early mock drafts & draft talk, 2026

canadaram wrote:

If this is truly a CB-heavy draft I hope that the Rams pick 3 of them. I was disappointed that they ignored the position in last year’s draft. Of course, my mind could change depending on what they do in the FA/trade market, but both the secondary and ST need an influx of talent and multiple CB’s would obviously help both areas if they find some good ones. I still expect a CB and an offensive playmaker (most likely WR) in the first round, but I would not bristle if they picked two CB’s in the first.

wv wrote:

I keep reading that the Dolphins at 11, and the Cowboys at 12 are looking to add a CB.

This is annoying.

w
v

Except this is a really deep draft at CB. It’s not as flashy at the top as some CB drafts, but it’s solid. Rams need to add more than one anyway. They may not get the best one but they need to get at least 2 good 1s, and they can.

***

CBs seen as going in rounds 1 through 3….alphabetical

This is after day 2 of the Combine

descriptions are taken from 2 articles:

https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2026/story/_/id/47978529/2026-nfl-combine-top-draft-prospects-workouts-risers-40-every-position

https://theramswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/rams/2026/02/27/nfl-combine-cornerback-prospects-rams-watch/88886079007/?taid=69a181817abc6e0001a5d9e3&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=twitter

…

Mansoor Delane and Jermod McCoy did not to participate in drills

Brandon Cisse, South Carolina … 6′ 189

1. Cisse should be a target for the Rams at the end of the first round. He’s one of the best corners in this class, bringing great athleticism to the table. His ball skills leave something to be desired but everywhere else, he’s really impressive.

At the combine on Friday, he should wow scouts with his athleticism, potentially sending his stock higher. Plus, his ability in run support gives him an edge over some other corners.

2. Hamstring tightness while warming up for the 40-yard dash ended Cisse’s day before he could run or showcase his talents in positional drills, but he impressed in his jumps before shutting it down. Cisse (6 feet, 189 pounds) hit 41 inches on his vertical leap and 10-foot-11 on the broad jump — both excellent numbers for the likely first-rounder. He’ll run the 40-yard dash and do positional drills at South Carolina’s pro day March 17. — Miller

Tacario Davis, Washington … 6’4 194

1. If the Rams are looking for some size on the outside to help replace Ahkello Witherspoon, Davis should warrant some consideration. He’s 6-4, 200 pounds, which is wiry for a defensive back but helps him in coverage. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein sees him as a better zone corner than man defender, making him a good fit for the Rams. With his slimmer frame, run support isn’t a strong suit of Davis’, but the Rams need guys who can cover first and stop the run second.

2. Davis is one of the most uniquely built players in this class, standing at 6-foot-4 and 194 pounds. He ran a 4.41 40, an excellent time for a player of his stature and an important data point for teams that prioritize his traits — length, ball-disruption skills and ability to play press coverage (he has logged 267 snaps of press over the past three seasons). Though Davis won’t fit every scheme, there will be a subset of teams that I believe will value him as soon as the third round. — Yates

Daylen Everette, CB, Georgia … 6’1 196

Everette caught my eye early in the cornerback workouts and continued that performance all the way through. At 6-foot-1, 196 pounds, he ran an impressive 4.36 40-yard dash. His jumps were equally great, as he jumped 37½ inches in the vertical and 10-foot-4 in the broad jump. Everette is viewed as a midround prospect, carrying lots of Round 3 grades from scouts that I have talked to. A scheme-versatile corner, he’s best suited for teams that specialize in zone coverage but occasionally mix in man-to-man principles. — Reid

Colton Hood, Tennessee … 6′ 193

1. Hood isn’t the biggest cornerback at 5-foot-11 but he plays the position physically and is a willing tackler in run support. Though he gets overlooked sometimes by his teammate Jermod McCoy, Hood is excellent in coverage and has impressive aggressiveness on the outside. Look for him to be a late first-round pick or early second-rounder, right in the range of when the Rams pick at No. 29.

