With the 2025 NFL Draft upon us, teams have wrapped up their final preparations and will soon begin hoping the players they’re targeting fall into their laps. The Los Angeles Rams have to wait until No. 26 overall to make their first selection, and after that, they won’t go on the clock again until No. 90.
ESPN’s Jordan Reid put together a complete 7-round mock draft, which includes eight picks for the Rams. He started off by adding a versatile playmaker on the back end of the defense, addressing the secondary in the first round by taking Georgia safety Malaki Starks.
The rest of the mock is a blend between offense and defense, with the Rams picking up a quarterback in the sixth round. Here’s a breakdown of each pick made by Reid for the Rams.
26. S Malaki Starks, Georgia
Starks is a versatile defensive back who can play in the slot, cover the deep middle or line up in the box. His ball skills are excellent, as evidenced by his leaping interception against Clemson last season, giving the Rams yet another playmaker on the back end. Here’s what Reid wrote about the selection in his mock draft.
While the Rams received good early returns from 2024 third-round pick Kamren Kinchens, drafting a true center-field safety would change the dynamic of their secondary. Starks primarily played nickel corner this past season (248 snaps), so his range as a true free safety was hardly ever seen. In Los Angeles, he could transition back to his more natural role in the middle of the field, one he played his first two college seasons. The Rams haven’t selected a defensive back in the first round since 2006 (Tye Hill), but they should take a chance on Starks, who is the No. 17 prospect on my board.
90. WR Jack Bech, TCU
Bech has been compared to both Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp throughout the pre-draft process, with the latter being a more common comparison. It just goes to show how well Bech would likely fit in the Rams’ offense, knowing the production Kupp and Nacua have both had under Sean McVay.
Bech could thrive with the Rams alongside Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. He’d fit well as a WR3 who could grow into being a WR2.
101. OT Chase Lundt, UConn
The Rams are set at left tackle after re-signing Alaric Jackson to a three-year deal, and though Rob Havenstein is back for another season, they still need to find a successor at right tackle. Lundt is a massive tackle at 6-foot-8 and giving him the chance to learn from Havenstein for a year will set him up for long-term success.
Lundt is an athletic blocker at 6-foot-8 and 304 pounds, and he could be the Rams’ heir apparent to Rob Havenstein at right tackle.
127. CB Cobee Bryant, Kansas
It’s just fitting that someone named “Cobee Bryant” lands in L.A., isn’t it? Bryant is a 6-foot cornerback who didn’t test particularly well in the pre-draft process but he was a highly productive player at Kansas. He had multiple interceptions in each of the last four seasons, earning first-team All-Big 12 honors in the last three years. He totaled 13 interceptions in his career, starting 42 total games.
190. OLB Que Robinson, Alabama
Robinson didn’t have much production at Alabama, recording just 5.5 sacks in his career. He’s also just 6-foot-4 and 243 pounds, so he’s undersized as an edge rusher. But in the Rams’ system, Robinson fits well at outside linebacker. Los Angeles needs a designated pass rusher who can contribute on third down in a rotation with Jared Verse and Byron Young, which Robinson would bring to the table.
195. RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Arizona
Croskey-Merritt is a mature prospect who’s already 24 years old, fitting the mold of what the Rams tend to look for in draft picks. He can contribute on special teams as a returner, which is an area Los Angeles could often always help at. Croskey-Merritt isn’t a burner or a home-run hitter but he’d give the Rams depth behind Kyren Williams and Blake Corum.
201. QB Dillon Gabriel, Oregon
Gabriel is an accurate passer who completed 73% of his passes last season, but that number is misleading because of the offense he played in. There were a lot of open receivers at Oregon and they threw a bunch of short-to-intermediate passes, but Gabriel operated the offense at an incredibly high level. He’s already 24 years old and lacks arm strength with his 5-foot-11 frame, so his upside isn’t great as an NFL quarterback.
202. TE Moliki Matavao, UCLA
Matavaoo is 6-foot-6 and 260 pounds with below-average speed (4.81), but he put up good numbers last season at UCLA with a team-high 41 catches for 506 yards. The Rams could use tight end help with Tyler Higbee and Colby Parkinson atop the depth chart, but Matavao probably won’t develop into a high-end pass catcher at the next level.
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