Who Will the Los Angeles Rams Pick First in the 2026 NFL Draft?

The Los Angeles Rams are Super Bowl contenders, looking to make a push in this year’s NFL draft to put their team over the top. It’s a big draft for them, as they finally have a first-round selection. After years of using draft picks in trades to acquire proven talents, the Rams currently hold the 13th overall pick.

The biggest question here is, who will the Rams pick first? It’s a stacked roster that has fewer needs than a typical team drafting this high. But when looking at where they want to improve, there are three key candidates.

Read on to find out who the Rams will pick first in the 2026 NFL Draft, with odds courtesy of BetOnline Sportsbook.

Position of Rams’ First Player Drafted

Oddsmakers have a clear-cut favorite for the position that the Rams are targeting: it’s wide receiver.

• Wide Receiver (+105)
• Offensive Lineman (+300)
• Tight End (+600)
• Defensive Line / EDGE (+700)
• Safety (+950)
• Quarterback (+1000)
• Cornerback (+1400)
• Linebacker (+1600)
• Running Back (+2800)
• Kicker / Punter / Long Snapper (+20000)

At first glance, with studs like Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, it may seem surprising to see wide receiver listed at +105 odds, clearly ahead of the second-shortest odds offensive lineman (+300). But when diving in a bit deeper, it makes a lot of sense.

For one, Adams is getting older, set to enter his age-34 season. Adams has been in trade rumors this offseason, as the Rams were mentioned to be targeting A.J. Brown. 

While Nacua is one of the best wideouts in the league, he’s not a burner. This team needs to add more speed to its offense, as Adams is in the later stages of his career. On top of that, Nacua has dealt with some off-field issues this offseason, so bolstering the wide receiver room is necessary.

Then you have to consider the players who will be available at pick 13. There are three wideouts that can be taken in the top-15 this season: Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon, and Jordyn Tyson. Each of these players would be perfect fits for the Rams.

Potential First Picks for the Rams

We’re focusing on these three wideouts as potential first picks for the Rams. 

Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

Carnell Tate is coming off a rock-solid junior season for the Buckeyes, where he hauled in 51 receptions for 875 yards and nine touchdowns. Tate can make an immediate impact on all three levels of the field. Whether it’s in the short-to-intermediate passing game or over the top downfield as a perimeter wideout.

The former Buckeye is widely projected to be the first wideout selected in this year’s draft, so he’s the least likely of these three wide receivers to end up as a Ram. But for some reason he falls in the draft, or if the Rams opt to trade up for him, he’d be a perfect fit next to Nacua.

With that said, this feels like an unlikely scenario, since there are plenty of teams with a clear-cut need at wide receiver in the top-10, including the Titans, Browns, and Commanders. I don’t see Tate getting past Washington at 7. However, he’d be my No. 3 most likely choice for the Rams, given their desires to upgrade the WR room.

Makai Lemon, WR, USC

Makai Lemon was terrific for the Trojans in his junior season, putting up 79 receptions for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns. Lemon profiles as a high-volume slot receiver in the mold of Amon-Ra St. Brown. He’d be another terrific target to complement Nacua and Adams, with a chance to make an immediate impact.

Most draft prognosticators view Lemon as the WR2 in this year’s draft. He’s often mocked outside of the top-10 picks, especially since the Bengals (10th pick) have a need on defense, while the Chiefs (9th pick) need to upgrade their offensive line or secondary. That means that there’s a chance that he can fall right into the Rams’ lap.

However, there’s one main threat to take Lemon ahead of the Rams. It’s none other than the Dolphins, who traded Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos and let Tyreek Hill walk, so they have a major need at wide receiver. I think that Lemon will wind up in Miami, but he’s the second-most likely target for the Rams, in my eyes.

Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

Jordyn Tyson put up 61 catches for 711 yards and eight touchdowns in only nine games in his junior season at Arizona State. This came after a sophomore campaign where he had 75 receptions for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns in 12 games. With 18 touchdowns in his last two seasons, this is a playmaker with the ability to dominate in the red zone.

Tyson has great size at 6-foot-2, 203 pounds, so he’d make an imposing sidekick for Nacua. He can win downfield by making contested catches. With his nose for the end zone, Tyson would be the ideal fit to complete this group of wide receivers. 

Since I think that Tate will go in the top 10, while Lemon will end up in Miami, Tyson looks like the most likely pick for the Rams in the first round. If they decide to keep Adams, this would give them an impressive trio of wideouts as they prepare to contend for a Super Bowl in what could be Matthew Stafford’s final season.

Best NFL Draft Bet for the Los Angeles Rams

I know it’s chalk, but the best bet for the Rams in this year’s draft is for the first position taken to be a wide receiver. They’ve telegraphed their intentions to upgrade the group all offseason, with rumors that they pursued A.J. Brown through trade. Given Adams’ advanced age, they need to add another playmaker to this group. 

After trading for Trent McDuffie this offseason, the Rams addressed their need at cornerback. Now, it’s time for them to upgrade their wide receivers. If Nacua or Adams missed time, there’s very little depth behind them, so it’s a clear need.

Bet on the Rams’ first position draft to be a wide receiver at +105 odds.