The Los Angeles Rams general manager, Les Snead, had called picking at 26 draft purgatory. So it should not come as any surprise that the team attempted to trade up earlier in the draft to reportedly trade for wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan.
And it should come as less of a surprise that the team used 26 to trade back. The Falcons traded 46, 242, and a 2026 1st to the Rams for No. 26 and 101.
With the pick, the Falcons selected a much-needed pass rusher, Tennessee’s edge rusher James Pearce Jr. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler ranked him as the 7th-best edge and 36th-best prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft.
This gives the Rams two 1st round picks in the 2026 draft, which allows them to trade up for a quarterback if need be.
Los Angeles Rams Trade Back, But Add Huge Future Pick
It also appeared that the Rams were on the phone with the New York Giants, who ended up trading with the Houston Texans to select Jaxson Dart. Trading ahead of the Rams for Dart could signal that LA was interested in Dart at that spot.
The Rams now own eight 2025 picks following the trade:
Round 2: No. 46 overall
Round 3: No. 90 overall
Round 4: No. 127 overall
Round 6: No. 190 overall (from Atlanta Falcons)
Round 6: No. 195 overall (from Pittsburgh Steelers)
Round 6: No. 201 overall
Round 6: No. 202 overall (from Chicago Bears in Jonah Jackson trade)
Round 7: No. 242 overall (from Atlanta Falcons)
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