The NFL Draft takes place in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on April 24th- 26th, and the Los Angeles Rams have many questions surrounding what their strategy should be in the 2025 NFL Draft. GM Les Snead is set to decide if he wants to focus on building for the future or prepping the team to make a run in the playoffs.
The Rams have one selection to make in the 1st Round with pick 26. Being in the later part of the 1st Round, the Rams have the opportunity to take some risks with players who may have superstar or bust potential. Regardless of the risk, the Rams have several options to pursue with their 1st Round selection.
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Here are 3 players that the Rams should consider taking with the 26th pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, if available.
Los Angeles Rams First-Round Must-Have Options For 2025 NFL Draft
Option One: Jaxson Dart, Quarterback, Ole Miss
There has been a ton of hype surrounding Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart in the past couple of weeks. The prospect has been praised for his athleticism and decision-making abilities causing several scouts to see him as a potential 1st-3rd Round pick. Throughout the past several years, many quarterbacks have been taken way earlier than expected with a mixed bag of results. Should the Rams take a chance on the former Rebel, even if it could be seen as an incredible risk?
PFF is not incredibly high on Dart as he is currently ranked as the 6th best quarterback and the 129th overall prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft. Dart played one season with USC before transferring to Ole Miss, where he played three seasons under the tutelage of Lane Kiffin. During his four-year college career, Dart produced 11970 passing yards, 1543 rushing yards, and 95 total touchdowns. The former Rebel was seen as one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC over the past two years as he led an extremely talented Ole Miss offense. Dart has been compared to Kenny Pickett throughout the Draft process.
While I believe that selecting Dart with the 26th pick may be a massive risk, I don’t believe the quarterback would still be available by the time the Rams have their next pick in the 3rd Round. Dart doesn’t have the best arm strength in the world, but his poise in the pocket may be the best out of any prospect in the Draft. If the Rams find themselves falling deeply in love with Dart as a prospect, GM Les Sneed should consider taking the quarterback with the 26th pick or finding a way to trade up for him.
Option Two: Grey Zabel, Offensive Lineman, North Dakota State
Grey Zabel is potentially the safest option that may be available with the 26th pick. While the level of competition that Zabel played during college is weaker than what most NFL lineman prospects come in with, his talent and size speak for themselves. The 6’6”, 305-pound offensive lineman has experience playing every spot on the line during his college career and may be one of the most talented FCS players the league has ever seen.
PFF currently has Zabel ranked as the 5th-best offensive lineman and the 29th-best overall prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft. Zabel started in 41 collegiate games with North Dakota State, where he was a two-time NCAA Division I FCS National Champion. The former Bison spent most of his time playing tackle but has time playing at both guard positions and center. Zabel shined at the Senior Bowl, where he stood out as potentially having the best week of any offensive lineman. Gray Zabel has been compared to Graham Barton during the draft process.
If the Rams are looking to bolster their offensive line to protect Matthew Stafford, Zabel may be the best option to do so. The Rams should consider taking the best player available with their pick, and Zabel very much may be that guy. Zabel has shown that he has fantastic core strength even with his smaller hands and shorter arms. The Rams could place him at any position on the offensive line and possibly find themselves with a future All-Pro offensive lineman.
Option Three: Trey Amos, Cornerback, Ole Miss
Trey Amos is another Ole Miss prospect who could benefit the Rams if they find themselves taking him with the 26th pick. Amos has had an interesting Draft journey as he has been seen as a 1st Round prospect by most NFL analysts but has sometimes been seen to slip to the 2nd Round. The Rams find themselves in a weird spot where they don’t have a 2nd Round selection, which frees GM Les Sneed up to potentially take higher risks. Trey Amos has incredible size and potential to be a CB1 in this league.
PFF currently has Amos ranked as the 4th best cornerback and the 40th overall prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft. The 6’1”, 190-pound defender is the perfect size for an NFL-caliber defensive back who can contend with NFL receivers. Amos played three seasons with Louisiana-Lafayette, one season with Alabama, and one season with Ole Miss before declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft. During his five-year college career, Amos had 122 total tackles, 31 pass deflections, and 4 interceptions. Amos has continually improved throughout his career so far, which proves his potential to be an NFL-level starter. Amos has been compared to Terrion Arnold throughout the draft process.
The Rams have one of the best young defenses in the league, but their secondary has the potential to grow even stronger through the 2025 NFL Draft. Amos has an incredible upside despite not being known for having a top level of speed. If the Rams choose to pursue a strategy to boost their defense, there is no reason why Amos shouldn’t be the selection with the 26th pick.