The Los Angeles Rams need to tread lightly at the top of the 2026 NFL Draft to avoid repeating Les Snead’s biggest mistake
When the Los Angeles Rams selected Tutu Atwell in the 2021 NFL Draft, the hope was they had found their new Desean Jackson. This year, the Rams would be wise to avoid repeating that mistake by selecting another player they met with pre-draft
The Los Angeles Rams haven’t made a lot of mistakes in the NFL Draft ever since Sean McVay arrived. However, the ones they have made have been glaring.
Perhaps none moreso than the selection of Louisville wide receiver Tutu Atwell in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Fans at the time were outraged, given that Creed Humphrey was still on the board. Humphrey has gone on to be the best center in the NFL, while Atwell flamed out for predictable reasons everyone else saw coming
The Rams, and wide receivers coach Eric Yarber, believed Atwell could be their Desean Jackson replacement. In the process, they ignored the rest of his red flags. Now, after another pre-draft meeting with a similar process this year, I’m hoping they won’t fall into the same trap.
Zachariah Branch meeting with Los Angeles Rams-worrisome or wonderful?
According to Justin Melo (and Branch himself), the Rams flew out to meet with Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch. In a vacuum, this isn’t a surprise. The Rams have met with numerous wide receivers ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Branch is a slot-only wide receiver with his slight build, with devastating 4.35 speed and feasted on manufactured targets and sweeps at Georgia. Sound familiar? It’s an altogether similar profile to Atwell.
Now, it’s not fair to Branch to assume he will flame out the same way Atwell did. Branch doesn’t have the durability concerns Atwell did, and to his credit, can actually return kicks and punts. He is devastating after the catch with blazing speed, and can take any touch to the house. In a pure football sense, he’d be a great addition for a Rams’ offense needing explosives.
However, I worry about him not fitting in the offense the same Atwell couldn’t. Remember that Sean McVay said they effectively stopped playing Atwell this season because he couldn’t see the field as an outside target in their heavy personnel. Atwell couldn’t separate without a free release, and his blocking was non-existent.
Branch has much of the same concerns. The vast majority of his touches at Georgia were screens and manufactured plays out of the slot. At 5’9, 177-pounds with 29 3/8″ arms, he’s going to be a slot-only target in the NFL as well. If the Rams are sticking with heavy personnel where Atwell couldn’t see the field, why would Branch?
As a point in his favor, Branch could be a devasting weapon as a returner. However, he’s being viewed as a potential top-50 selection in the NFL Draft. You aren’t drafting a kick returner in the top-50 (at least, a sane team wouldn’t).
It’s a confusing fit, and the Rams seem to be sending mixed signals here.
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