The 2026 NFL Draft is still a ways away, but that doesn’t mean we can’t predict how many compensatory picks the Los Angeles Rams could have.
This past draft, the Rams earned one compensatory pick (No. 101 overall) after Raheem Morris left to become the Atlanta Falcons head coach. L.A. sent that pick to the Falcons in the first-round trade back.
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Compensatory picks given to “teams that end up with more qualifying free agents lost than gained in a particular year” and are “based on a league formula that takes into account a player’s average salary per year (APY), snap count and postseason awards,” according to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein.
Since the Rams lost three key free agents (Michael Hoecht to the Bills, Bobby Brown III to the Panthers and Demarcus Robinson to the 49ers) and only added two (Poona Ford and Coleman Shelton), Zierlein predicts the Rams will pick up an additional sixth- or seventh-round pick.
“GM Les Snead has had some famous quotes regarding draft picks, but it’s easier to shuffle them around when you are gaining so many compensatory selections,” Zierlein wrote. “The Rams have been awarded 15 compensatory picks dating back to 2022 thanks to their free-agent maneuvering and the hirings of Brad Holmes (Lions GM) and Raheem Morris (Falcons head coach). In 2026, the Rams are in line for either a sixth- or seventh-round pick, depending on the usage of Robinson by the 49ers.”
Over The Cap has the same estimation.
This isn’t a huge haul for L.A., but Snead can use the additional late-round draft capital in any subsequent moves. And more is always better than less when it comes to that.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: Rams could to earn one late-round compensatory pick