One of the strongest aspects of the Los Angeles Rams is their capacity to rebuild and reload, whether through the draft or free agency. The 2025 draft was quite different from outings in the past. L.A. ended with six total picks, the lowest number since General Manager Les Snead and Head Coach Sean McVay were paired up in 2017.

Trading their Round 1 pick wasn’t necessarily out of form for the Rams, but the recompense was, the Atlanta Falcons 1st pick in 2026. As the draft progressed, it seemed that the Rams manipulated the process to target certain individual players. Trade backs and ups were common as Snead and Co. filled their card. After the main work was done, L.A. inked 17 undrafted rookie free agents (UDFA).

So, how did these prospects work out?

Of the Rams six draft picks, five made the opening roster. Only off-ball linebacker Chris Paul (Rd5, #172) failed. From the undrafted ranks, off-ball linebacker Shaun Dolac was the sole opening roster placement. As the season progressed, wide receiver (WR) Brennan Presley emerged (to date) as the lone practice squad rookie to earn a weekly elevation.

With the season down to a handful of games, let’s update their progress.

198 offensive reps – 54 special teams reps

The Rams have brought their top draft pick around slowly. He was inactive in two of the first five weeks of the season, and hardly saw the field in the other three (eight total offensive reps). Beginning in Week 6, L.A. started using him in the TE rotation and he built up to 45 snaps in last Sunday’s win over the Arizona Cardinals. With Tyler Higbee out indefinitely, TFerg should be in line for a continuation of elevated snap counts.

Ferguson has been used mainly as a Rams deep threat and although he’s only corralled five of 15 targets, he’s been good for 27.6 yards per catch and has a 31-yard touchdown.

Fans are excited about what little they have seen, and rightfully so. Ferguson is smooth and fluid into routes and can get downfield in a hurry. He’s done well creating separation on routes, using his stride and speed on linebackers and height and wingspan on safeties. I noticed he got his hand placement mixed up on a few targets and they clanked off incomplete. It’s part of the learning process, NFL defenders are adept at locking down receiver’s arms. Blocking is a work in progress, but Ferguson held his own last week in an extended effort (45 snaps).

313 defensaive reps – 91 special teams reps

Stewart has proven to be a very good Round 3 decision, end of Round 3 at that. The Rams have tossed him into the deep end as rookie and he’s navigated the waters, playing 36% of reps as the primary edge backup. DC Shula has not been apprehensive about moving him around the formation, akin to his more experienced players. While his stats are not glossy, 18 tackles, two for loss and a pair of sacks to go along with three QB knockdowns and five pressure, they would extrapolate out to a solid full season. He’s only missed one tackle and allowed a Passer Rating of 56.2 when dropping into coverage.

The question of how Stewart would fare as a full-time NFL starter doesn’t have to be answered until after next season. Ahead of that, he gets another year to learn the pro game behind two very good edge players, Jared Verse and Byron Young. Will he turn out to be special? Possibly, with his effort-based play style and continued education in the pro game. But as a prospect I would say his floor is higher than his ceiling. A solid pro.

0 offensive reps – 4 special teams reps

Not a lot to report. Hunter showed glimpses of an NFL running back in preseason and made the opening roster, but has been active in only five games and has not recorded a stat. There were some calls for Hunter early in the season when L.A. had minor injury problems on the offensive line and the run game was hit-and-miss. As the L.A. rush attack gelled, the calls for Hunter have quieted.

He’s still a fit for the Rams downhill, between the tackles run game, it’s just going to be very hard to argue for reps while Kyren Williams and Blake Corum are “ham and egging” the rotation so well. Best case scenario for play time is the Rams will have another situation where they can sit the regulars in the final weekend and Hunter can get a chance to show out.

Looking forward to next year, it’s hard to make a case expecting more much play time than what Hunter has right now unless he can break through on special teams. It will likely take an injury to Williams or Corum to get into the rotation. It may be the case that if he gets that break, he’ll be hard to move out, but he’ll have to show patience until that day comes.

