Florida receiver Ricky Pearsall could be a Rams draft target, should they trade up for him?

The Los Angeles Rams do not do the “top-30” visits that most every other team does, just like they don’t really care about the combine or 40 times, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have players they’re targeting. The Rams sent representatives to Florida’s pro day in March and receiver Ricky Pearsall said afterwards that he met with them following the workout. But Pearsall’s sort of in a weird gray area between L.A.’s picks at 19 and 52, so if there’s a real interest there for a receiver who can make one-handed catches like this one:

Then how should we expect the Rams to draft Pearsall, if they really want to do it?

Ricky Pearsall

He is 6’1, 189 lbs and he had some dominant numbers at the combine that the Rams don’t care about: 4.41 40-yard dash, 1.57 10-yard split, 42” vertical, 10’9 broad jump, 6.64 three-cone, 4.05 short shuttle, and 17 reps on the bench. He is an athlete.

His 40 is in the 81st percentile, but his vertical is 98th percentile, his shuttle is 88th percentile, his broad is 92nd percentile, and his thre cone is 94th percentile.

Just like Jayden Daniels, Pearsall transferred away from Arizona State in 2021 and chose Florida. He had 661 yards and 113 rushing yards in 2022, then 65 catches for 965 yards and four touchdowns in 2023. The production isn’t off the charts, but Florida’s quarterback play between Anthony Richardson and Graham Mertz was not stellar for receivers.

Ricky Pearsall draft value

In a draft class without three top-10 picks, maybe Pearsall is a lock for the first round. Instead, everyone else like him gets pushed down a peg and he’s also not expected to be in the second tier with the likes of Brian Thomas and Xavier Worthy. But Pearsall could push his way into the final few picks of round one and should be a lock for round two.

At NFL Mock Draft Database, Pearsall has seen a rise from a ~100th player before the combine to just above 50th in recent mock drafts.

How to get him

At 52, Pearsall could be available to the Rams in the second round although the absolute best second round receivers often get picked right at the top of day two like Tee Higgins in 2020. If the Rams felt that Pearsall could be the best day two receiver and he dropped out of the top-40, would it be worth a small trade up?

Going from 52 to 45 or something should only cost a fifth or sixth round pick. The Rams have a ton of sixth round capital, so maybe it would cost two sixths to move up 5-7 spots in the second round. There is talk of this draft. being really talent poor outside of the top-120 or so prospects. It could be a good chance for the Rams to unload some of those picks in the weakest area of the draft to move up to secure someone they really like.

Since the Rams are also known to have had a small discussion with Rome Odunze, an expected top-10 pick at receiver, clearly Les Snead isn’t entirely satisfied with the receiving corps right now. Demarcus Robinson is a WR4, not a WR3, and Tutu Atwell’s not reliable or signed past 2024. Cooper Kupp’s final season could be coming up. There are many reasons to target a receiver in the draft, if you’re the Rams, but would it be worth a little day three sacrifice to get one?

Or would the Rams rather trade down into the 30-40 range and draft Pearsall with their first pick?