The Los Angeles Rams are likely beginning to set their sights on a handful of prospects who they would love to draft with the 26th overall pick in Round 1. However, as Les Snead always says, the enemy has a say, and someone might like those prospects as much as the Rams, if not more.
That could leave Los Angeles without its favorite prospects on the board at No. 26, forcing the front office to pivot. It's hard to know which players will still be available that late in the round, but ESPN Analytics attempted to predict who will be on the board when the Rams go on the clock.
Here's a look at the 27 most likely players to be available for the Rams based on ESPN's chart. The percentages are a rough estimate considering ESPN's chart doesn't give exact values.
90% chance or higher
- TE Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green: 99%
- OL Grey Zabel, North Dakota State: 93%
- OLB James Pearce Jr., Tennessee: 92%
- DT Omarr Norman-Lott, Tennessee: 90%
It's unlikely the Rams will take any of these players, even if they do have a high chance of being available. Fannin is more of a second-round prospect, Zabel doesn't fill a need as an interior lineman, edge rusher isn't a high priority for the Rams and Norman-Lott is not viewed as a first-round prospect.
80-89% chance
- CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky: 88%
- OLB Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College: 86%
- DT Kenneth Grant, Michigan: 81%
- OT Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon: 80%
Hairston could be the perfect blend of availability and positional need. He has a good chance to be on the board at No. 26 and he would improve the secondary, which could use a young playmaker like him. Ezeiruaku is a dynamic edge rusher with great length but the Rams probably won't take an outside linebacker this early. Grant is a possibility but also seems unlikely with the Rams' defensive line depth, while Conerly could be a future right tackle option after Rob Havenstein retires.
70-79% chance
- DT Walter Nolen, Ole Miss: 76%
- CB Azareye'h Thomas, Florida State: 74%
Out of these two, Thomas is probably more likely to be selected by the Rams. However, he could be available in the second round, making him a better option if Los Angeles trades back a little bit from No. 26. Nolen is a promising prospect who can play across the defensive line, but after the Rams added Poona Ford, it's not a primary need.
60-69% chance
- DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon: 64%
Had the Rams not signed Ford in free agency, Harmon would make a lot of sense as a nose tackle prospect who can fit alongside Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske. However, even if he's on the board, the Rams will probably pass.
50-59% chance
- OT Josh Simmons, Ohio State: 58%
- WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State: 57%
- OLB Mike Green, Marshall: 54%
- S Malaki Starks, Georgia: 53%
- RB Omarion Hampton: 53%
Simmons is one option if the Rams are confident he can be their future left tackle. Egbuka is a terrific option as a slot receiver who complements Nacua and Adams nicely, so he should be squarely in the mix. Green is an incredibly explosive defender but the Rams are set atop the depth chart at edge rusher with Jared Verse and Byron Young.
Starks is a ...
