The Los Angeles Rams didn’t want to be in this scenario. Had they done just a couple of things differently in the offseason and even during the season, they would be preparing for Super Bowl LX against the New England Patriots.
Instead, they are now stuck tasting the bitter pill of defeat and regret. Missing out on another Super Bowl in back-to-back seasons (I am fully confident if they beat the Philadelphia Eagles in 24-25, they would have handily made the Super Bowl) has put the team in a bit of a quandary this offseason, with multiple different options available to them.
What are the different stages they could approach in the offseason, and how would each shape their strategy atop the 2026 NFL Draft?
Los Angeles Rams 2026 3-round mock draftStrategy One: All-in with Matthew Stafford
This strategy involves the Rams simply biting the bullet on defense and going all-in defensively to plug the gaps on offense around Matthew Stafford at the top of the draft to ensure their best possible outcome, leaving basically nothing to chance.
A top skill position playmaker, in this case Makai Lemon (but any of the top three wide receivers or Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq will do) to help give them another serious threat on offense and to be the long-term heir to Davante Adams on the outside can give Stafford three elite options at receiver.
The team needs to boost their pass protection at tackle in the offseason. I don’t think Stafford’s protection at tackle was particularly up to snuff at either tackle spots this season, despite the Rams signing Alaric Jackson to a contract extension in the offseason. I am hoping they learned from Joe Noteboom and won’t ink Warren McClendon to a deal, and I wouldn’t leave anything to chance. If they have a chance to get a clear upgrade at either spot, they should.
As an aside, they would never take a linebacker this early, but hey, a man can dream.
Advertisement
Strategy Two: Run It Back (with some upgrades)
In this scenario, the Rams do the inverse of strategy one, but instead opt to run it back offensively and go big on defense in the draft.
Adding a cornerback is a must. Adding two or more would probably be a good idea as well, as that room needs a complete and utter overhaul. I also don’t think the safety room was particularly good, especially down the stretch of the season, and Quentin Lake’s playoff regression makes me moderately concerned about their nickel spot heading into next season.
I won’t be convinced the team will prioritize linebacker until I actually see them do it, but Kyle Louis is the type of player they need to add to the room with his coverage chops.
Advertisement
Strategy Three: The big red reset button at QB
In my opinion, this is the least likely option, but there’s enough out there to warrant this conversation. What happens if Matthew Stafford hangs it up in the offseason? This is easily the worst-case scenario for the Rams. You do not want to be out looking for a quarterback in this offseason. However, desperate times call for desperate measures, and the Rams will be desperate for anything here.
Knowing the Rams, I suspect that they would much rather trade for a quarterback then try for a rookie, but there’s no real candidates for another Matthew Stafford-esque blockbuster. In this scenario, I suspect they would try for a reclamation project for the 2026 season and play for the 2027 NFL Draft’s much stronger crop of quarterback. If they do, their best bet would be to load up the offense around him much like in scenario one, so that both he and whoever their next quarterback would be would have the highest chance of success.
Advertisement
This story was originally published by A to Z Sports on Feb 1, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add A to Z Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.