NFL Draft: Rams Secure Talented Receiver
The Rams manage to secure wide receiver Tetairoa McMillian with the 26th overall pick.
While it’s impossible to know for sure, it’s intriguing to imagine who the Rams might have selected had they had first-round picks between 2017 and 2023. The team didn’t make a first-round pick for seven years, trading those selections away in various moves.
The reason this is interesting is that, aside from the 2023 NFL Draft, the Rams would have been picking in the lower half of the first round. Considering they selected the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year with the 19th pick in 2024, it’s fascinating to think about what other potential stars they might have landed during that span.
According to NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks, another big-name player could be slipping down the draft boards and into the Rams’ lap. He predicts that Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillian, once considered a top-ten pick, will be available at the 26th spot.
“Adding a big-bodied pass catcher to a group that already includes Puka Nacua would expand Matthew Stafford’s options,” Brooks wrote.
I’ve been a fan of McMillian for a while, but after this past season, I have some concerns about his ability to produce without a strong second receiver. Watching Noah Fifita pass to McMillian and Jacob Cowing in 2023 was must-see TV.
In 2023, McMillian posted 90 catches for 1,402 yards and 10 touchdowns. Without Cowing in 2024, he had 84 catches for 1,319 yards and 8 touchdowns.
If McMillian lands with the Rams, he could be on track for a potential NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign.
Imagine a scenario where defenses have to contend with both Nacua and Davante Adams, along with a 6’5 receiver who averages over 100 yards per game. That could be an overwhelming trio, which is exactly what it takes to win Super Bowls.
With Matthew Golden’s rise, McMillian’s draft stock is expected to fall. How far he drops is uncertain, but there’s a real chance he could end up as the 26th overall pick.
And if Cowing ever falls out of favor with the 49ers, the Rams would likely love to reunite the duo once again.
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