With the 2025 NFL Draft just 17 days away, pro days are over and everyone from front office members to analysts have gotten an extended look at the player pool.
Here are the latest projections for what the Rams will do with pick No. 26, with many analysts predicting L.A. could trade back to the end of the first round or beginning of the second to accumulate more picks:
The 6-foot-6, 248-pound tight end is a matchup nightmare, towering over defensive backs and outpacing linebackers in coverage. His 56 catches last season broke the single-season record for a Michigan tight end, as he finished with 582 yards and five touchdowns in 10 games.
With Rams 32-year-old tight end Tyler Higbee entering the last year of his contract, Loveland could be the future of the position for L.A.
"The Rams could go 10 different directions here, so this is not an easy pick to figure out," Fornelli wrote. "Here I have them taking Colston Loveland, who is strong enough as a blocker to work in Sean McVay's offense, and versatile enough as a receiving threat to flourish in the passing game, too."
Feldman predicts the Browns will trade picks No. 33 and 94 in exchange for the Rams' 26th overall pick, which would give L.A. three third-round picks (Nos. 90, 94 and 101). Thomas is an athletic, lengthy corner with solid ball skills and was plenty productive for Florida State last season.
Thomas allowed a 50.2 passer rating when targeted, ranking third in the Atlantic Coast Conference and 27th in the FBS among qualified cornerbacks, according to Pro Football Focus. His 141 yards allowed was the fewest in the entire country among corners with at least 300 coverage snaps (he had 357). And at just 20 years old, he's got plenty of room for improvement.
"The Rams hit the jackpot last year on two former Seminoles, Jared Verse and Braden Fiske," Feldman wrote. "The 6-1 1/2, 197-pound Thomas, who has 32 3/8-inch arms, is a long, lanky, fluid coverman whose former defensive coordinator at FSU thought he was a real ballhawk and a very savvy player."
Reuter has the Rams trading the No. 26 pick to L.A. in exchange for picks No. 32 and 96, giving the Rams three third-round picks, similar to Feldman's mock trade. Bond played at Alabama for two seasons, accumulating 65 catches for 888 yards and five touchdowns in 27 games. At Texas last year, he caught 34 passes for 540 yards and five touchdowns in 14 games.
The 5-foot-11, 180-pound speedster ran a 4.39 40-yard dash at the combine and his film displays crisp routes that create consistent separation. His addition would add another big-play receiver to a Rams offense that will look somewhat different next year.
"Matthew Stafford can never have too many targets," Reuter wrote. "Bond splits time in the slot with Tutu Atwell while Davante Adams bedevils secondaries outside."
Yates has the Rams selecting this year's 40-yard dash champion with a time of 4.28 seconds, and Hairston's play speed supports that performance. Over the past two seasons, Hairston has six interceptions in 20 games played, and he returned three for touchdowns.
The 5-foot-11, 183-pound corner possesses a rare combination of speed and ball skills that could provide big-play ability in coverage, on the inside or outside.
"Hairston would bring natural man coverage skills and rare speed to the Rams," Yates wrote. "... And Hairston's speed makes it difficult for receivers to challenge him downfield because he can still catch up even if he loses them at the line of scrimmage. He also has a playmaker mentality that led to an SEC-best five interceptions in 2023, two of which were returned for touchdowns in the same game."
Cameron also has the Rams selecting Loveland in his latest mock draft for PFF. Loveland continues to be a popular first-round projection for Los Angeles throughout the pre-draft process. Loveland's blend of size and athleticism could add a dynamic element to the Rams' offense at the tight end position, giving them more options offensively.
"With Tyler Higbee entering his age-32 season — a contract year — and coming off a vicious knee injury that sidelined him for most of the 2024 campaign, the Rams could look to add a dynamic receiving threat at the tight end position," Cameron wrote. "While this team doesn't run a significant rate of 12 personnel (15% prior to Higbee's return), they did experience a 5 percentage-point increase after Higbee's return to the lineup, which helped to diversify the offense and amplify production. They could lean more into that approach in 2025 with Loveland."
