Which WR excites you the most for the Rams?

[jrry32]

Plenty of 6'0" and below wideouts end up not being great as well.

Smith made his adjustment with mostly slot usage, they didn't stick him out there day one on the outside. As it pertains to the Rams the opportunities that you end up sharing with Lemon in the slot will take from Puka. Year one with a wideout that better fits that X role has potential to make this offense stronger in ways the slot addition doesn't.

But I'm starting to sound like the maniac shouting in the wilderness on this one. And I've managed to position myself where I'm looking like I'm working a bit too hard against the idea of Lemon. Where again to me it's just a matter of efficiency in terms of selectively adding to the offense if you're going to not take a defender up high. So we'll see what they do.

I don't buy this argument. Lemon and Puka can both play the Z. In fact, Puka has been highly productive at the Z since we drafted him. If we're basing this on year one, I actually think that point weakens the argument against Lemon. He's perhaps the most pro ready WR in this Draft. But that shouldn't be our main concern in selecting a player in the first round.

Regardless, my concern first and foremost is with production. Give me the most productive WR. If that's not Tyson or Lemon, fine with me. Give me that guy. If he's an X, great. If he's an S or a Z, fine with me too.

 

[blackbart]

Thoughts on Chris Brazzell II. Maybe a good compliment to Puka when Puka is lined up in the slot?

I think Brazzell has a chance to grow into the position year two and might be a surprise for a deep ball here and there his rookie year. He’s got the length and some speed to stretch the defense. I don’t know if he’ll be around when we pick in the third or if he would be at the top of the board in the second.

 

[PhillyRam]

I don't buy this argument. Lemon and Puka can both play the Z. In fact, Puka has been highly productive at the Z since we drafted him. If we're basing this on year one, I actually think that point weakens the argument against Lemon. He's perhaps the most pro ready WR in this Draft. But that shouldn't be our main concern in selecting a player in the first round.

Regardless, my concern first and foremost is with production. Give me the most productive WR. If that's not Tyson or Lemon, fine with me. Give me that guy. If he's an X, great. If he's an S or a Z, fine with me too.

If McVay can devise a very effective 13 personal offense, I think he can figure out how to play Lemon & Nacua together.

 

[WestCoastRam]

I think Brazzell has a chance to grow into the position year two and might be a surprise for a deep ball here and there his rookie year. He’s got the length and some speed to stretch the defense. I don’t know if he’ll be around when we pick in the third or if he would be at the top of the board in the second.

I think with the raw route running you take him and hope he develops year 3.

 

[Memphis Ram]

View: https://x.com/Schultz_Report/status/2034336561945596132

 

[Mojo Ram]

JSN is 6-0 195 lbs. I would say since DBs cant touch WRs, size is less of an issue nowadays.

I keep seeing this listed as his height. He doesn’t look that tall to me. He looks more like a 5’10-5’11”

It must be legit though, his combine specs reflect being 6 ft

 

[WestCoastRam]

Prospect Preview: USC wide receiver Makai Lemon

It's gonna be hell funny when we pick Tyson.

 

[Merlin]

I agree with you that I would like an X over a slot WR. So, I don't see you as a maniac shouting in the wilderness. I would add, though, that it's been pointed out that Puka is highly efficient at Z and in the slot and so is Lemon. For that reason, it's taking things a bit too far IMO to say that Lemon would take from Puka.

With or without Lemon, McVay is not going to play Puka 100% in the slot.

I think last season was a transition to the slot for Puka. Expect he's going to play a high percentage there in 2026 but we'll see. If they add Lemon and he impresses in camp they may just stick him in the slot.

But either way I'm content to wait and see how the Rams prioritize things. I simply value size and length outside the hash for Stafford. So if it's there with similar grade take it, far as I'm concerned and let's go win him another title.

 

[DzRams]

I think last season was a transition to the slot for Puka. Expect he's going to play a high percentage there in 2026 but we'll see. If they add Lemon and he impresses in camp they may just stick him in the slot.

But either way I'm content to wait and see how the Rams prioritize things. I simply value size and length outside the hash for Stafford. So if it's there with similar grade take it, far as I'm concerned and let's go win him another title.

I'm not gonna say your expectation is wrong because none of us know, but I will say it's not a guess based on much in the way of facts.

Here are screenshots of where Puka lined up in 2024 and 2025.

He was in the slot 31% of the time in 2024, and 33% of the time last year.

Not a huge difference. Nothing that tells us 2026 will be drastically different.

 

[RamFan503]

I don't see you as a maniac shouting in the wilderness.

Yeah but he is.

 

[Merlin]

I'm not gonna say your expectation is wrong because none of us know, but I will say it's not a guess based on much in the way of facts.

Here are screenshots of where Puka lined up in 2024 and 2025.

View attachment 75004
View attachment 75005

He was in the slot 31% of the time in 2024, and 33% of the time last year.

Not a huge difference. Nothing that tells us 2026 will be drastically different.

33% feels really low to me. Based on just watching this team play, he was in the slot at least half, but even if I got that wrong 33% feels really low.

But let's assume you are correct. He is still the best slot wideout in the league. It's not close. Also since you used PFF's metrics a quick search resulted in this article, from which I cut and paste the below:

---------------------------

1. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams (96.1)​

Nacua embodied “offensive weapon” in 2025, leading all receivers in several PFF categories. He caught 153 passes for 2,047 yards — the second-most receiving yards in a season (including playoffs) in the PFF era. He led all receivers in yards per route run (3.57), first downs (97) and catches of 20-plus yards (32).

