B-
Los Angeles Rams
Grand theft in No. 251: the Rams steal Heidenreich and grade out a B-.
by Christeca ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 7 picks
· 4 steals
· 1 reaches
When a board-topper like Eli Heidenreich slides to the Round 7 slot, you do not overthink it, and the Rams did not.
A whole weekend of picks and running back is somehow still a want. The Tollison pick is the one the value grade keeps tripping over.
They went 4 of 8 on their needs, which is most of what a draft is for.
In short, they left a little better than they arrived, which is the whole idea.
Pick-by-Pick
In the 13th pick they get a lockdown presence outside at fair value.
A tidy bit of business in No. 61, where Emmanuel McNeil-Warren graded well above the range. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
By-the-book stuff, Drew Shelton at pick 93 squarely in line with his ranking. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
They read the board right and Cole Payton was the payoff at pick No. 207. The roster fit checks out.
They robbed the room for Jimmy Rolder here, a fall nobody at the table saw coming. Useful depth more than a marquee fix.
Somehow Eli Heidenreich was still sitting there in the Round 7 slot, and they pounced on premier wide receiver value. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
A reach for Connor Tollison in slot 252; a little patience would have been rewarded. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.