Training camp is about to put one of the Rams’ biggest roster questions under the microscope: who, if anyone, becomes the No. 3 receiver behind Puka Nacua and Davante Adams?
That answer matters for more than just the depth chart. It also circles back to the draft, where Los Angeles passed on a receiver early and instead used the 13th pick on quarterback Ty Simpson. If the Rams come up short at WR3, that decision is going to get dragged back into the conversation fast.
CJ Daniels, a sixth-round pick, will get every chance to win the job. But he does not enter camp with the kind of built-in advantage that comes with being a first-rounder or even a Day 2 selection. So this is shaping up as a true open competition through camp and the preseason.
And the Rams have options. Jordan Whittington is still in the mix as he heads into Year 3 and needs a bounce-back season.
Xavier Smith showed last year that he can be a deep threat, and that role could expand. Konata Mumpfield, a 2025 seventh-rounder, made clear progress as his rookie season went on and has a real path to climb the depth chart.
Daniels, for his part, has a strong chance to make his presence felt even as the 201st overall pick.
There’s also the possibility that Sean McVay leans on tight end Terrance Ferguson as a sort of de facto third receiver. Ferguson averaged 21 yards per catch last season, and that kind of versatility could help fill the gap if the wideout group doesn’t produce a clear answer.
The bigger point is that the Rams are not short on candidates. They just don’t have a proven third target yet.
That’s why the camp battle matters. With Nacua and Adams forming a dominant top duo, the offense can probably live without a flashy WR3 - unless injuries hit. But both receivers were banged up last season, and if one of them misses time, the lack of a reliable third option could become a real problem.
So while Simpson looks like the move that protects the franchise’s future at quarterback, the Rams still need somebody at receiver to seize the moment. If no one does, the draft debate isn’t going away anytime soon.
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