Latest news with #LesSnead
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rams don't go QB in new 2026 mock draft
The Los Angeles Rams could have a lot of fun in the 2026 NFL Draft. Armed with their first-round pick as well as the Atlanta Falcons' first-round pick, general manager Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay can move around the draft as they wish — if they wish. Advertisement A lot of pundits believe the Rams will take a quarterback in a stacked first round as the heir apparent to Matthew Stafford, but Pro Football Network's Mark Stolte isn't so sure L.A. will go that route. In his new three-round 2026 mock draft, Stolte predicts the Rams will instead use their picks to upgrade other positions of need and forego the quarterback, mostly because all of the top names are gone by the time the Falcons' pick comes up. This mock also assumes Arch Manning returns to Texas for another season. Here's how PFN predicts the Rams' 2026 draft will go: Pick No. 12 (from Falcons): Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee "Picking 12th and missing out on the top five quarterbacks is rough for the Los Angeles Rams," Solte wrote. "Thankfully, that's thanks to the Atlanta Falcons, not their own performance. Nevertheless, that makes picking Jermod McCoy an easy call, especially with extra draft capital to find Matthew Stafford's replacement later or in 2027. In 2024, he looked like a true lockdown corner — allowing just 31 catches on 62 targets, grabbing four interceptions (tied for 11th), breaking up six passes, and giving up a 53.6 passer rating (39th out of 494). Even better, McCoy showed up against big-name receivers." Pick No. 25: The Rams trade back with the Panthers The Rams trade out of the first round for the second consecutive year, this time sending Nos. 25, 89, 143, 164, and a 2027 third-rounder to the Panthers for No. 38 and the Panthers' 2027 first-rounder. So, the Rams would own two first-rounders in 2027 which once again insulates them from Stafford leaving. Pick No. 38 (From Panthers): Eric Singleton Jr., WR, Auburn Singleton will have wrapped up his first season at Auburn after two years at Georgia Tech, where he caught 104 receptions for 1,468 and nine touchdowns in 24 games. At 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, Singleton would compete for the Rams' No. 3 receiver spot behind Davante Adams and Puka Nacua Pick No. 57: Micah Morris, G, Georgia Morris is entering his third year as a starting offensive lineman for Georgia. He stands at 6-foot-4 and weighs 330 pounds. You can never have two many offensive linemen, and Morris could be a good depth piece for L.A. This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: 2026 NFL mock draft: Rams don't go QB and trade back instead
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Rams braintrust of Les Snead and Sean McVay named among best in NFL
Rams braintrust of Les Snead and Sean McVay named among best in NFL Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay have shepherded some of the best seasons in franchise history since they joined forces in 2017. The duo has made the playoffs together in all but two seasons over the past eight seasons with an 80-52 record, including making the Super Bowl twice and winning it once. That success hasn't gone unnoticed. NBC Sports' Patrick Daugherty ranked the Snead-McVay pairing as the third-best unit in the NFL. The list didn't always include coaches, though, but McVay clearly plays a role in the team's decision-making. Only Philadelphia Eagles' GM Howie Roseman and the Kansas City Chiefs' Andy Reid and Brett Veach were higher on the list. Daugherty pointed out that the Rams' under Snead and McVay haven't been defined by the "Jared Goff" or "Matthew Stafford" years since both quarterbacks made the Super Bowl for the team. Additionally, the Rams have weathered the loss of Aaron Donald only to replace him with another Defensive Rookie of the Year in Jared Verse and a collection of defensive stars able to replicate aspects of Donald's game. "Quarterback issues, offensive line woes, assistants constantly departing for head-coaching jobs … McVay has weathered it all," Daugherty wrote. "McVay has made plenty of mistakes — see his history of trade and free agent additions at receiver — but he always admits them quickly. McVay doesn't get bogged down by the sunk cost fallacy or 'the way we've always done things.' He adapts. And wins. A lot." The relationship between Snead and McVay is one of the tightest in the NFL and it's a big reason why the team keeps winning despite roster turnover. Apart from one down season in 2022 in which Stafford and many others missed time with injury, this Rams franchise has been the model of consistency. They'll try to continue that success in 2025.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
Rams spending $50.8M on players no longer on the team: Where does that rank in the NFL?
Les Snead and Sean McVay have done a remarkable job of managing the Los Angeles Rams' roster over the years, especially after remodeling the team in 2023 after a dreadful 2022 campaign. They're made their share of mistakes (see: Robinson, Allen) but at the same time, they've also built a foundation of young players who can sustain long-term success. Despite their cap-savvy moves, the Rams still have a fair amount of dead money on the books for 2025. Dead money is cap space allocated to players no longer on the team, either because they were cut, traded or retired. According to Over The Cap, the Rams have $50.82 million in dead money this year. Here's how it breaks down by player. Cooper Kupp: $22.26M (cut) Joe Noteboom: $10M (void year) Aaron Donald: $9.67M (retired) Jonah Jackson: $8.5M (traded) The Rams' $50.82 million in dead money is the eighth-most in the NFL and they're one of just 10 teams with more than $40 million. Two of the Rams' biggest rivals, the 49ers and Seahawks, are among the three teams with the most dead money in the league. The 49ers have an NFL-high $92.65 million this year, with the Eagles second ($71.99M) and the Seahawks third ($67.45M). The Bears have the least dead money in the NFL with only $4.05 million paid out this year. Follow Rams Wire on X, Facebook and Threads for more coverage!
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Wickersham: What Caleb Williams Did to Avoid Being Drafted by Bears
Rams GM Les Snead on Getting Back to the Super Bowl with Stafford Rams GM Les Snead and Rich Eisen discuss L.A. trading out of the first round and their overall draft strategy this year and the team's desire to get back to the Super Bowl before Matthew Stafford retires. 3:09 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
USA Today
15-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Mina Kimes explains how Rams GM Les Snead pulled off a 'masterclass'
Mina Kimes explains how Rams GM Les Snead pulled off a 'masterclass' Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead is one of the most successful active front office executives in the NFL. After rocky start to his tenure, he's navigated the Rams to six playoffs, two Super Bowls and won one. Snead has done so despite trading away countless first-round picks and losing key franchise stars along the way. ESPN's Mina Kimes ranked the Rams as her No. 4 front offices in the league based on the idea that Snead was able to build a winning team around veterans while simultaneously draft stars to build a youthful core for the future. "The idea that a team could both be all in with older players but then rebuilding at the same time with younger players — the Rams did it," Kimes said on her podcast. "You have to give Les Snead all the credit in the world. The fact that they did 'F them picks,' won a Super Bowl and immediately became competitive again through the strength in their draft picks is incredible." Kimes specifically mentioned how well Snead fixed the Rams' defensive issues immediately after Aaron Donald retired from the NFL — a feat Snead himself said was a tough task that involved a lot of players and picks. "The defense post-Aaron Donald was supposed to go off a cliff," Kimes added, "The fact that it didn't is Les Snead's masterclass." The Rams will once again be competing for a division crown and possible another Super Bowl appearances after L.A. brought Matthew Stafford back and switched up some key positions across the roster. The defense gets another year to gel together, too, after finishing the regular season with three consecutive games from Weeks 14 to 17 allowing fewer than 10 points. A lot of that falls on Sean McVay's coaching, but Snead's ability to put together a roster of quality veterans and young players is a testament to his roster-building strategy. However, the next endeavor will be what he's able to pull off in the post-Stafford world in a year or two.
