articles, vids, etc. wrapping up & assessing the Rams draft

Rams 2025 NFL Draft takeaways: Roster confidence and aiming to win now are apparent

Jourdan Rodrigue

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6312690/2025/04/26/los-angeles-rams-2025-nfl-draft-picks-takeaways/

LOS ANGELES — This year’s L.A. Rams draft had all the feel of a team fine-tuning select areas in preparation to make a real run at a championship, without losing its substance afterward.

The Rams’ six picks — including three trades up on Day 3 — are the fewest they have used since 2016. They also added a first-round pick in 2026 via Atlanta after trading out of the first round Thursday night.

This means two things are true: The Rams are confident about the backbone of their roster and assets in 2026 and beyond, but they’re going to try to win now.

Their moves in free agency — from agreeing to continued terms with star quarterback Matthew Stafford to their extension of left tackle Alaric Jackson addition of free-agent nose tackle Poona Ford, receiver Davante Adams and center Coleman Shelton — all signaled they’ll make a run at another championship this year, especially while they still have Stafford.

Their last two draft classes — five starters apiece, plus several contributing depth and undrafted free agent players — and their selective process in this year’s draft also showed they are trying to keep the bottom from falling out of their team should they go “all in” once again like they did in 2021. It means there weren’t many true needs to fill in the draft, and so the team could consolidate picks in trades up for players they really wanted whether they will contribute immediately or lend important depth.

“When you have a roster where there’s players coming back with starting experience, playing experience, that definitely allows you to — it’s less wide-open spots,” said general manager Les Snead after the Rams made their final pick. “Now, I think if it would have been a draft … where you felt like the board would have given you 14 quality players, maybe you go that route. (But) if we would have brought in 14 draft pieces, probably a hard roster to make.”

With two first-round picks next spring, a young core and future starters or quality depth added in specific areas via this draft class, the Rams are building a healthier 2026 to cushion whatever the cost of this 2025 run ultimately will be.

The picks:

No. 46, tight end Terrance Ferguson: Ferguson has already drawn “lofty” but still-unproven comparisons from head coach Sean McVay to the early movement of Chris Cooley and Travis Kelce, who McVay either coached or scouted. It’s safe to say that Ferguson, the ultra-athletic and football-savvy former Oregon Duck was one of McVay’s favorite players in this draft class.

No. 90, outside linebacker Josaiah Stewart: Another smaller-school (Coastal Carolina) to large-school (Michigan) transfer similar to the makeup of the rest of their ascending young defensive line, Stewart may be able to fill the fifth rusher role in the “Cheetah” package and beyond that was left behind by Michael Hoecht in free agency. Stewart is a high-energy player who Snead was drawn to time and again on tape.

No. 117 (via trade up with Indianapolis), running back Jarquez Hunter: A first-team All-SEC back in 2024 who gives the room a little bit of a different skill set from starter Kyren Williams and backup Blake Corum, because of his breakaway speed and chunk-yardage ability. Like both backs, Hunter runs very hard. He has a background as a powerlifter who once squatted 655 pounds before his strength coach told him to stop adding weight.

No. 148 (via trade up with Chicago), DL Ty Hamilton: The Rams gave up a future fourth-round pick and No. 195 to secure former Ohio State nose tackle Hamilton, who can add depth there behind star free agent addition Poona Ford and has experience rushing the passer.

Fans obviously don’t have to agree with it, but the Rams’ method in this draft is clear: keep building along their defensive line in order to improve their second and third levels. The priority of this team this offseason on defense has been to shore up against the run and keep adding to the pass rush.

No. 172 (via trade up with Minnesota), ILB Chris Paul Jr.: Fans rejoice. Paul is the Pick who was Promised at middle linebacker and a player with high upside for a team still seeking its identity there following the trade of former starter Ernest Jones IV last summer. Paul is an urgent and savvy player who is a sound tackler — three traits needed in the middle of the Rams’ defense.

No. 242, WR Konata Mumpfield: Described by The Athletic draft analyst Dane Brugler as a “route-running craftsman”, Mumpfield has had three consecutive 500-plus yard seasons at Pitt and self-identifies as a film junkie who understands how to manipulate space.

Best value pick

Yes, the Rams traded up for Paul at inside linebacker, a position they have devalued over the last several years, but he should be on an eventual starters track for them when he arrives in Los Angeles. They waited for a personality and effort fit (alongside consistent tackling ability) and didn’t reach on the position despite entering the draft knowing that it was a need. Paul is the first inside linebacker drafted by the Rams since they picked Jones in the third round in 2021.

Size will be an issue, but all-out play style should translate

Most surprising pick

More surprising than any selection the Rams made were their efforts to go after players they liked, via three trades up. I got the sense from Snead that he wanted to attack this year’s draft in this way, considering its overall talent limitations and the value of players they liked in the middle and later rounds. Because the Rams rebuilt most of their roster through their last two drafts, they could afford to push upward for specific players if they saw that value. Snead often calls this “hitting doubles and triples.”

“I think it was, based on our roster (and) how the board was going, players that you were really convicted to come in and contribute (in) whatever that role was,” said Snead, “and (the board) was starting to get thin, so we said, ‘You know what, instead of letting the draft happen to you, let’s go attack the draft.’

“When you do that, you have to give up some picks. But we thought that was the more appropriate thing to do as this thing evolved over the course of each round.”

Biggest question mark

The Rams will generally pick up a running back each draft, but leaving their meeting with agent Drew Rosenhaus in March still apart on a number for a potential Williams extension plus their Hunter selection does raise questions as to whether that will ultimately get done — or put pressure on Williams’ camp.

The Rams are still thin at cornerback, especially in the Star/slot where they’ve been depending on a combination of cornerback Cobie Durant and safety Quentin Lake. I would not expect the team to be quite done fiddling with the roster at this position. They also need more depth along their offensive line, and with veteran starting right tackle Rob Havenstein coming off a minor shoulder procedure, that backup spot is in focus.

Post-draft outlook

From stockpiling an extra first-round pick with their trade Thursday night to adding players like Ferguson and Hunter, plus their moves in free agency this spring and a core built out of the 2023 and 2024 draft classes, it’s clear the Rams were looking to solidify the backbone of their roster so that if they do go “all in” to make another Super Bowl run, they have depth and a still-young future on the other side.