2. Hood entered the combine building off a strong Senior Bowl week. He has first-round measurables and added first-round numbers in the 40 (4.44 seconds), vertical jump (40½ inches) and broad jump (10-foot-5). Hood is a press-man coverage cornerback at 6 feet and 193 pounds with the broad shoulders to stack up receivers at the line of scrimmage. He is in the mix to be the third cornerback off the board and could land as a top-20 selection. — Miller

Chris Johnson, San Diego State … 6′ 193

1. Johnson should intrigue the Rams with his inside-outside versatility, showing the ability to play on the boundary or in the slot. For a team that likes to move defenders around, that’s an asset. Plus, he was downright dominant in coverage last season, allowing just 18 catches on 43 targets for a total of 185 yards. He didn’t give up a single touchdown catch and picked off four passes. As a second-round prospect, Johnson fits what the Rams should be looking for at the cornerback position.

2. Johnson is creating buzz in league circles and should be included in the first tier of this year’s CB class. At 6 feet, 194 pounds, the biggest question Johnson needed to answer was his long speed. By running a 4.4 40-yard dash, his answer was emphatic, and he continued his ascension up draft boards. Johnson was firmly in the second-round picture entering the combine, but it shouldn’t be surprising if he sneaks into the back end of Round 1. — Reid

Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas … 6′ 182

One great aspect of the combine is checking a box to clear questions on a player. Muhammad (6 feet, 182 pounds) was a player whose film showed questionable long speed, but his 40 time of 4.42 seconds should quiet those concerns. He also showed smooth transitions and good overall body control during position drills. Muhammad had only three interceptions in his college career, but his technique and length are those of a late Day 2 pick. — Miller

D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana … 5’9 182

1. Ponds will stir up a lot of debate among evaluators because of his smaller stature. He’s only 5-9, which is undersized for a boundary cornerback, but what he lacks in height he makes up for in competitiveness and technique. The national champion corner was one of the best in the country last season, and though he’ll likely need to move inside in the NFL, there’s no reason to believe he won’t be able to make that transition. He’s plenty physical enough to cover the slot and help in run support.

2. If I had to pick a team consisting of my favorite players to watch on tape in this class, Ponds would be a starting cornerback. The 5-foot-9, 182-pounder is a ball of fury when attacking off the slot or matching up against No. 1 receivers down the field (just watch him against Denzel Boston in 2024). Ponds’ ridiculous 43½-inch vertical jump was the best of any cornerback and helps us understand why he has been so good in 50/50 situations despite limited height. Ponds did not run the 40, but his vertical and on-field drills cemented why he’s a top-50 player on my board. — Miller

Keionte Scott, Miami … 5’11 193

If the Rams want a fiery and physical corner, Scott is their guy. He’s like a bulldog in the secondary, always willing to mix it up and stick his nose in the action at the line of scrimmage. That play style sets the tone for the entire defense, which carries value. Last season alone, he had 13 tackles for a loss, five sacks and two interceptions, both of which were returned for touchdowns.

As a slot defender, Scott plays like a safety and can cover like a corner.

Avieon Terrell, Clemson … 5’11 186

1. Terrell lacks some size at 5-11 but he’s excellent in coverage and is position-versatile as a nickel in the slot or a boundary corner. After Delane and McCoy, he might be the highest-rated corner in the draft, especially for teams that are looking for guys with position flexibility.

The brother of Falcons standout corner A.J. Terrell, Avieon is likely to be a Day 1 starter in the NFL, potentially for the Rams if they see him as the best corner available when they go on the clock.

2. Terrell participated in only on-field drills, but he was among the best of the corner group. After having zero interceptions last season, his true ball skills were a question entering the combine. But he showed plenty of comfort with attacking and snatching the ball out of the air Friday. He also displayed excellent hip mobility to turn and transition out of his breaks. Terrell has been labeled as a fringe first-rounder, but I believe the 5-foot-11, 186-pounder will be a top-20 pick. Circle Clemson’s pro day on March 12, as Terrell is expected to participate in all testing and drills and potentially get in that mid-first-round range. — Reid

Drafted FBS TEs to exceed 0.125 1st downs per route run in their last college season, since 2020:

2020 – Kyle Pitts
2021 – Trey McBride
2022 – Dalton Kincaid, Matthew Meyer
2023 – Brock Bowers
2024 – Harold Fannin, Tyler Warren, Colston Loveland
2025 – Eli Stowers, TANNER KOZIOL… pic.twitter.com/BmZl3D2w2b

— Ethan Kreager (@EthanKreagerFF) February 22, 2026

zn wrote:

AJ Schulte@AJSchulteFB
Colton Hood is putting on a show so far in drills.

