The Los Angeles Rams came up just short of punching another ticket to the Super Bowl, but they’re heading into the offseason with something just as valuable: draft capital. Thanks to a savvy move during last year’s draft, GM Les Snead and the Rams own not one, but two first-round picks in April - and both come with serious potential to reshape the roster.
The first, at No. 13 overall, comes courtesy of the Atlanta Falcons. That pick could be a prime spot to grab an impact player - whether it’s a difference-maker on defense or a dynamic weapon to bolster the offense. The second pick, No. 29, is the Rams’ own selection, locked in after their season ended with a tough loss in Seattle on Sunday night.
For a team that’s been in win-now mode for much of the past few years, this is a rare opportunity to reload through the draft. Snead has never shied away from bold moves, and with two first-rounders in hand, the Rams are positioned to either make a splash on draft night or stockpile talent for the long haul.
Meanwhile, the Denver Broncos - who saw their season end in the AFC Championship - will pick just behind the Rams at No. 30. That’s a tough spot to be in: close enough to the top to feel like a contender, but far enough from the finish line to know there’s still work to be done.
Now that the Super Bowl matchup is set, the full order for picks 19 through 32 is locked in. The NFL determines these slots based on how teams finish in the playoffs: wild-card round exits land in picks 19-24, divisional-round losses go 25-28, and the final four teams round out the first round. When teams have identical records, strength of schedule serves as the tiebreaker - the team that faced the easier slate gets the higher pick.
Here’s how the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft shapes up, with the draft set to kick off April 23 in Pittsburgh:
1. Las Vegas Raiders (3-14)
2. New York Jets (3-14)
3. Arizona Cardinals (3-14)
4. Tennessee Titans (3-14)
5. New York Giants (4-13)
6. Cleveland Browns (5-12)
7. Washington Commanders (5-12)
8. New Orleans Saints (6-11)
9. Kansas City Chiefs (6-11)
10. Cincinnati Bengals (6-11)
11. Miami Dolphins (7-10)
12. Dallas Cowboys (7-9-1)
13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta: 8-9)
14. Baltimore Ravens (8-9)
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9)
16. New York Jets (from Indianapolis: 8-9)
17. Detroit Lions (9-8)
18. Minnesota Vikings (9-8)
19. Carolina Panthers (8-9)
20. Dallas Cowboys (from Green Bay: 9-7-1)
21. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)
22. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6)
23. Philadelphia Eagles (11-6)
24. Cleveland Browns (from Jacksonville: 13-4)
25. Chicago Bears (11-6)
26. Buffalo Bills (12-5)
27. San Francisco 49ers (12-5)
28. Houston Texans (12-5)
29. Los Angeles Rams (12-5)
30. Denver Broncos (14-3)
31. New England Patriots (14-3)*
32. Seattle Seahawks (14-3)*
*Super Bowl participants
With the draft now just a few months away, front offices across the league are deep into evaluations. For teams like the Rams and Broncos, the goal is clear: find the right pieces to take that next step. For others - like the Raiders, Jets, and Cardinals, all sitting at 3-14 - it’s about laying the foundation for something bigger down the road.
The stage is set. Now it’s time to see who’s ready to make the most of it.