2026 Offensive Draft Gems

My 2026 Offensive Draft Gems:

Introduction:
We are under a month away from the 2026 NFL Draft, and the Rams are set to make just their second first round pick since 2016. Unfortunately, there are no prospects named Jared with any chance of going inside the first 32 picks, so we can’t follow that trend after our previous two first rounders being used on Verse and Goff.

However, in this report I’ll be focussing on the players that may be going under the radar and could be targeted by the Rams outside of the first round. I have selected one player for each position that I personally like and will explain where they could be drafted and why I believe they could be a steal later in the draft. I will start on the offensive side of the ball in this report and move on to the defensive players on the next one.

Without further ado, lets delve into the quarterback I believe has one of the higher ceilings in this QB group.

Quarterback: Drew Allar – 6”5, 228 lbs
Allar had an up and down college career at Penn State, with his best year coming in 2024 when Penn State recorded their first ever 13-win season and were just one win away from the College Football National Championship game. Allar probably has the most impressive build out of all the QB prospects in this draft, which allows him to escape sacks and gain valuable yards with his legs in a similar vein to Josh Allen.

Penn State ran a very run-heavy offense in 2024 which allowed Allar to benefit from play action passes and deep shots that caught the defence off guard once they stacked the box to stop the run. He showcased incredible arm talent throughout his college career with both deep shots and when he had to fire the ball into tight windows. Tight windows were a common occurrence for Allar as he never had a top-tier receiver who was able to separate from man coverage, so Allar had to zip the ball to his receivers with minimal room for error.

However, Allar does sometimes lack some vision when his receivers are able to separate, or the defence throws him a curveball. He was caught out several times in 2025 when the defence disguised their coverage and he couldn’t process the changes from pre-snap to post-snap quickly enough, which meant he got skittish and made poor throws or took unnecessary sacks. This also occasionally led to him throwing the ball up for grabs instead of throwing the ball away which resulted in some poor interceptions.

When he is able to understand the defence, his pocket presence vastly improves. Allar can step up in the pocket with confidence when he feels pressure off the edge and is able to keep his eyes downfield and let it loose. He is especially good at this when he knows he has a receiver one on one downfield and he can climb the pocket before firing the ball deep.

Overall, his placement and accuracy don’t leave much to be desired, but I believe a lot of that has to do with the inconsistency Penn State had at wide receiver. As he sometimes got stuck on his first read, he would have to try and fit passes into impossible gaps as his receivers struggled to separate or find openings in zone coverage.

I think Allar has the physical traits mixed with a strong arm that give him a high ceiling, and with the flexibility of allowing him at least a year to learn from Matthew Stafford, he could gain more confidence and processing knowledge to allow him to become a more polished quarterback in the long term. The difference between his high ceiling and low floor means that teams will have him in varying different spots on their draft board, but he is likely to go early on day three to a team willing to take a flyer on his intriguing upside.

Running back: Demond Claiborne – 5”10, 188 lbs
Claiborne is one of the most dangerous running backs in this draft class once he gets going. He is a certified home run hitter that can make what seems like a 4 or 5 yard run turn into a 70-yard touchdown. He demonstrated his electric speed at the combine, running a 4.37 second 40-yard dash, while reaching 23.71 mph which was the quickest speed recorded at the position.

There are times when he gets to the edge or in open space against a linebacker and he doesn’t even have to make a move he just bursts round the outside of them like they’re not even there. But when he is tasked with running more downhill, he optimises his ability to cut across the face of defenders in an instant and leave them on the grass.

On tape, it feels like he has great vision and trusts his blocks most of the time, but he sometimes tries to bounce his runs outside to try and get the longer runs when there are much easier guaranteed shorter gains available elsewhere. This is mainly due to the confidence he has in his own speed and elusiveness to always go big which is admirable but may backfire against better competition in the NFL.

There are some limitations to Claiborne’s usage as he will rarely be used on 3rd downs due to his low level of pass blocking as well as his inconsistent hands when receiving the ball through the air. His smaller frame mean he gets overpowered far too easily when he picks up blitzes, but the Rams have one of the best in the game at pass blocking in Kyren Williams who can help teach him better technique which will help make up for his lack of size.

Another key element of Claiborne’s game that the Rams would admire is his kick return ability. Over his college career, he has returned two kick-offs for a touchdown (1 each in 2023 and 2024). He clearly possesses the elusiveness and speed to be a dangerous returner, but he can occasionally over complicate returns trying to use stutter steps and several cuts rather than hitting a hole hard as he lacks that true power. Nevertheless, he always poses a threat to go all the way on every return, something the Rams haven’t achieved since October 2017, when Pharaoh Cooper raced away for a 103-yard kick-off return touchdown in Sean McVay’s first season in charge.