Outstanding day imo

He and Terrell both backing up the first round status today.

Smooth as butter

Dane Brugler@dpbrugler
Chris Johnson is currently No. 38 in my top-100. Sticky cover man w/ instincts.

Low 4.4s speed, 38″ vert, 10’6″ broad

One of “my guys” in this class.

the more i read the more i think the rams should trade down.

zn wrote:

Ponds’ ridiculous 43½-inch vertical jump was the best of any cornerback and helps us understand why he has been so good in 50/50 situations despite limited height.

D'Angelo Ponds just TIED Sonny Styles' vertical jump 😳

🐰 Vertical Jump:
Ponds – 43.5
Styles – 43.5

📏 Height:
Ponds – 5' 9''
Styles – 6' 5' pic.twitter.com/2t1uekhmq7

— DraftKings (@DraftKings) February 27, 2026

jeff caldwell. a name to keep an eye on.

We have to stop sleeping on Cincinnati WR Jeff Caldwell. We have to stop. A consensus UDFA? Joke.

Best route runner at the Senior Bowl & hammering a 4.32 40 at the NFL Combine

Height: 6'5"
Weight: 216
Arm Length: 32 5/8"
Hand Size: 9 3/4"pic.twitter.com/x8uoNlcb1b

— Clint Goss (@NFLDraftDome) February 28, 2026

Arkansas RB Mike Washington Jr. was emotional after running a 4.33 in the 40-yard dash, the top time at RB this year.

NFL Network's Stacey Dales: "He broke down in tears again with me. He said, 'I'm so emotional… I've worked my whole life for this.'"pic.twitter.com/fRBP6zDb0J

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 28, 2026

ok. i’m just gonna put this out there right now. i’d like to see the rams draft one of either kenyon sadiq or eli stowers. either they pick sadiq at 13 or stowers at 29 (i don’t think he gets to the bottom of the second). and then draft dbs with the other first rounder and the second rounder. maybe even a third with the third rounder.

sadiq and stowers are both not only athletic freaks, but their character and mentality are off the charts too. it would give them three big and athletic tight ends in one of the rookies plus ferguson and parkinson. plus they’d have allen. they could really look into the 13 personnel packages. plus either ferguson or the rookie could be big wide receivers as well. it’d potentially be a matchup nightmare. nacua, adams, ferguson, and sadiq/stowers would be scary good. even in the run game.

they’d still have enough draft capital to address the secondary which is supposed to be deep this year.

that’s what’s on my mind right now just football wise.

zn wrote:

I’m torn, but I think they should trade up from 13, but once they do, I don’t know if they should take Greg Robinson, Jason Smith, or Adam Carriker. Of course they could also get Lawrence Phillips.

i know all this speculating is kinda silly, but i can’t help it. haha. something to tide me over until the draft.

i was also thinking if love somehow drops to 13, rams should pick him. they already have two capable running backs, but he would add an explosive element to the run game that’s been lacking. also. love has played some slot receiver in college. i could see him lining up as a slot in 11 personnel while also switching out with williams and corum in the backfield.

the rams have been confirmed to have met with him. could be a smokescreen.

zn wrote:

I wasn’t making fun of you!

i took no offense.

i understand going corner with the first pick. that was my thinking a month ago.

i just see sadiq as being worth forgoing the smart pick. watching interviews. watching clips of him blocking. this guy could line up anywhere. he played wr primarily in high school and converted in college. i think he’d elevate everyone around him. selfless player. but athletically out of this world.