Defenses had no answer for the PFF Offensive Player of the Year. Nacua ranked first in PFF receiving grade at every level of the field, including perfect marks at the intermediate and deep levels (99.9). He also placed first in slot PFF receiving grade (96.7), screen PFF receiving grade (96.6) and play-action PFF receiving grade (94.1).

Nacua also ranked in the top two in PFF receiving grade against both primary coverage schemes, with a 91.9 figure against man and a 95.6 figure against zone.

Since entering the league in 2023, Nacua owns a league-best 95.5 PFF receiving grade.
---------------------------

So if you think drafting a slot wideout is the way to go for this team, who has found 2 slot studs outside the early portion of the draft, and in a season in which they finally have an early pick where they can potentially take a more talented wideout who can thrive outside the hash, we're gonna have to disagree.

Again nothing against Lemon here. I'm a USC fan and well aware of his strengths. But I just don't think he's the best fit. And if I'm wrong on how much Puka was in the slot last year, no problem. But this is all based on the fact I think Puka's going to be in the slot primarily in 2026.

Maybe I'm wrong about that too. But I never have batted a thousand on this shit. Just my take.

 

[DzRams]

But let's assume you are correct.

Always assume this!

He is still the best slot wideout in the league. It's not close.

I agree.

I almost posted that exact thing.

And again I'm with you that a slot WR is not my preference or the best way to maximize the WR skill sets, but I don't think that's because there won't be space for a Lemon type.

 

[dang]

“We are going to draft ___________ (fill in the blank) to pump up this offense and increase our PPG from 30 to 35” Sean McVay.
As long as he fills in the blank I trust McVay to fill in the blank appropriately.

 

[Merlin]

“We are going to draft ___________ (fill in the blank) to pump up this offense and increase our PPG from 30 to 35” Sean McVay.
As long as he fills in the blank I trust McVay to fill in the blank appropriately.

Seems like they always have a screwball ready doesn't it.

Honestly I never expect the Rams to do what I want. It's just fun to throw out the opinions and see how far off you are. Of course that never happens to me, but I enjoy seeing the rest of you fuckers get it wrong.

 

[RamDino]

I don't think the Rams want to draft a slot receiver either simply because he will need to take Adams place the following year.

 

[Flatlyner]

Dont know if this is thread worthy but interesting exercise IMO:

Gun to your head, the Rams, assuming they WILL make a pick at 13, as of March 18th, your LIFE depends on it, the pick will be....?

I have WR Makai Lemon.

Initially had Lemon but I feel like he now goes before 13, potentially to Miami at 11. So, gun to my head, I say Tyson at 13.

 

[WestCoastRam]

I don't think the Rams want to draft a slot receiver either simply because he will need to take Adams place the following year.

Well, we really need two receivers over the next two years. Let's say we get an X and Adams is gone next year. We're still down a starting receiver in 11 personnel. If Rams like a receiver in this draft high they should take one. But do they like one high up? They will have a shot at some interesting guys day 2 too.

 

[Ranma]

Based on this thread's discussion of narrowing down the field of wide receivers worthy of the 13th overall pick as well as the depth of this class at that position, I want to bring up what I think I saw Jake Ellenbogen mentioned recently. Disclaimer: I think Ellenbogen is alright but I'm not a devoted fan or such. I believe he mentioned how Kenyon Sadiq tested with elite level speed and is built like Calvin Johnson; he thinks Sadiq can and should be converted to WR while saying Robert Woods was brought onto the team staff to do such things. He also compared Sadiq to Brock Bowers as a TE.

I'm not necessarily against the Rams selecting a tight end. Kind of the opposite, actually, as I've been looking forward to Snead providing McVay with more weapons at that position given how effective the Washington Redskins offense was during McVay's time there due to his utilization of multiple TE's. To be fair, the Rams supposedly have targeted that position in the past. I believe McVay wanted Evan Engram during his first year with the Rams back in 2017 before the Giants selected him in the first before the Rams had to settle for Gerald Everett in the second round. I know they wanted Brock Bowers in 2024. While the Rams selected Terrance Ferguson in 2025, I can't say I was a fan of that pick, though I'm hopeful he'll work out.

In any case, it's quite possible and likely that the Rams will select two receivers (WR or TE) in this draft and, as I said before, the depth in this year's class at that/those position(s) could yield a starter-level player as a 3rd WR or maybe even 3rd TE in such sets late in the third round. I've been kind of leaning towards Sadiq as a fallback option but mostly as a tight end, but I'm intrigued at the possibility of him as a wide receiver. I just don't know how feasible it is.

By the way, Ellenbogen likes Jordan Tyson and Sadiq for the 13th overall pick but prefers Sadiq over Tyson because he's "spooked" by the latter's injury history in that scenario. He loves Omar Cooper, Jr. as well and prefers him over Makai Lemon despite acknowledging the latter's better route running and elite "route pacing". Here's a time-stamped video that references his discussion, except for the aforementioned Sadiq-Megatron comparison and Sadiq transition with help from Bobby Trees, which I apparently heard elsewhere:


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfDPTLVhOmk&t=1980s

 

[HitStick]

Anyone thinking Germie Bernard could be a second round target? Reminds me a lot of Woods. Good route runner, decent speed, good hands. Can play inside or outside. He’s not flashy, but do we need flashy?

 

[Merlin]

He also compared Sadiq to Brock Bowers as a TE.