There is a word in the NFL that will probably give a few Rams fans some goosebumps: fumbles. Unfortunately, Claiborne suffered 10 fumbles in his college career (losing 7 of them) and he will have to improve on that figure if he is to build trust with his coaches and really challenge for a roster spot.

Both PFF and PFN agree that he is a day three prospect (ranked 171 and 105 overall respectively), so he is an appealing option as a running back who could compliment Williams and Corum well by subbing in and breaking off some big chunks of yardage every so often. He offers a little more juice and burst than those two backs, but the Rams offense was still more than efficient with two of the more reliable backs in the NFL so will have to make an impression early in camp and lean on his kick return skills to try and secure a roster spot.

Wide Receiver: Malik Benson – 6”0, 189 lbs
The Oregon wideout endured a tricky first two years at college during his time at Alabama and Florida State but burst on to the scene as a Duck in 2025. Benson was a decorated sprinter in high school, achieving accolades in 100m and 200m competitions. He uses his experience as a sprinter to be a serious deep threat on the outside (5 of his 6 2025 touchdowns were over 40 yards) while also being dangerous and dynamic with the ball in his hands.

It’s one thing being quick, but he also has incredible ball skills matched with a toughness not usually found in quicker and smaller receivers. Benson always puts his body on the line to make a catch, similar to a current star Rams receiver. He also seems to be able to extend and pluck the ball out of the air either in front of him in stride or above his head which help him bring in more contested catches than you’d think he’d be able to with his size and frame.

The main downfall of Benson is his lack of route running nuance. He is often guilty of giving off subtle tells when he is about to reach the break in his route which means the corner can read him relatively easily and jump the route. He also needs to improve his hand fighting during his routes as he can get manoeuvred by more physical corners who use their hands to bracket receivers. The good news for him if he gets drafted by the Rams, is that he will get to work with and learn from one of the best route runners in the game in Davante Adams. His experience and knowledge can help build Benson’s technical skills up to help match his athletic abilities.

The 23-year old’s speed and toughness can also be utilised by getting the ball in his hands in open space. The Rams often use wide receiver screens and jet sweeps to try and gain yards on the perimeter and Benson would excel in that role, while also being able to break free on crossing and dig routes across the middle where he can catch the ball and find the angle to break free of any deep safeties in his way. Puka Nacua’s catch and run over the middle of the field for a touchdown in overtime against Seattle last season, or Cooper Kupp’s catch over the middle from Matthew Stafford’s no-look pass in the Superbowl are the type of plays that spring to my mind that Benson could benefit from.

Benson’s inexperience and lack of route running skills mean that he is projected to fall into day three of the draft but there is clear potential for him to be moulded into a star. He has all the athleticism you could wish for and the Rams already have an elite wide receiver duo who can help teach him the ins and outs of the technical side of playing wide receiver. After the Rams let Tutu Atwell walk away to the Dolphins, they need a true deep threat who can stretch the field, and Benson certainly offers that which is why I believe he is worth a late round pick to join the Rams wide receiver corps.

Tight End: Nate Boerkircher – 6”5, 250 lbs
The Rams have tended to value quality blocking tight ends to pair with Tyler Higbee in the past and now they have Terrance Ferguson who is able to be a versatile and dynamic receiving threat all over the field on top of Higbee. With the increase in 13-personnel, the Rams may look to bolster their tight end room with a reliable blocking tight end, and Nate Boerkircher fits that bill.

Boerkircher is a polished blocker with a motor that never stops running until the whistle blows. He has great technique in both his hands and feet when blocking in both the run and pass game which means he can often be relied upon to block one on one. His drive and punch in to contact could almost be described as violent and it is rare to see him getting put on the back foot.

The Texas A&M senior brings that exact same toughness and motor in the receiving game too. He had limit opportunities in the passing game during his time in college, mainly due to his elite blocking that was relied on so heavily, but he did show that he was able to bring in difficult contested catches. Running against man coverage was his strength as he could use his physicality to box out defenders and use his strong hands to bring in passes both on and off target.

Boerkircher isn’t incredibly athletic so does sometimes get stuck to more physical defensive backs or linebackers that he can’t run away from due to his lack of top end speed or savvy route running. He didn’t run the 40-yard dash at the combine so we are yet to be able to quantify his athleticism against other prospects, and it may be the reason that he falls in the draft.

