Mel Kiper Jr. Makes Surprising NFL Draft Projection for Los Angeles Rams

The Los Angeles Rams are set up to make a serious run in the NFC next season, after coming up just short of the conference title game in 2024.

Not only have they secured star quarterback Matthew Stafford for the next couple of seasons, but they also made a major move at receiver by bringing in DeVante Adams in place of Cooper Kupp, who is now with the Seahawks.

After those moves, the Rams now have elite weapons at the skill positions with running back Kyren Williams as a versatile do-it-all player, Tyler Higbee at tight end, as well as Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell alongside Adams.

As a result, their needs are pretty clear, with cornerback, linebacker, and offensive line being the ones that stand out the most.

And yet, Kiper believes the Rams won’t go in either of those directions. He has them picking a player at a position that is arguably their lowest need.

With the No. 26 overall pick, Kiper has the Rams taking Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart, citing his developmental upside as his biggest reasoning.

“I love this pick because of the potential. Rams coach Sean McVay could develop Dart into a legit future starter,” Kiper said. “Of course, I say “future” because Matthew Stafford’s contract restructure keeps him in Los Angeles for at least another season. But he’s 37 years old, and the Rams have to make plans for 2026 and beyond. Dart can hit receivers’ strike zones on a rope, and his ability to throw on the run is fun to watch… Given a season to learn under Stafford and transition to the NFL game after playing in Lane Kiffin’s RPO-happy offense, Dart has a high ceiling in the pros.”

In a vacuum, this pick could make sense. Stafford is 37, and Dart could sit behind him and learn. He has high upside and would have arguably the best quarterback room in the NFL to help him grow.

The problem is that first-round picks—especially ones for contending teams—are extremely valuable selections. As such, it usually behooves a team to find an immediate starter at this point in the draft.

Dart, frankly, is not that. With Stafford starting and Jimmy Garoppolo as the backup, Dart would likely not see the field outside of the preseason for at least 2025.

That’s not even taking into consideration that the Rams currently do not hold a second-round pick, meaning that this selection would have their one pick in the first two rounds being a player who won’t see the field.

Of course, that could change, and the Rams could trade back and pick up a couple of extra selections.

But unless they do that, it’s hard to see them going in the direction Kiper is laying out.