Which WR excites you the most for the Rams?

[WestCoastRam]

48%!!!? Didn't realize this. He'd be damn near off my board. Change my mind!

View: https://x.com/HaydenWinks/status/2027025349486498143


Interesting... for me the question will be not if he's worth taking but where. Some of these issues make me only comfortable taking him later than pick 13 (and that's if his medicals look okay to us) and then he may be gone before we pick again.

 

[HitStick]

Potentially yes, but we saw last year that McVay is not fond of utilizing rookie TE's in year one. I'm not sure how much Sadiq will help us in 2026, whereas a guy like Lemon/Tyson/Tate might.

True…but I wonder how much of that was McVays tendencies or how much of it was Ferg not transitioning as quickly. The reports of McVay trying to trade up for Bowers and Loveland makes me think that he’d be willing to play a true weapon earlier. I think Ferg is going to be good, but he’s not the game changer Sadiq can be

 

[Merlin]

I don't think it makes sense to prioritize slot, whether it's a smaller option like Lemon or a bigger weapon like Sadiq. Either would look nice in our offense but we have slot options and Puka poised to own it. Having a backup for if Puka gets hurt would be nice, but do you need to draft that at the top? I'd say no. Look where we got both Kupp and Puka.

So with Puka owning the slot in 2026, what they need is an outside the hash addition to round out the pass game weapons. And if that addition is big framed with great hands and catch radius, it magnifies Stafford's strengths.

For 13 if there is an elite option that falls to us, or even near us where the Rams can trade up for him, so be it. But if not then take Boston and watch this offense fucking torch opponents every week. Because Boston even as a rook is going to destroy CB3 types he draws in this offense and Stafford will feed his ass in redzone and 4 minute and any other time he wants to stretch it wide and deep.

 

[WestCoastRam]

I don't think it makes sense to prioritize slot, whether it's a smaller option like Lemon or a bigger weapon like Sadiq. Either would look nice in our offense but we have slot options and Puka poised to own it. Having a backup for if Puka gets hurt would be nice, but do you need to draft that at the top? I'd say no. Look where we got both Kupp and Puka.

So with Puka owning the slot in 2026, what they need is an outside the hash addition to round out the pass game weapons. And if that addition is big framed with great hands and catch radius, it magnifies Stafford's strengths.

I tend to agree with this, Puka runs the majority of his routes from slot but many from Z too. A slot-ish receiver isn't ideal for our needs but certainly doesn't preclude us from taking an exceptional talent (especially if the guy has slot/Z flex like Puka).

It's part of the reason I'm just torn on a guy like Caleb Downs if he was there. He basically is best at STAR and playing him deep would be a waste of his talents but we just paid Lake for that role. Of course, he looks amazing and there's a world where you take Downs and move Lake to safety full time (not his ideal spot) or move Lake (is that even possible with his contract?).

Glut or talent at a position shouldn't preclude you from taking someone great (hello Aaron Donald! - we were set at DT already) but it's a factor to weigh in everything.

 

[Merlin]

I tend to agree with this, Puka runs the majority of his routes from slot but many from Z too. A slot-ish receiver isn't ideal for our needs but certainly doesn't preclude us from taking an exceptional talent (especially if the guy has slot/Z flex like Puka).

It's part of the reason I'm just torn on a guy like Caleb Downs if he was there. He basically is best at STAR and playing him deep would be a waste of his talents but we just paid Lake for that role. Of course, he looks amazing and there's a world where you take Downs and move Lake to safety full time (not his ideal spot) or move Lake (is that even possible with his contract?).

Glut or talent at a position shouldn't preclude you from taking someone great (hello Aaron Donald! - we were set at DT already) but it's a factor to weigh in everything.

Overall I think the guy up top the Rams are going to want is Styles. He's the guy who plugs in and adds badly needed speed to our second level, improves coverage with his drops, and can play every snap. He's the piece that would be worth a move up because we probably have a completely different defense with him in the middle of it.

And this is a really nice ILB class. I like a lot of them, more than I usually do. But none of them are the total package he is.

Downs as you mention runs into issues with Lake and who's in what role. Now maybe the Rams want one of them for that other role who knows. But in terms of projecting likelihood yeah it seems like Downs is not the one they're going to covet. Nothing against Downs there either. He's a hell of a player just not the guy they'd jump for.