The Rams are quite well placed with their tight end room as it is with Ferguson, Parkinson, Allen and the re-signing of Higbee, but they could still dip in to the position if they are looking to continue to use 13 personnel at such a high rate. Boerkircher would offer valuable blocking ability which would allow the other tight ends to be utilised in the receiving game more and create even more mismatches against defences. He isn’t expected to be selected until the middle of day three, which seems to be an oversight to me as he seems NFL ready with the power, toughness and technique to make an impact on all three downs on day one.

Interior Offensive Lineman: Pat Coogan – 6”5, 311 lbs
The Indiana center helped his team lift the National Championship trophy at the end of the most recent season, after they went 16-0. His vast experience, football IQ and leadership was a key factor in the success of the team, including soon-to-be first overall pick Fernando Mendoza. 

As the center, he was able to effectively identify what the defence was showing and communicate it to his quarterback and fellow offensive linemen to keep them one step ahead. This is a key factor when playing center so coaches will be impressed with Coogan’s ability to read defences which will hopefully make his transition to the NFL much easier.

In terms of his actual play, he possesses good power and a strong base due to his good size for an interior offensive lineman. Coogan has a good initial punch and latches on to defensive linemen effectively to not let them get away from him. His hands are his real weapon as he can reset his grip really quickly and get them in good position to keep defensive players at arm’s length.

He can sometimes fall victim to defensive linemen who are able to use counters and strong arm moves who can bat his arms away and try to swim their way around him. Although he is tall for a center, Coogan has limited arm length at 31 inches, which was the second lowest of all centers at the combine. This means that he can sometimes be steered by longer linemen that can use their longer arms to dictate the leverage and control where they move in the pocket. 

Coogan may be restricted slightly by the offensive scheme, especially in the run game, as outside zone runs are a bit more of a struggle for him. His athletic ability isn’t as impressive as other prospects which means he sometimes struggles to move laterally quick enough to reach his blocks. Climbing vertically to the next level can also cause problems as much more agile linebackers can slip by his shorter arms quite easily.

Overall, Coogan is a solid and reliable player with above average football IQ and leadership skills that may need to be drafted to a team that runs a more downhill running game and where he is able to drop anchor and use his power and base to keep defenders at bay. Projected to be a 6th round pick, he has the capability to join the Rams and impress coaches with his mental capabilities and earn a roster spot with the hope that over time he can work on his technique to make up for his lacklustre athleticism.

Offensive Tackle: Drew Shelton – 6”5, 313 lbs
The Rams seem to have discovered a gem in Warren McClendon after Rob Havenstein missed time through injury last season, so tackle isn’t a hugely pressing need especially as they are in win now mode. However, they could do with some depth at the position, with a possible swing tackle to come in as an extra offensive lineman on some plays and offer extra mass and blocking prowess.

Shelton should excel in that role for a number of reasons. Swing tackles must be able to play on both sides of the offensive line as essentially an extra left or right tackle, and Shelton has experience playing both roles. In 2023 he had more snaps at right tackle before shifting to left tackle for his final two years at college. That experience is extremely valuable as although it may seem simple to switch sides, the technique behind the movement is completely flipped and isn’t easy to adapt to.

He also possesses above average athleticism which is another key attribute needed in a swing tackle. They are often used in an outside zone running game, so they need to be able to reach the next level or move laterally in order to reach their designated block and allow the running back an easier route to the edge of the defence. For a man who is 6”5 and over 300 lbs, he moves surprisingly fluidly which allow him to do all of the things asked of a swing tackle.

Despite his athleticism, Shelton lacks the top-end play strength required to deal with bulkier defensive ends. As a basic tackle, he may struggle to deal with stronger, more powerful edge rushers that get close to his chest and push him back in to the pocket and put him on his back foot. Coming up against Jared Verse could be quite the eye opener in practice if the Rams do draft Shelton.

Shelton’s agility occasionally gets the better of him as he sometimes over sets and over commits when dropping back from the snap, which allows speed rushers to dip inside of him and attack the middle of the pocket. If he is able to sustain solid positioning, he can deliver an effective initial punch and if he does get beaten by speed on the outside, he has a great recovery burst to recover and stop the edge rusher from bending and reaching his quarterback.

Realistically, it may be difficult for Shelton to establish himself as a true starting tackle unless he can bulk up and improve his strength. However, I do believe he holds value as a solid backup and very effective swing tackle that can help bring the extra size to the line of scrimmage to help with the run game or provide extra protection for the quarterback. PFN have placed him as their 90th player and I do believe it would be a little early to take him there but also think PFF’s ranking of 183 may be a little too low. A fourth-round pick on a solid rotational depth piece for the offensive line may be worth it for the Rams who have a few contracts expiring after this year on an already thin offensive line.