With the 2026 NFL draft quickly approaching, the Los Angeles Rams must be focused on drafting for the now, not the future. Right now, the future is secondary with the Super Bowl window gaping open.
The Rams finished as the second-best team in the league last season. After falling short of a second crack at a Lombardi Trophy, L.A. reverted to its old ways of handing out draft picks like candy this offseason to acquire players to help them win. Les Snead’s strategy eventually worked the first time around once he got the right quarterback under center.
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Now he must work his magic again.
ESPN’s Ben Solak echoed that sentiment in his April 16 article, urging the front office to prioritize selecting pro-ready players and immediate contributors:
“Don’t draft for the future. Draft for the now. Trade up aggressively. Find the last infinity stone. Every year with Stafford might be your last. Eventually the Rams will need a quarterbacking heir, but coach Sean McVay is well-compensated and regarded for a reason — he’ll help solve that problem when it comes. For now, just win.”
By now, many of these pundits’ mock drafts have Los Angeles taking a wide receiver, a linebacker, or a guard. Rams fans should not care whatsoever —for the most part — who the team drafts, as long as they can contribute to what is expected to be a special season in Hollywood.
This is no time to get cutesy, or select a project who will take at least a couple seasons to develop. If that player winds up being a wasted pick in the long run, screw it, the front office still took a chance anyway.
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This is the time to get (within reason) a little reckless. L.A. can afford it.
As Solak said: Find that last infinity stone, one who can help the team snap the rest of the NFL out of existence in February.
Whatever the Rams do in the draft, they must take a swing and pray that it doesn’t miss. A whiff would be a killer to their prospects this upcoming season.
The Rams can, for now, hold off on drafting for the future, as their championship-caliber roster needs pieces right away to push the roster over the top. With their Super Bowl window wide open, any other approach is secondary for the time being.
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