The Los Angeles Rams made the most polarizing draft selection of the first round with Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson.
They took a tight end in the second round with Max Klare, an offensive tackle in Keagean Trost with the third round pick, wide receiver CJ Daniels in the sixth, and defensive tackle Tim Keenan III in the seventh round.
They did not have a fourth- or fifth-round pick, and they traded away their second first-rounder earlier in the offseason in the trade for Trent McDuffie.
Now that all seven rounds of the NFL Draft are over, ESPN’s Mel Kiper — the legendary, long-time draft analyst — has graded all 32 NFL teams’ draft classes.
Of the 32 teams, the Rams were the fifth-lowest-rated, earning a C grade.
“I had wide receiver and right tackle as my top two needs for the Rams, and I saw addressing either position in a meaningful way in Round 1 as the potential topper on building a real no-joke contender,” Kiper wrote.
“But then Los Angeles shocked everyone and took Ty Simpson. On one hand, smart front offices try to plan ahead, moving on future needs before they actually develop. But taking Simpson here did not line up with the team’s Super Bowl window and current trajectory. It also did nothing to make the team better today.
“Max Klare was a slight reach on Day 2, but it was another spot where I thought Los Angeles could get that missing WR3.
“And because I have Keagen Trost kicking inside in the pros, the Rams went into Saturday without a single one of their top three needs accounted for. CJ Daniels caught seven touchdowns last season, but he isn’t the WR3 I was hoping to see.”
A post shared by LA Sports Report (@lasportsreport)
Out of the five players coming into the season, Klare has to be the player most likely to make an impact, especially due to the tight-end-heavy scheme that Sean McVay runs.
The only problem with the pick is that he could have been taken with their third-round pick possibility, but a run of tight ends in Day 2 must have made the team wary of missing out.
As a good pass-catcher, route-runner, and possibly a decent pass blocker, he has the ingredients to develop into a top tight end, but there are improvements needed.
The post Rams Receive Harsh Grade For 2026 Draft Class appeared first on LA Sports Report.