To jump for a player I think he has to have a clear role for this team.

Our needs should change after FA, or so I would hope. But for right now they are CB > Edge > Swing OT > WR3 > iOL > Safety. Roughly speaking and that's assuming most of our pending FAs leave.

So translating that to the early going, Delane is a top need with value, either of the projected OTs would be if the Rams like them, but are any of them worth jumping for? Probably not. The Edges are loaded of course and a big need if Young leaves in FA, but the depth of the class is so great that you'd have to really be hot for one of them to jump. So possible they jump for an Edge.

And I know someone will say well ILB is not a need. And it's not, in terms of being a position the Rams avoid paying, and have never drafted high under this regime. But great players always have the ability to change that equation.

 

[WestCoastRam]

Overall I think the guy up top the Rams are going to want is Styles. He's the guy who plugs in and adds badly needed speed to our second level, improves coverage with his drops, and can play every snap. He's the piece that would be worth a move up because we probably have a completely different defense with him in the middle of it.

And this is a really nice ILB class. I like a lot of them, more than I usually do. But none of them are the total package he is.

Downs as you mention runs into issues with Lake and who's in what role. Now maybe the Rams want one of them for that other role who knows. But in terms of projecting likelihood yeah it seems like Downs is not the one they're going to covet. Nothing against Downs there either. He's a hell of a player just not the guy they'd jump for.

To jump for a player I think he has to have a clear role for this team.

Our needs should change after FA, or so I would hope. But for right now they are CB > Edge > Swing OT > WR3 > iOL > Safety. Roughly speaking and that's assuming most of our pending FAs leave.

So translating that to the early going, Delane is a top need with value, either of the projected OTs would be if the Rams like them, but are any of them worth jumping for? Probably not. The Edges are loaded of course and a big need if Young leaves in FA, but the depth of the class is so great that you'd have to really be hot for one of them to jump. So possible they jump for an Edge.

And I know someone will say well ILB is not a need. And it's not, in terms of being a position the Rams avoid paying, and have never drafted high under this regime. But great players always have the ability to change that equation.

I think we most likely will not go after an ILB high due to how we value the position and the investment we made in Landman but sometimes the skill and specialness of the player supersedes that.

Don't think it's likely but Styles might just be that good. Especially if he's "positionless" as they say. You continue to play dime at league high but he takes over dime-backer role of McCollogh and supercharges that alignment while also making our 3-4 more stout.

Just hard to fathom spending that much draft capital on a guy who if he hits, you're also looking to pay out big on the next contract in a position group that does not lend itself to the top end of sustainable team builds when large cap space is attributed to them.

 

[Merlin]

Just hard to fathom spending that much draft capital on a guy who if he hits, you're also looking to pay out big on the next contract in a position group that does not lend itself to the top end of sustainable team builds when large cap space is attributed to them.

This completely overlooks the impact of a great player.

Also Styles isn't positionless. Not sure where you're getting that.

Reese is the guy who seems to think he's an Edge rusher, but what he doesn't realize is you don't get taken at the top of the pile for versatility.

 

[WestCoastRam]

This completely overlooks the impact of a great player.

Also Styles isn't positionless. Not sure where you're getting that.

Reese is the guy who seems to think he's an Edge rusher, but what he doesn't realize is you don't get taken at the top of the pile for versatility.

I thought I made the arguments of why you might do it. Also, what exactly did you think I meant by "positionless" given the context clues available to you.

 

[Merlin]

I thought I made the arguments of why you might do it. Also, what exactly did you think I meant by "positionless" given the context clues available to you.

I figured you had mixed him up with Reese perhaps. Who is kind of positionless. But to me that means he's not a slam dunk at a given spot.

 

[WestCoastRam]

I figured you had mixed him up with Reese perhaps. Who is kind of positionless. But to me that means he's not a slam dunk at a given spot.

A lot of people are talking about positionless as the next evolution of defenses. The term originated in basketball and has come over the the NFL.

