Jan. 18, 2026, 8:51 a.m. PT

As the Los Angeles Rams prepare for the divisional round, the 2026 NFL draft draws nearer.

L.A. currently owns 10 picks: Two in the first round, two in the third round, one in the fifth round, two in the sixth round and three in the seventh round.

General manager Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay can go in a few different directions throughout the draft, but a lot of it will hinge on what the team does in free agency first and what quarterback Matthew Stafford decides to do for his career. Some of those decisions could change, too, depending on what unfolds during the rest of the NFL postseason — starting today in the NFC divisional round.

Pro Football Network’s Jacob Infante took a crack at a full seven-round mock draft with a few months before the real one in April and took a relatively conservative approach for the Rams. He tackled the clear and most likely needs for L.A. heading into the 2026 season, namely at defensive back and offensive line. The Rams used two picks on linemen and three on defensive backs, with a sprinkling of other positions throughout.

Here’s a quick rundown of the mock draft for the Rams from Infante:

Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.1.13 (via Falcons): OT Caleb Lomu, Utah1.29: CB Brandon Cisse, South Carolina3.61: WR Antonio Williams, Clemson3.93: LB Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech5.167: QB Cole Payton, North Dakota State6.205 (via Texans): CB Avery Smith, Toledo6.208: RB Noah Whittington, Oregon7.232 (via Ravens): S Xavier Nwankpa, Iowa7.250: OG Ar’maj Reed-Adams, Texas A&M7.256: DT Landon Robinson, Navy

On Lomu: “Caleb Lomu is a smooth, polished left tackle who didn’t allow a single sack in 382 pass-blocking reps during the 2025 regular season. His hand timing, balance, and range in pass protection make him a top offensive tackle prospect and a worthy first-round selection in this 2026 NFL Mock Draft.”

On Cisse: “He’s a freak athlete with good coverage instincts, allowing him to explode out of his breaks and act on his reads with more efficiency than most cornerbacks. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him make his way into the first round as he does in this 2026 NFL Mock Draft.”

Notably, the Rams wait until the fifth round to find a quarterback. This assumes, then, that Stafford returns of the Rams find a different solution for his succession. NDSU quarterback Cole Payton, the pick from Infante in the fifth round, threw for 2,719 passing yards and 16 touchdowns with four interceptions. He also rushed for 777 yards and 13 touchdowns. That dual-threat capability is intriguing to input into McVay’s offense, even if he’s just a developmental backup to start.

The two other exciting picks came in the third round: Clemson receiver Antonio Williams and Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez.

Williams had a solid college career at Clemson, finishing with 208 receptions for 2,336 yards and 21 touchdowns in four seasons with the Tigers. Williams led the ACC with 11 receiving touchdowns in 2024, but only play in 10 games this year due to a hamstring injury. He finished with 55 receptions for 604 yards and four touchdowns in 2025.

Rodriguez, meanwhile, would be an exciting role player on the defense. A four-year defensive player at Texas Tech after he transitioned from quarterback at Virginia, Rodriguez led the Big 12 in solo tackles in back-to-back seasons. He finished his college career with 179 solo tackles and 317 combined tackles. In 2025, Rodriguez also had 11 tackles for a loss, one sack, four interceptions and an FBS-leading seven forced fumbles. He would be a fun player to plug into the defense alongside Nate Landman.

This would be a fun and exciting class for the Rams if it came to fruition. While it’s not flashy, the group includes a lot of players who could start immediately if needed in 2026.