Every pick in the NFL draft carries its own history, and the 26th overall selection is no different. While it may not carry the star power of a top-10 pick, No. 26 has produced its share of difference-makers, role players, and a few forgettable names.
As the Los Angeles Rams prepare to pick at No. 26 overall in the 2025 NFL draft, we’re looking back at the last 20 players selected with that selection. Of those 20 players, five of them made the Pro Bowl at least once, four were All-Pros and one of them won a Super Bowl.
2024: Graham Barton, C
- College: Duke
- Seasons as a starter: 1
2023: Mazi Smith, DT
- College: Michigan
- Seasons as a starter: 1
2022: Jermaine Johnson, DE
- College: Florida State
- Seasons as a starter: 1
- Pro Bowls: 1
2021: Greg Newsome II, CB
![Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) reacts on a third down stop during the first quarter of an NFL football matchup Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Browns defeated the Jaguars 18-13. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://media.zenfs.com/en/los_angeles_rams_wire_usa_today_sports_articles_716/2ad68faf607f8b9d65062d26880997ac)
- College: Northwestern
- Seasons as a starter: 3
2020: Jordan Love, QB
- College: Utah State
- Seasons as a starter: 2
2019: Montez Sweat, DE
- College: Mississippi State
- Seasons as a starter: 5
- Pro Bowls: 1
2018: Calvin Ridley, WR
- College: Alabama
- Seasons as a starter: 4
- All-Pros: 1
2017: Takk McKinley, DE
- College: UCLA
- Seasons as a starter: 2
2016: Paxton Lynch, QB
- College: Memphis
- Seasons as a starter: 0
2015: Breshad Perriman, WR
- College: UCF
- Seasons as a starter: 1
2014: Marcus Smith, DE
- College: Louisville
- Seasons as a starter: 0
2013: Datone Jones, DT
- College: UCLA
- Seasons as a starter: 0
2012: Whitney Mercilus, LB
- College: Illinois
- Seasons as a starter: 8
- All-Pros: 1
2011: Jon Baldwin, WR
- College: Pittsburgh
- Seasons as a starter: 1
2010: Dan Williams, DT
- College: Tennessee
- Seasons as a starter: 6
2009: Clay Matthews, LB
- College: USC
- Seasons as a starter: 10
- Super Bowls: 1
- Pro Bowls: 6
- All-Pros: 2
2008: Duane Brown, OT
- College: Virginia Tech
- Seasons as a starter: 15
- Pro Bowls: 5
- All-Pros: 3
2007: Anthony Spencer, LB
- College: Purdue
- Seasons as a starter: 4
- Pro Bowls: 1
2006: John McCargo, DT
- College: NC State
- Seasons as a starter: 0
2005: Chris Spencer, OL
- College: Ole Miss
- Seasons as a starter: 6
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: NFL draft history: Last 20 players selected with 26th overall pick
Every pick in the NFL draft carries its own history, and the 26th overall selection is no different. While it may not carry the star power of a top-10 pick, No. 26 has produced its share of difference-makers, role players, and a few forgettable names.
As the Los Angeles Rams prepare to pick at No. 26 overall in the 2025 NFL draft, we’re looking back at the last 20 players selected with that selection. Of those 20 players, five of them made the Pro Bowl at least once, four were All-Pros and one of them won a Super Bowl.
2024: Graham Barton, C
- College: Duke
- Seasons as a starter: 1
2023: Mazi Smith, DT
- College: Michigan
- Seasons as a starter: 1
2022: Jermaine Johnson, DE
- College: Florida State
- Seasons as a starter: 1
- Pro Bowls: 1
2021: Greg Newsome II, CB
- College: Northwestern
- Seasons as a starter: 3
2020: Jordan Love, QB
- College: Utah State
- Seasons as a starter: 2
2019: Montez Sweat, DE
- College: Mississippi State
- Seasons as a starter: 5
- Pro Bowls: 1
2018: Calvin Ridley, WR
- College: Alabama
- Seasons as a starter: 4
- All-Pros: 1
2017: Takk McKinley, DE
- College: UCLA
- Seasons as a starter: 2
2016: Paxton Lynch, QB
- College: Memphis
- Seasons as a starter: 0
2015: Breshad Perriman, WR
- College: UCF
- Seasons as a starter: 1
2014: Marcus Smith, DE
- College: Louisville
- Seasons as a starter: 0
2013: Datone Jones, DT
- College: UCLA
- Seasons as a starter: 0
2012: Whitney Mercilus, LB
- College: Illinois
- Seasons as a starter: 8
- All-Pros: 1
2011: Jon Baldwin, WR
- College: Pittsburgh
- Seasons as a starter: 1
2010: Dan Williams, DT
- College: Tennessee
- Seasons as a starter: 6
2009: Clay Matthews, LB
- College: USC
- Seasons as a starter: 10
- Super Bowls: 1
- Pro Bowls: 6
- All-Pros: 2
2008: Duane Brown, OT
- College: Virginia Tech
- Seasons as a starter: 15
- Pro Bowls: 5
- All-Pros: 3
2007: Anthony Spencer, LB
- College: Purdue
- Seasons as a starter: 4
- Pro Bowls: 1
2006: John McCargo, DT
- College: NC State
- Seasons as a starter: 0
2005: Chris Spencer, OL
- College: Ole Miss
- Seasons as a starter: 6
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: NFL draft history: Last 20 players selected with 26th overall pick
