Here's what Sean McVay and Les Snead said privately about every Rams pick during '25 draft

USA Today

23-05-2025

Here's what Sean McVay and Les Snead said privately about every Rams pick during '25 draft "I didn't think we'd be able to get him. That was my top player for today.'
Now that the Los Angeles Rams are about a month removed from the 2025 NFL Draft, we've heard Les Snead and Sean McVay talk about the players they landed multiple times. They couldn't be more excited about their six-player class, though that's probably how every general manager and head coach feels about their haul.
What's really telling is how the Rams talked about these players during the draft before they were picked, or even immediately after the selections were made. Thanks to Episode 2 of "Behind the Grind", we know exactly how Snead and McVay feel about each of the six players they drafted.
Below is a collection of quotes from the GM and head coach during the draft on every player the Rams picked, from Terrance Ferguson to Konata Mumpfield.
Round 2, No. 46: TE Terrance Ferguson, Oregon
It was evident that from the start of Day 2, the Rams wanted Ferguson on their team. He was their target after trading back to No. 46 and they were thrilled to get him in the second round.
'Let's just say it's Ferguson, we get him,' McVay said at the beginning of Round 2.
Snead was completely bought in because of how confident McVay was about his fit in the Rams offense.
Snead: 'I can actually say if I was ever confident in taking a risk knowing you would be pissed losing the player, this is as confident as I've ever been.'
McVay saw a vision for Ferguson from the first time he watched his tape, which just goes to show how much he liked the Oregon tight end in this year's class.
McVay: 'We have too much conviction, right? No doubt. You know how I feel. From the first (expletive) time we put this guy on, there was a vision.'
With Ferguson joining Tyler Higbee at tight end, McVay sounds adamant about running more two-TE sets out of 12 personnel.
McVay: 'Little 12 personnel now, Tony?!'
Round 3, No. 90: OLB Josaiah Stewart, Michigan
Externally, edge rusher wasn't viewed as a major need for the Rams but Snead and McVay both wanted to address the position and they feel they hit a home run with Stewart. Snead seemingly loved Stewart's tape from the start.
Snead: 'I love the way Stewart plays.'
McVay: 'You've always loved him.'
McVay was right there with Snead. He especially likes the violence Stewart plays with on the edge. And having come away with Ferguson and Stewart with their first two picks, McVay was jacked in the war room.
McVay: 'I had a lot of love for him right when I put eyes on him. This is a good pick. This is a good pick, man. There was a couple guys that stood out that add to the (expletive) violence of our front, and he was one of them. You had a lot of love for him and I second that. If you said a couple weeks ago that we'd pull off Ferguson and this guy, we'd feel good about that.'
McVay to Snead: 'This is like (Braden) Fiske and (Jared) Verse. This guy transferred up, overachiever. That's right, Les!'
Round 4, No. 117: RB Jarquez Hunter, Auburn
There was a report during the draft that Hunter was the Rams' top offensive target on Day 3 and that report was unquestionably true. From the beginning of Round 4, McVay had his eye on Hunter.
And Snead, being an Auburn alumnus, was in lockstep with his head coach about what Hunter could bring to the offense.
McVay: 'All things stay the same, Hunter, right?'
Snead: 'I'm a huge Auburn fan. We talked about an explosive back. I'm a huge fan of Hunter. Favorite running back.'
McVay: 'There is no question that's who I want.'
After the Rams traded up and landed Hunter, McVay felt like it was a great pick.
McVay: 'Don't overthink that. That's what we wanted. That's one we wanted. That's good.'
He didn't think the Rams would even be able to get him unless they traded up, calling Hunter his 'top player' on Day 3.
McVay: 'I didn't think we'd be able to get him today unless we did that. I didn't think we'd be able to get him. That was my top player for today.'
Round 5, No. 148: DL Ty Hamilton, Ohio State
Snead and McVay didn't say much about Hamilton in the episode but they're confident enough in the player that they traded up to get him. McVay targeted him, asking Snead, 'What do you want to do to try to get this guy?'
They gave up the 195th pick and a 2026 fourth-rounder to move up 47 spots for Hamilton, so there's no doubt they love the player.
McVay: 'That's good. That's good, good, good right there.'
Snead: 'Oh man, let's go.'
Round 5, No. 172: LB Chris Paul Jr., Ole Miss
While the Rams were waiting to make their next pick, they flipped on some film of Paul. Needing some help at inside linebacker, they were looking to add a more athletic player and that's what they're getting in Paul.
McVay sees an aggressive, fast linebacker who attacks the ball and makes plays.
McVay: 'I like his movement, I like his trigger. He plays faster. I just see a more urgent athlete.'
Snead: 'He's a smoother guy.'
McVay: 'Like, when he sees it, he can go get it different.'
When the pick was in, McVay was pumped. He was happy about the first five picks as a whole, and there was still one more pick to make.
McVay: 'That's a good (expletive) pick, man. That is five good players we've pulled off, man. That's awesome. I like that. That's really good.'
Round 7, No. 242: WR Konata Mumpfield, Pittsburgh
With their final pick at No. 242, the Rams targeted a receiver. Like they did with Paul, McVay and Snead watched some tape on Mumpfield out of Pitt. McVay was seemingly blown away by some of the traits he brings to the table, viewing him as a great pick in the seventh round.
He was confident Mumpfield was the best receiver still on the board, saying it wasn't even close.
McVay: 'He's the best receiver. That's not close. He makes some impressive adjustments too, now. Can change his route tempo. This is impressive. I like the way he's wired, for sure. Mumpfield seems like a good pick in the seventh.'
Post-draft
After the Rams wrapped things up with their final pick, McVay quickly reflected on their six-player haul. He told Snead that the Rams got exactly what they wanted, addressing the positions they wanted to fill, while still going after the top players on their board.
McVay: 'You talk about using exactly the picks for what we said, while still acknowledging the best players on our board. You go D-line, ILB, and then you go offensive skill: running back, tight end, receiver. That's exactly how we said we wanted to play this.'
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