ESPN’s Football Power Index, which predicts the draft order by simulating the remainder of the season 10,000 times, gives the Rams a 73.3% chance to earn a top-10 pick from the Falcons. The team’s average draft position based on these simulations is 8.9, which is closer to the No. 9 pick. L.A. also has a 9.0% chance to earn a top-five pick.
No matter which way you look at it, either pick is a tremendous haul for the Rams in a deep draft. With that pick, L.A. could go quarterback early if they wanted a young success to Matthew Stafford, snag a top offensive lineman, grab the best cornerback, or even add to their offense in other ways.
We won’t know for sure where the Rams will pick in 2026 until the season ends. But for now, the Rams are looking at a quality selection on top of their own pick for next year’s draft.
As for their other pick, the FPI has the Rams’ average draft slot around No. 31, which is to be expected for a playoff team looking toward a deep postseason run.