Turf Show Times
Training camp for the Los Angeles Rams gets underway in roughly a month. It’s a good time to check in on last year’s draft class as they head into their sophomore seasons.
Is the arrow pointed up or down for each?
The trade with Atlanta fetched an additional first-round pick for LA in 2026 and ultimately turned into quarterback Ty Simpson. The Rams found themselves with an earlier draft pick than they are usually accustomed to, and they used it as an opportunity to secure their future and prepare for life after Matthew Stafford.
The Falcons had a scare with James Pearce’s legal troubles, although those concerns seem to have faded somewhat heading into training camp. The trade has not aged well at all from Atlanta’s side of the affairs.
Ferguson is a pivotal player for the Rams offense in 2026. He’s effectively the key to unlocking heavier personnel packages, and that is needed after LA decided to not invest materially at the receiver position this offseason.
The Rams hope that Ferguson can develop into a unique chess piece that can threaten defenses as a vertical receiver. His role will likely be inversely similar to the one Cooper Kupp used to hold in this offense. The team used to say that they were in 11.5 personnel with Kupp’s ability that approached a tight end, and Ferguson could in theory create the same effect as a receiver and give LA more explosiveness from a traditionally lackluster position.
What if I told you Stewart was as effective as a pass rusher as last year’s third overall section in Abdul Carter? They both led all rookie EDGE rushers in pass rush win rate, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF), at 14.7%. This would rank around 22nd among all players at the same position with at least 318 pass rushing snaps.
It makes sense that Stewart’s role would increase in 2026 despite Myles Garrett joining the team. You can never have too many quality EDGE rushers, and Stewart does bring a physical presence whereas Byron Young is a straight speedster. The Rams did not shy away from using Stewart in all facets a year ago: his run versus pass rushing snaps were evenly divided and he also dropped into coverage nearly a quarter of the time. There is no stronger endorsement of a rookie than asking him to do it all.
One of the biggest mysteries heading into training camp and the preseason surrounding the Rams is whether Hunter will have much of a role in 2026. The top two running backs, Kyren Williams and Blake Corum, are entrenched in their roles and played at a high level last season. There may be no significant amount of work available, though Hunter must prove he’s capable of stepping up if either of the starters are lost due to injury.
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