Jason Burgos
A notable NFL Mock Draft suggests the Los Angeles Rams will make one of the biggest trades of the 2026 event for a player considered the best at his position.
After coming up just short of reaching the Super Bowl earlier this year, the Rams’ brain trust is motivated to finish the story in 2026. And why not? They will bring back much of the same roster, including reigning NFL MVP Matthew Stafford.
However, they have made some notable additions to overcome division rivals and reigning league champions, the Seattle Seahawks, next season. They swung a blockbuster trade for Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro Trent McDuffie. Then added his teammate, Jaylen Watson, in free agency. Their aggressiveness has earned the admiration of rival executives.
Now, they will look to find more players who can contribute in this week’s NFL Draft. They have one less first-round pick after giving up their selection at 29th overall in the McDuffie trade. However, they still have the 13th overall pick. At that spot, they should be able to get a pretty good player. But there have been rumblings that they may not be enough.
Could Los Angeles Rams trade up in draft for Carnell Tate?
It is probably why The Athletic’s Rams reporter Nate Atkins predicted a bold move in the outlet’s latest NFL mock draft that would see them giving up the No. 13 and 61 picks this week, and a 2027 fifth-rounder.
“The Rams are often trying to trade up into the top 10, but too often have to go too far to pull it off,” Atkins wrote. “This year is different. They move from No. 13 to No. 6 to get ahead of a potential receiver run. Carnell Tate is the one option in this draft who projects as a future No. 1 without injury concerns. And that matters if the Rams are unsure about paying Puka Nacua.”
Atkins mentions that if Makai Lemon were still available at pick 13, he believes the Rams would stay in that slot. But receivers could fly off that board fast at the back end of the top 10. This trade would land LA the player draft evaluators consider the most NFL-ready receiver right now.
Nacua is entering the final year of his rookie contract. After two Pro Bowl appearances in three seasons, re-signing him would seem like a no-brainer. However, an ongoing civil lawsuit and erratic behavior off the field over the last six months have cast some doubt on whether he can be invested in the long term. The 24-year-old recently completed treatment at a holistic care and rehab facility to deal with his recent internal troubles.
