Rams mock draft roundup: Expert picks after Trent McDuffie trade

Andrés Soto, USA TODAYThu, March 5, 2026 at 11:06 AM UTC

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Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead is swinging for the fences again.

The Rams are acquiring cornerback Trent McDuffie from the Kansas City Chiefs for four draft picks, including the No. 29 overall pick in 2026. McDuffie, entering the final season of his rookie deal, is expected to sign a long-term extension with the Rams.

It's a homecoming for the Southern California native, who played his sophomore and junior years of high school ball at Servite before transferring to St. John Bosco for his senior year.

On Tuesday, Snead cryptically told reporters that he was looking to add an All-Pro caliber defensive back after being set to lose four free agents in the secondary next week. McDuffie fills that need, and he arrives in a way similar to how the Rams landed Jalen Ramsey in 2019 and Marcus Peters (also a former Chief) before him in 2018.

The trade has caused the mock draft landscape to shuffle, as many originally had the Rams addressing their secondary with either of their two first round picks. Now with just the No. 13 pick, Snead and Co. can still go for a defensive back, but that seems a lot less likely.

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Here is what the experts think the Rams will pivot to in an post-trade, post-combine mock draft roundup:

1 / 0NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana2026 Rams mock draft roundupNo. 13 (from Atlanta)USA TODAY Sports: WR Denzel Boston, WashingtonESPN: TE Kenyon Sadiq, OregonNFL.com: WR Makai Lemon, USCSports Illustrated: QB Ty Simpson, AlabamaCBS Sports: OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia

USA TODAY Sports: "Obviously zero need now to reach for a corner here with McDuffie inbound. LA had the league’s No. 1 passing game in 2025 – in large part due to Puka Nacua’s heroics. But Davante Adams, 33, was the only other productive wideout and battled injuries late in the season and is only under contract for one more year.

"Boston (6-4, 212) is the kind of supersized red-zone target (20 TD catches since 2024) and boundary receiver who could provide an easy transition from Adams while perfectly complementing Nacua." — Nate Davis

Sports Illustrated: "Simpson has the arm talent, intangibles and accuracy to be a quality NFL starter, and Stafford would be a tremendous mentor." — Daniel Flick

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rams mock draft picks for first round after Trent McDuffie trade

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Source: “AOL Sports”