VAN NUYS, Calif. – Wide receiver Konata Mumpfield's agent called him two picks before the Rams' 242th overall selection in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
"Have you heard from the Rams?" he asked Mumpfield. He hadn't yet, but as soon as he hung up that phone call, another came in, this one from a Los Angeles area code. The moment he'd waited for had finally arrived, and the call came from his friend Ray Farmer, a senior personnel executive with the Rams who Mumpfield has known since middle school through his dad.
"It was amazing," Mumpfield said. "So surreal, surreal moment for sure."
Mumpfield then talked to all the coaches, saying he teared up a bit after waiting three days for a team to take a chance on him. The coaching staff told him they loved his tape, and he will get to hone his craft in a room full of top-end talents like Puka Nacua, Davante Adams and Tutu Atwell.
"It's truly a blessing, just being able to be in a room with those guys coming in," Mumpfield said. "I feel like I'm a student of the game, and I love to watch film, I love watching football, I love watching every single one of those receivers in that group. They do everything so different and so well, so just being able to come in and just learn, soak everything up, work hard and be able to just learn that and just get everything from those guys is amazing."
Mumpfield led Pittsburgh in receiving yards in 2024 with 813, recording 52 receptions and five touchdowns. He had an idea he might end up in Los Angeles after talking with pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase a good bit during the pre-draft process. That plus his connection with Farmer made the Rams a natural fit for him, and they obviously felt the same.
Take a look at photos of newly drafted Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Konata Mumpfield from his time at University of Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh wide receiver Konata Mumpfield (9) carries during the second half of the Sun Bowl NCAA college football game against UCLA, Friday, Dec. 30, 2022 in El Paso, Texas. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton)
Pittsburgh wide receiver Konata Mumpfield (9) carries the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Florida State in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
Pittsburgh wide receiver Konata Mumpfield (9) carries during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Boston College, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
Pittsburgh wide receiver Konata Mumpfield (9) scores a two-point conversion against UCLA defensive back Mo Osling (7) during the first half of the Sun Bowl NCAA college football game, Friday, Dec. 30, 2022, in El Paso, Texas. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton)
North Carolina defensive back Alijah Huzzie (28) breaks up a pass intended for Pittsburgh wide receiver Konata Mumpfield (9) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Pittsburgh wide receiver Konata Mumpfield (9) carries the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Florida State in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
Pittsburgh's Konata Mumpfield #9 in action against Kent State during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Pittsburgh wide receiver Konata Mumpfield (9) runs for a first down after a catch during the first half of an NCAA college football game North Carolina in Pittsburgh Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Pittsburgh wide receiver Konata Mumpfield (9) runs after a catch during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Wofford in Pittsburgh Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Pittsburgh wide receiver Konata Mumpfield (9) is upended by North Carolina defensive back Tayon Holloway, right, after getting a first down during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Pittsburgh's Konata Mumpfield (9) carries the ball past Duke's Brandon Johnson (3) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
Pittsburgh wide receiver Konata Mumpfield (9) rushes with the ball past UCLA defensive back Stephan Blaylock (4) and linebacker Darius Muasau (53) during the second half of the Sun Bowl NCAA college football game, Friday, Dec. 30, 2022 in El Paso, Texas. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton)
Head coach Sean McVay's coaching style was another thing that grew Mumpfield's affinity for the Rams.
"I kind of just felt like my play style, I feel like I'm very embedded into watch the film, route running, craftiness, those type of things, and I was thinking it would be a really good fit," Mumpfield said.
"He moves people around, puts people in situations to win and be dominant. I feel like for me to be able to come in and watch film, work and learn from those guys in that room, like I feel like it'll be amazing for sure."
It was a long three days, and Mumpfield said he had to step outside with his dad to vent some of his feelings at certain points. But all's well that ends well, and it certainly did for Mumpfield.
"It's a lot of emotions, ups and downs," Mumpfield said. "Just trying to remain positive, but you always got some type of doubt that creeps in just because it's a lot going on and... it's something that you work hard for your whole life and so... it's just truly a blessing even just to be in this moment."
