[Elvis]

Why the Super Bowl-ready Rams may have won the 2025 NFL draft



By Gary Klein
Staff Writer
April 26, 2025

The Rams made no splashy selections.

None of the six players general manager Les Snead and coach Sean McVay chose will be penciled in as opening-game starters.

They spent three days filling out a roster that was already Super Bowl ready.

But the Rams, arguably, won the 2025 NFL draft.

And set themselves up to possibly win next year’s draft as well.

Snead protege James Gladstone, the first-year general manager of the Jacksonville Jaguars, made headlines on the first night of the draft by trading up to take cornerback/receiver Travis Hunter with the second overall pick.

But when Snead later traded to the Atlanta Falcons what for the Rams was a fairly meaningless No. 26 pick, the Rams stunningly received in return a No. 1 pick in 2026.

That means the Rams, who one day in the not-so-distant future must replace veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford, will have two first-round picks next year in a draft that could include Texas quarterback Arch Manning and others.

That means Snead — who famously uttered “F them picks” after building a Super Bowl championship team in 2021 — will have plenty of draft capital to wheel and deal with for a prospect or an established player.

And few general managers deal like Snead.

Next April marks the 10th anniversary of Snead trading up a record 14 picks to select quarterback Jared Goff with the No. 1 pick in the 2016 draft.

That deal required the Rams to give up their first-round pick, two second-round picks and a third-round pick that year and a 2017 first-round and third-round pick.

Two years later the Rams were in the Super Bowl.

In 2019, Snead packaged two first-round picks in a deal for cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Two years later the Rams won the Super Bowl.

They did that, of course, after Snead sent Goff — and two first-round draft picks — to the Detroit Lions in a 2021 trade for Stafford.

This season the Rams are expected to make another deep run in the playoffs. And if Thursday night’s trade helps the Falcons make the playoffs, the Rams’ first-round picks next year could be in the bottom third of the draft.

Regardless, it is valuable draft capital.

And if the Falcons or Rams falter, the Rams could end up with a pick in the top third.

Not that McVay acknowledged his anticipation.

“One year’s like dog years to me in coaching,” he said, chuckling, “That’s a long way away.”

After making that trade on the first night of the draft, the Rams spent Friday and Saturday augmenting a talented roster with their fewest selections since the Goff trade left them with only six in 2016.

They took Oregon tight end Terrance Ferguson in the second round, Michigan outside linebacker Josaiah Stewart in the third, Auburn running back Jarquez Hunter in the fourth, Ohio State defensive tackle Ty Hamilton and Mississippi linebacker Chris Paul Jr. in the fifth and Pittsburgh receiver Konata Mumpfield in the seventh.

The Rams traded up three times.

“We said, ‘instead of waiting,’ and I call it, let the draft happen to you, ‘let’s go attack the draft,’” Snead said. “And when you do that you have to give up some picks. But we thought that was the more appropriate thing to do.”

No, the Rams did not draft a cornerback.

But that only makes it more apparent that a potential reunion with Ramsey might be imminent.

Coming on the heels of the Rams’ success in the previous two drafts, this class projects to include multiple contributors for a team that advanced to the NFC divisional round last season before losing to the eventual Super Bowl-champion Philadelphia Eagles.

With Stafford entering his 17th NFL season, and rising stars such as receiver Puka Nacua, Kobie Turner, Jared Verse and other young players soon becoming eligible for extensions, the Rams are going all in next season.

And they will do the same in 2026, when the NFL season will end with Super Bowl LXI at SoFi Stadium.

[Dare]

The Ram's had a plan that exceeded their own expectations. Not only did they succeed in filling the last holes in the roster, but even more significantly, they have tremendously improved their 2026 draft to complete their transition to the sustainable SB competitor organization that they wanted to become when they started the process in 2023.

