The Los Angeles Rams 2026 NFL Draft will be one that is talked about for a long time. The Rams were so close to reaching the Super Bowl in 2025, and a good draft could’ve put them over the hump. The NFC West is more wide open than it was last year, with the Seahawks losing multiple critical players in free agency and the 49ers coming off a disappointing 2025 campaign. Los Angeles had a golden opportunity to shore up roster deficiencies and elevate the team to the top of the division.
That’s not what happened in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Rams reached for long-term investments that won’t pay off until at least 2027. They got their QB of the future, as well as some offensive depth, but they didn’t get good value for the picks that they had. There were a number of directions that Los Angeles could’ve gone with their first round selection, but it chose to take a big gamble for the future, putting its present in jeopardy. Here are the newest Rams from the draft.
Round 1, Pick 13: Ty Simpson, Quarterback, Alabama
The Rams seemed solidified at the quarterback position going into the NFL Draft. Matthew Stafford is coming off an MVP season in 2025, as he threw for 4,707 yards, 46 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Even though he is entering this season at age 38, there’s no reason to believe that there will be a steep decline in production any time soon. That didn’t stop Los Angeles from taking a quarterback in the first round, a decision that is questionable at best.
It’s been an interesting draft cycle for Ty Simpson. He went from being considered an afterthought to becoming viewed as the best QB in the class in some circles. The fact of the matter is that he possesses elite QB skills, such as his footwork and release. His accuracy and timing need to improve, but he wouldn’t have to start for at least a year in Los Angeles. The Rams found their successor to Stafford, but this was a reach by any objective metric.
Round 2, Pick 61: Max Klare, Tight End, Ohio State
The TE position has been one to keep an eye on in Los Angeles. Tyler Higbee has had a great career for the Rams, but injuries have limited his availability in the last two seasons. Colby Parkinson hauled in eight touchdowns in his stead, and Terrance Ferguson contributed three scores as a rookie. With Higbee at 33 years old and Parkinson in the last year of his contract, tight end was a position of need, and the organization filled that need with Max Klare.
Klare is an excellent fit for the Rams, with how they want to utilize tight ends. Despite having a third-round grade, he’s an athletic threat in the passing game, recording 43 receptions for 448 yards and two touchdowns in his lone season for the Buckeyes. He doesn’t have the best hands nor is he an elite blocker, but an NFL offense that features TEs in the passing game will get immense value from him. Klare is unlikely to see much playing time in 2026 with who’s in front of him on the depth chart, but he could contend for a starting job in 2027.
Round 3, Pick 93: Keagen Trost, Offensive Tackle, Missouri
On paper, Los Angeles’s offensive tackles seem set in stone for 2026. Warren McClendon Jr. played in every game last season and had ten starts, while Alaric Jackson started 16 games at tackle in 2025. McClendon Jr. is in the last year of his deal, so taking a tackle in the draft made business sense for the Rams. Despite his fourth-round grade, Keagen Trost has value as a developmental tackle that can play guard if needed.
Trost had a long, winding road during his college career, starting in 2019 with a redshirt year followed by a COVID year. He finished his career at Missouri, where he earned First Team All-SEC honors, starting all 13 games for the Tigers. He has a good frame and can play in any run-blocking scheme. Elite edge rushers might give him some trouble in the NFL, but he could make the transition to guard. Trost might see some playing time this season as a backup, but it won’t be long until he’s starting for the Rams.
Round 6, Pick 197: CJ Daniels, Wide Receiver, Miami
CJ Daniels is an interesting selection at this point in the draft. He had a seventh-round grade, but is a crafty route runner and is prolific at winning contested catches. His lackluster speed and struggles against press coverage limit what he can do in the NFL. The Rams are in need of consistent production from WR3, and Daniels could be a player to watch in camp to see how quickly he can pick up the pro game.
Round 7, Pick 232: Tim Keenan III, Defensive Tackle, Alabama
The Rams acquired another member of the Crimson Tide to round out their 2026 draft class. Tim Keenan III is limited as a pass rusher, but offers value as a run stopper. He has the quickness and the hand placement to disrupt the ground game, and is effective at setting up DL twists. He lacks the length and the strength to be an every-down player in the NFL, but he can be productive as a rotational piece for Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Rams 2026 NFL Draft Grade: D
Even without the debate over who the Rams should’ve taken in the first round, they reached on every pick other than their seventh-round selection. For a team with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations, this draft class was a disappointment by any measure. The only saving grace is that Los Angeles did address some needs, but the value for the picks simply doesn’t add up. The hope for Rams fans is that the 2026 draft class doesn’t set the franchise back too much.