103 defensive reps – 0 special teams reps

Active in 11 of 13 games, a healthy scratch in Week 1 and last Sunday’s blowout of the Arizona Cardinals. Hamilton has been consistently logging 10 snaps per game and for the year has 12 tackles and two quarterback hits.

The Rams, under Raheem Morris and now Mike Shula, started moving away from and now use very little of the 3-4 base from 2017-2021 Wade Phillips and Brandon Staley days. Hamilton was a force in college because he was stronger than everyone else. As a pro where almost every opposing lineman is strong and skilled, his future depends on improving his hand-fighting skills and filling his tool box with the requisite moves when power won’t suffice. While 12 tackles over 103 snaps extrapolates into a good full season for an interior player, he hasn’t flashed much of a pass rush presence.

Generally, he’s played like a Round 5 draft pick, which means his future is uncertain, they come and go. But in his defense, the Rams have a good defensive front rotation and he’s getting valuable on the job training without being an exploitable point of the defense.

222 offensive reps – 69 special teams reps

Most considered him an afterthought as a Round 7 draft pick, but since Week 7, even with the Rams leaning into three-tight end formations, Mumpfield has earned a fairly consistent 40 percent of offensive reps. Although his numbers are a modest five receptions for 42 yards, he’s made the most out of them with a touchdown and four first downs.

It’ almost ironic that although the Rams offense has used an extraordinaily deep rotation at receiver, that the lion’s share of targets go to two receivers, Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Mumpfield is getting his share of reps as a rookie, that hints to me that he’s doing all the “extra’s” that the WR unit has expected of them. While I’m not positive that he has a sky-high ceiling, he’s another player with a high floor and should fill L.A.’s WR#4 role for the length of his rookie contract.

42 defensive reps – 195 special teams reps

Dolac has been a fan favorite since L.A. signed him, but there just hasn’t been much room for him with the emergence of Nate Landman, the steady Omar Speights, and the Rams defensive penchant for one linebacker (over 25% in 2025) packages. While he made the opening roster and has been active in every game, most of his defensive action (35 reps) came on 10/12 versus the Baltimore Ravens, when he tallied seven tackles, one of those for loss. He does extensive special teams work and leads that squad in tackles.

There’s a lot to like with Dolac. He could challenge Speights for ILB#2 next year. His pass coverage skills could make the difference, offering the L.A. defense the better tackling of a linebacker and a coverage guy that’s not heavy-footed and readily exploitable. Rams history tells us that the re-signing of free agent safeties Quinten Lake and Kamren Curl are not guaranteed, so Dolac’s cover abilities may need to be displayed.

0 offensive reps – 4 special teams reps

Has spent the bulk of the season on the practice squad, elevated only once, for the 11/23 game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Presley fits the Tutu Atwell/Xavier Smith role at 5’ 8” 175 lb with a 4.46 forty. In college, he was Oklahoma State’s all-time receptions leader and returned both punts and kickoffs, averaging over 1000 all-purpose yards per season.

Well-polished for an undrafted player, Presley can wear a lot of hats, and he showed that in preseason games. While it’s fair to consider Atwell gone in free agency, the Rams can bring back Smith at a good price, if they so choose. At a very good price as well, Presley can offer the same WR/KR value as Smith. The X-Man may be faster, but film shows Presley to have better open-field moves. A very good insurance policy.

After a good 45-snap effort against the Arizona Cardinals, the Rams offense should be comfortable with Terrance Ferguson being a major contributor. Josiah Stewart has been steady, not flashy and his education should continue, as well as his snap counts. No reason to expect change for Jarquez Hunter. Inactive Ty Hamilton missed a good chance at extended mop-up work vs the Cardinals. Was his being inactive just a one-off? Or is there more in his future? There doesn’t seem to be enough targets to go around, leaving Konata Mumpfield to make the best of what comes his way. Shaun Dolac is destined to continue to be a special teams warrior. Finally, Brennan Presley will be limited to the practice squad unless injuries put him into play.

Which rookies do you think have had the biggest impact?