April 22, 2026, 10:09 a.m. PT
There are plenty of rumors circulating across the intentions of the Los Angeles Rams and the thirteenth total decide within the 2026 NFL Draft. Many imagine the Rams will use the decide to discover a vast receiver who can add to the offense this season, whereas ultimately succeeding Davante Adams because the workforce’s outdoors risk.
Names like Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson, Omar Cooper Jr., and such have come up as choices for the workforce. However, I do not suppose that is the strategy Los Angeles will take. I imagine we’re wanting on the Rams’ succession plan for Davante Adams by means of the flawed lens. The Rams aren’t seeking to change Adams; they’re seeking to change Puka Nacua, and this is why.
If Cooper Kupp have been totally wholesome and again to his 2021 kind, he would nonetheless be a Ram, and there is a probability Adams by no means involves Los Angeles. The Rams waited till it was past a doubt that Kupp’s greatest days have been behind him earlier than shifting on. The cause is that Kupp is among the NFL’s best house interpreters.
However, you’ll be able to’t drive a workforce to play zone protection, which provides house for Kupp to interpret. That’s why the Rams all the time tried so as to add man-coverage beaters like Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods, and Odell Beckham Jr., forcing the opposition to run zone.
Nacua is meant to be that man. Strong, bodily, sure-handed. He’s the most effective. However, he is additionally actually good at exploiting zone protection and naturally took over Kupp’s function. So in concept, the Rams are looking for a alternative for Adams that forces defenses to run zone, as Adams stays the most effective man-coverage beaters in soccer. That’s what the nationwide media believes.
I feel the Rams imagine Nacua can turn into that participant that Adams is, particularly now that he has all of Adams’ leverage methods in his again pocket and the Rams want a zone beater who’s quick and may make performs with the ball. Considering the Rams additionally have Adams’ purple zone contributions lined with Konata Mumpfield and Terrance Ferguson, it is my perception they are going to choose USC’s Makai Lemon to be that Kupp-esque zone beater. That would give Nacua the flexibility to make use of outdoors matchups to the Rams’ profit, whereas the Rams use Nacua’s dominance to drive defenses into taking part in man.
Why are the Rams continuing with this course? This concept comes from the Rams’ refusal to place a timeline on Matthew Stafford’s profession. I do not suppose the Rams imagine Stafford is near retirement, and I do not suppose Stafford is shut both. His arm could go, what’s left of his mobility could endure, however his thoughts is sharp, and Lemon permits the Rams to flourish with an growing old Stafford by controlling the pen. Stafford is ready to dissect coverages and goal holes, with Lemon discovering them after Nacua units them up.