Ferguson is a worthy successor to Higbee. Last year showed how badly they missed their starting TE once Higbee was lost. Ferguson has speed, toughness, hands, and the ability to run more than a basic TE route tree. I can easily see him getting up to speed during the year with rotational game reps. His only weakness is his blocking which is a matter of strength (hitting the gym) and improved technique (good coaching). He should be a finished product in 2026 as a very capable starter.

Stewart brings a different skillset to the rotational edge position vacated by Hoecht. Michael was big, fast and strong. Stewart doesn't have the long speed of Hoecht, but IMO he's quicker off the snap. He brings much improved hand play than Hoecht and poses an entirely different level of threat than Verse and Young. Josaiah plays smart and his film shows him playing smart and very much aware of the play development. It makes him better at the POA than Hoecht. Stewart gives Shula an early down rotational option for Young and Verse.

Hunter is exactly the type of RB I have envisioned the Rams taking in terms of his run style. McVay said it best when he described Hunter as a RB that will run through you then run away from you. Next year I see them taking a QB in the first round but they simply need a mobile QB not a running QB. With Hunter they will have that true ground threat to hit HRs if the defense makes a mistake. Defenses will have to account for Hunter every time he's on the field. He's a difference maker they haven't had since Gurley at the position. Like Gurley he's a capable receiving threat as well.

The Rams signed Ford for one specific trait. He's very good vs the run, being able to stack and shed, something Brown was never able to do. In Hamilton they have a NT that will develop into not just a situational run stuffer, but a true 3 down player. Ty has shown he's well on his way as a run stuffing NT and being paired with Ford will help him add polish to his game. But unlike Ford, Hamilton shows some serious potential as a pass rusher as well. That part is more developmental and will come as he gets coached up. But IMO the Rams have their long term NT who will be tough vs both run and pass. I really like this pick as it's been a consistent need since they lost both Gaines and Donald.

Paul is the type of ILB they have been searching for in Rozeboom and Hummel. With Paul, DC Shula has the makings of a very good and versatile ILB group of Landman, Speights and Paul. What I like about Paul is his ability to play coverage. He looks to have good play recognition skills and has the speed and quickness to play as a coverage ILB. If Shula elects to do so, he could play Landman on early run downs paired with Speights. On passing downs he can pull Landman and play Paul along with Speights giving them basically the same advantage of playing a 3rd safety in the box (as he did with Lake). This will allow Shula more flexibility in how he plays his secondary without sacrificing coverage.

Mumpfield as I've posted previously, looks like the essence of what some call a possession WR. He's got average length and long speed. But he's the guy that thrives in the short and intermediate zone where McVay loves to cook with his passing game. It's the role that Kupp began to adopt once Nacua emerged. Mumpfield will IMO replace Atwell on many plays, because he's specifically a chain mover in terms of how he plays. With Nacua, Whittington and Mumpfield, Sean will have the WRs he wants to run his style of pass offense. Think of it this way, Whittington can play the same role as Woods played taking the safeties deep. Nacua will work the intermediate zone that Kupp dominated at. Mumpfield along with Ferguson will work the short and intermediate zones to move the chains. It's why I see Mumpfield more than a depth player. I see him becoming a key part of McVay's scheme.

Oh yeah I loved this draft. The Rams have gotten better because of it and the second part of this draft will come in next year's draft.

[PARAM]

The Rams made no splashy selections.

None of the six players general manager Les Snead and coach Sean McVay chose will be penciled in as opening-game starters.

They spent three days filling out a roster that was already Super Bowl ready.

But the Rams, arguably, won the 2025 NFL draft.

And set themselves up to possibly win next year’s draft as well.

That about says it all, in 60 words or less.

[ramsww]

That about says it all, in 60 words or less.

Can’t agree with the third line at all. How is a team that was “already super bowl ready” find itself lacking a top CB, ILB, and critical depth at OT? I’m sure you saw McClendon sub last year. We’ll be right in the think of it and Ramsey good be that piece but we fell one point short to Detroit, we fell in the last 14 seconds to Philly. So close!