After the Rams added former Chiefs cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson to kickstart the offseason, many experts have shifted their draft projections to the offensive side of the ball. Los Angeles owns the 13th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft after acquiring it from the Falcons in a trade during last year's draft. Their original selection, No. 29 overall, was traded to the Chiefs as part of the McDuffie deal.
With the initial free agency frenzy now over, team needs are starting to solidify and analysts believe the Rams' are on offense. Here's how experts think the Rams will use their first-round pick.
Fano took home a slew of awards for his play in 2025, including the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year, Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year, the Outland Trophy (best interior lineman, offense or defense, in college football) and Consensus First Team All-American honors. In lieu of more traditional stats to measure player success, this should indicate the level of dominance Fano displayed this past season on the offensive line.
Athleticism and experience are on Fano's side. At 6-foot-5 1/2, 311-pounds, he moves swiftly with sound footwork and has experience blocking in various pro-style run schemes. His build is below average for his position (45th percentile height, 41st percentile weight and third percentile arm length at 32 1/8 inches, according to mockdraftable.com), but Fano is has the physical tools to compensate.
"Fano lacks ideal proportional build but compensates with loose hips, quick feet and high-end athleticism," wrote Lance Zierlein of NFL.com. "He has the tools to mirror speed rushers, wall off the top of the pocket and find a late anchor when taking the worst of a bull rush."
"The Rams haven't drafted a tackle earlier than Round 5 in any of the past three years, but now it's time to plan for the future at the position," Edholm wrote. "Fano would be a solid value here. Yes, his arm length (32 1/8 inches) is on the shorter end, but the Rams don't appear to be turned off by less-lengthy left tackles -- Alaric Jackson isn't exactly a pterodactyl."
Lemon is smart, shifty and tough to tackle despite not being the fastest player on the field. Sound familiar? As Renner wrote in his mock draft, Lemon is "a Rams-type wide receiver" who showed elite production in his Biletnikoff Award-winning 2025 season. He led the Power Four conferences in receiving yards (1,156) and yards per game (96.3) on 74 receptions while scoring 13 total touchdowns.
At 5-11, 192, Lemon put strong contested catch skills on tape last year and uses a heightened ability to manipulate leverage to separate in man and zone coverage alike. Analysts have linked Lemon to the Rams frequently during the draft prep process.
"He plays a rugged brand of football and is more than willing to work the middle of the field," Renner wrote. "His game should translate quickly to the NFL."
Kiper originally had the Rams selecting Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson here, but the Broncos' trade for former Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle changed the equation.
"The dominoes of the Jaylen Waddle trade impacted the Rams' pick," Kiper wrote. "I had Jordyn Tyson here as their new WR3 behind Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, but there's no way Miami would let the top-tier receiver slip past No. 11. Instead, I'm pivoting the Rams' selection to the right tackle position."
Mauigoa is a 6-foot-5 1/2, 329-pound behemoth with just over 33-inch arms. His physical profile is more in-line with successful NFL offensive tackles, unlike Fano. Analysts like his football IQ and experience as a three-year starter for Miami.
"Mauigoa started 42 games in college, over which time he put together some really good tape," Kiper wrote. "He uses his strength to dominate pass rushers, and he can clear out running lanes. Warren McClendon Jr. is under contract for only one more season, and run blocking is so important in the Rams' offense."
Lomu is coming off his redshirt sophomore season, having started at Utah for the past two years. He's 6-foot-6, 313 pounds with 33 3/8-inch arms whose athleticism elevates his upside. Analysts believe he is still in the beginning stages of his development and has room for improvement, but the physical tools are there.
He has room to improve in terms of muscle mass (73rd percentile height compared to 48th percentile weight according to mockdraftable.com), but if he can add weight while keeping that same agility, his ceiling is the moon.
"With longtime right tackle Rob Havenstein retiring, the Rams have a big hole on the right side of their offensive line," Tice and McDonald wrote. "Luckily, they can find the perfect replacement here. Lomu hasn't gotten as much adoration as his teammate Spencer Fano, but Lomu might be a cleaner fit here considering he was already playing right tackle at Utah. Lomu's nasty streak, explosiveness and overall athleticism give him the chance to develop into a lockdown right tackle."