What was perhaps considered a slight in the NFL pre 2015-ish is now a label used to describe all the rage : STAR, Lake, Ramsey, Emonwari, McDaniel's defense, Malcom Jenkins, Kyle Hamilton, Derwin James, heck even Aaron Donald bouncing between DT and DE, these are positionless roles and role-players. Guys that are so good on the D that you can line them all over the field and give them assignments a person in their role would never have (say Styles playing man coverage from the slot or blitzing from Joker, dropping back for a 3 safety look).

If we had a shot to take him (doubt it) that would be a reason to take him over the reasons I mentioned not takin him.

 

[Merlin]

I think Styles is an offball backer period. Rams would plug him in and he'd never leave the field. He'll go high because he's a freak and in today's NFL teams need guys who can help run down QBs. Rams badly need that as well.

Reese they're saying is an Edge. But I think they need to ask if he's an Edge then where he slots among the Edges. Because for myself he'd be a ways down that list in this group. You don't get brownie points for being an offball backer in addition to being an Edge. That won't put you above any of the other Edges at the top. Up there Edge gets taken for one thing, and that's affecting the QB.

So ironically the more versatile backer from that Ohio St class is more likely to get near the Rams. And I don't think it's helping him to moonlight as an Edge. He's better off slotting to ILB in the NFL. He's a freak, but being a freak who is a bit of an Edge project means projection and potential for sliding.

 

[PhillyRam]

Anthony Hill seems to be very similar. Both edge & off ball skills

View: https://youtu.be/pUaSZxgUnVc?si=9GgIUucDmkJevWXL

 

[RamFan58years]

I could only really see that if they hit secondary hard in FA, which I do hope they do anyways. Also, some players would likely need to be off the board already. I personally don't see Sadiq at the same level I saw Warren or Bowers. I wasn't personally as high on Loveland as most (in my error it seems) but I'd have them pretty close as prospects.

Sadiq is an athletic freak. Kind of like Vernon Davis, but maybe better. 4.4 forty, 240lbs, benches 400+, vertical of 40". A willing blocker. If Philly, Detroit or GB get him, that will be bad news for the Rams. BAD NEWS.

 

[dieterbrock]

Sadiq is an athletic freak. Kind of like Vernon Davis, but maybe better. 4.4 forty, 240lbs, benches 400+, vertical of 40". A willing blocker. If Philly, Detroit or GB get him, that will be bad news for the Rams. BAD NEWS.

Sadiq runs a 4.4 40?

 

[Memphis Ram]

View: https://x.com/NFL_DovKleiman/status/2027454594108854477

 

[dang]

View: https://x.com/NFL_DovKleiman/status/2027454594108854477

Perhaps he’s autistic?

 

[Merlin]

He's feelin his oats from spending all that time in the salon with the ladies getting his hair done.

 

[RamFan58years]

Sadiq runs a 4.4 40?

Actually, he ran 4.39 today. And a vertical of 43" and broad jump over 11 feet. The dude is there for a McVay to mold, to create. If he goes to an NFC contender we will regret not getting him. Sign/trade a vet DB and use the 29 on a DB as well.

 

[So Ram]

I've watched Sadiq play quite a bit last season.
I think he's that guy. Big, decent speed, strong hands, he's considered a very good blocker, goes up and makes fantastic catches on the run, and wins contested balls against coverage.
He's just the kind of guy that Stafford likes to throw it up his way, and let your guy go win that battle.
But then again, I'm an Oregon homer and I really don't know anything about it.

Well that might blend well with having Ferguson already on The Rams roster as well ? Sometimes those connections are good.
Example is FISKE & Verse together

 

[kmramsfan]

Well that might blend well with having Ferguson already on The Rams roster as well ? Sometimes those connections are good.
Example is FISKE & Verse together

He seems to finish off blocks really well, and is pretty solid with the YAC aspect of his game. He can go up and get the ball, and has some speed as well.
I really don't want to see him in SF or Seattle, like others here have posted, and be the next George Kittle who causes us pain in big games.
From what I've read, KS is also pretty sharp regarding understanding what everyone else's job is when it comes to executing the offense. He sounds like a McVay type of player, to me.
But then, I'll defer to the draft wonks on this board for their educated takes (sometimes) ......... the guys who spend way more time doing their pre-draft talent evaluations than I do.
I'm just here to enjoy the banter, anyhow.