{"id":865848,"date":"2026-04-14T00:24:36","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T00:24:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/865848\/"},"modified":"2026-04-14T00:24:36","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T00:24:36","slug":"rams-3-round-mock-draft-finding-matthew-staffords-successor-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/865848\/","title":{"rendered":"Rams 3-round mock draft: Finding Matthew Stafford\u2019s successor in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite making the blockbuster trade of the NFL offseason\u2014for all-pro corner Trent McDuffie\u2014the Los Angeles Rams still find themselves with a full slate of picks in each of the draft\u2019s first three rounds. LA also has a combined four picks in the final two rounds.<\/p>\n

We know you pretty much only care about the first three picks, so we might as well only keep our attention on them.<\/p>\n

Who should the Rams target at these spots? This is my mock draft for the first three rounds.<\/p>\n

I personally find it boring that the Rams would use their highest draft pick since 2016 on an offensive lineman; however, the draft board is shifting out of their favor<\/a> and Fano could realistically be the best player remaining. Carnell Tate and Makai Lemon could be off the board at receiver. From a corner perspective, Mansoor Delane and Jermod McCoy seem to be safe top 12 picks at this point.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not to take anything away from Fano. The Rams don\u2019t have an immediate need along the offensive line unless Fano could somehow top Coleman Shelton on the depth chart as a rookie. This is a move for the future and flies in the face of LA\u2019s all-in approach, unless the injury bug strikes.<\/p>\n

Fano will find his path to playing time sooner than later. He can play any of the starting five positions and is a powerful player. It\u2019s a great problem to have too many good offensive linemen.<\/p>\n

\"LAWRENCE,<\/a><\/p>\n

LAWRENCE, KS – NOVEMBER 28: Utah Utes offensive lineman Spencer Fano (55) after a Big 12 football game between the Utah Utes and Kansas Jayhawks on November 28, 2025 at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, KS. (Photo by Scott Winters\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Icon Sportswire via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State<\/p>\n

If Ted Hurst played at a major college program he would easily be a first-round pick. I believe that with every bone in my body.<\/p>\n

Hurst has yet to turn 22 and is listed at 6-3 and 207 pounds. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds. Does he always use his size and speed to its maximum advantage? No. However, he\u2019s recently added bulk to his frame and could still be figuring out who he is as a player.<\/p>\n

There is no better landing spot for Hurst than Los Angeles. He can contribute as a role player during his rookie year and learn from one of the best receivers in the history of football in Davante Adams. Adams can help Hurst learn leverage and adapt to the professional game.<\/p>\n

\"Nov<\/a><\/p>\n

Nov 1, 2024; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; Georgia State Panthers wide receiver Ted Hurst (16) makes the catch against the Connecticut Huskies in the second half at Rentschler Field at Pratt & Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images David Butler II-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Drew Allar, QB, Penn State<\/p>\n

Penn State deserves more blame than the player<\/a> for Allar potentially falling to the third round.<\/p>\n

If you built a quarterback in a lab from a physical standpoint, Allar is what your creation would look like. He checks every box from a size and arm perspective. Is he a good quarterback? Well, he wasn\u2019t in college. Penn State also failed to surround him with strong coaching, adequate protection, and pass catchers outside of Tyler Warren.<\/p>\n

The odds aren\u2019t in Allar\u2019s favor that he ever grows into a Pro Bowl quarterback. Still, the Rams aren\u2019t in a position where they urgently need to replace Matthew Stafford. They have the luxury of time and can afford to take half measures to see what comes of them. Allar is the perfect buy-low candidate in the journey to futureproof the quarterback position in Los Angeles. The Rams have used third round picks in much worse ways recently.<\/p>\n

\"INDIANAPOLIS,<\/a><\/p>\n

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 28: Drew Allar #QB02 of Penn State participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Cooper Neill\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n

Which needs went unaddressed?<\/p>\n

In this mock draft the Rams were able to add much-needed depth to receiver and offensive tackle. Hurst has a path to playing time and could take over for Davante Adams\u2019 role in 2027. Fano uniquely has the ability to play multiple spots along the offensive line and could save Los Angeles from paying top dollar on a contract extension to Steve Avila or Warren McClendon. This is not a sexy pick but it keeps options open moving forward.<\/p>\n

Allar is a low-risk, high-upside selection that will be afforded time to sit behind and learn from Matthew Stafford. Is it likely that Allar is Stafford\u2019s heir apparent? Probably not. However, he was once projected as a top quarterback and the Rams are buying him at his lowest price. He has all the traits you look for in an NFL passer, but needs to play his best football at the professional level.<\/p>\n

This mock, of course, does not address important needs such as corner and linebacker. Even though the Rams added McDuffie and Jaylen Watson this offseason, they still must add bodies in the cornerback room.<\/p>\n

Late sixth and seventh round picks are more developmental pieces or for finding special teams contributors. They likely won\u2019t affect the depth chart in a meaningful way. The Rams cannot patch every remaining weakness with three picks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Despite making the blockbuster trade of the NFL offseason\u2014for all-pro corner Trent McDuffie\u2014the Los Angeles Rams still find…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":865849,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2079],"tags":[7,1014,58,2619,16484,2444,2611,6,424],"class_list":{"0":"post-865848","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-los-angeles-rams","8":"tag-football","9":"tag-los-angeles","10":"tag-los-angeles-rams","11":"tag-los-angeles-rams-draft","12":"tag-los-angeles-rams-mock-drafts","13":"tag-losangeles","14":"tag-losangelesrams","15":"tag-nfl","16":"tag-rams"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116400219480996120","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/865848","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=865848"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/865848\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/865849"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=865848"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=865848"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=865848"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}