Rams Trade for McDuffie, Draft Tyson, Ponds, Nussmeier

0:00On April 2nd, the Los Angeles Rams kicked off the 2026 NFL off-season by trading their 29th overall pick to the Kansas City Chiefs. For quarterback Trent McDuffie, leaving them with solid selections at 13th overall, 61st and 93rd, ESPN draft guru Mel Kuiper dropped a fresh 3-round mock, predicting the Rams grab why receiver Jordan Tyson from Arizona State at number 13. To boost their passing game, that Tyson fake pairs perfectly with stars like Pukin' Akua and Devonte Adams, giving long-term Jews even as those bets hit contract years. Sliding to Round 2, Kuiper sees them snagging Indiana corner, DeAngelo pawns at 61, a feisty 5-foot-9 ball-hawk with turnover skills. Adding depth behind McDuffie, pawns might lack size for every matchup, but his upside fits the Rams' secondary rebuild, especially after some recent free agency tweaks. Even in Round 3 and 93, they land LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeyer as a smart developmental pick to groom behind Matthew Stafford.

1:02Newsmeyer sat out some time last year due to injury, but sitting him less the Rams eye him as Stafford's eventual successor come 2027. This high-risk, high-reward haul screams wind-now-mode for a roster that's already stacked, blending instant help with future bets.