The 2026 NFL Draft is just over two months away, and free agency less than three weeks away, but plenty of mock drafts are already circulating.
Rams fans have increased interest in the draft this year, with the team owning the No. 13 overall pick via last year's trade with the Falcons, as well as the No. 29 overall pick (their original).
How might they use those picks to address their needs? Here are some of the early projections from analysts as of Feb. 23.
Jeremiah has the Rams doubling down on the secondary with these selections, which could make sense depending on what happens with pending unrestricted free agents Kam Curl, Ahkello Witherspoon, Cobie Durant, Roger McCreary and Derion Kendrick.
McNeil-Warren had 77 total tackles and one interception for the Rockets last season according to his school bio, while Hood posted 50 total tackles, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery for a touchdown while starting all 12 regular season games for the Volunteers last season per his school bio. McNeil-Warren is Jeremiah's No. 15 overall prospect, while Hood is No. 26 in his latest Top 50 rankings published Monday.
"The Rams had a good look at how the Seahawks deployed Nick Emmanwori with great success in his rookie year," Jeremiah wrote about McNeil-Warren. "McNeil-Warren offers L.A. its own playmaking, rangy safety, boosting a pass defense that has struggled in recent years. He teams with Kamren Kinchens and Quentin Lake to create a nice safety trio."
As for Hood, Jeremiah writes "The Rams double down on the secondary in Round 1 with free agency threatening to eat into their DB depth. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren and Hood can both take the ball away."
Like Jeremiah, Yates has the Rams going after the secondary with both picks, and from the same school.
McCoy missed all of last season after tearing an ACL in January 2025. In his last healthy season (2024), he posted a team-high 13 passes defensed – four interceptions and nine pass breakups – while starting all 13 games at corner for Tennessee that year.
"McCoy is a wild card," Yates wrote as part of his analysis. "He is clearly talented enough to go in the top 10, but he missed the entire 2025 season after tearing an ACL last January. He's a long, confident and talented man-to-man cover corner who stood out in 2024 (four interceptions and seven passes defensed). If his medicals are fully on track, he'll go early."
"Hood didn't actually take any snaps on the field with McCoy, as he transferred to Tennessee prior to the 2025 season that McCoy sat out due to injury," Yates wrote also wrote as part of his analysis. "But Hood more than made up for McCoy's void with 10 pass breakups this past season."
McGuinness has the Rams addressing the cornerback position and finding a potential successor to Matthew Stafford, who will be returning for his 18th NFL season.
Delane registered 45 total tackles, 11 pass breakups and two interceptions while starting in all 11 games he played for the Tigers in 2025, according to his school bio.
"This draft falls perfectly for the Rams, who have the top player at their biggest position of need sitting right in front of them," McGuinness wrote in his analysis of the Delane selection. "Delane earned an elite 90.7 PFF coverage grade and allowed a catch on just 40.0% of the passes thrown into his coverage in 2025."
Simpson, meanwhile, completed 64.48% of his passes for 3,567 yards and 28 touchdowns against five interceptions while starting all 15 games for the Crimson Tide last year per his school bio. His completion percentage, passing yards and passing touchdowns all ranked in the Top 10 in single-season program history; his passing yards were also 10th-most nationally for the 2025 season.
"With Matthew Stafford announcing that he will return for the 2026 NFL season, the Rams have the opportunity to draft a quarterback and let them sit for at least a season," McGuinness wrote. "Simpson earned an 83.1 PFF overall grade in his lone season as a starter. Allowing him to learn from Stafford could unlock his NFL potential."
