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Rams 2026 NFL Draft recap: Pick-by-pick analysis
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- Rams 2026 NFL Draft recap: Pick-by-pick analysis
The Los Angeles Rams came into the 2026 NFL Draft with seven total picks after trading away three of them for Trent McDuffie in March . They cut down on their total selections again on Saturday, trading up in the sixth round by giving up their final two picks in the seventh round.
In all, they came away with five prospects, four of them playing offense and one on defense. It's the smallest class of Sean McVay's tenure, showing the Rams were looking for quality, not quantity, for their Super Bowl-caliber roster.
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There were a few surprises at the top with QB Ty Simpson and TE Max Klare, but most of the selections will get a chance to compete for playing time as rookies.
Here's a recap of what the Rams did in the 2026 draft.
Round 1, No. 13: QB Ty Simpson, Alabama
Alabama QB Ty Simpson
The Rams did what few people expected them to. They selected a quarterback in the first round, drafting Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick. It was a stunning selection, especially with Makai Lemon – who many thought the Rams would take if available – still on the board at that spot.
But it's clear the Rams think highly of Simpson, using a top-15 pick on him and making him the heir to Matthew Stafford 's throne. Simpson looked like a first-round pick in the first half of last season but his play fell off, throwing just eight touchdown passes and four interceptions in his final seven games – including a zero-touchdown, two-pick performance against Eastern Illinois.
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Simpson was a polarizing prospect in this year's class, which is viewed as a weak one at quarterback. But Sean McVay believes he can turn him into a franchise centerpiece for years to come, taking Stafford's successor in Round 1.
Round 2, No. 61: TE Max Klare, Ohio State
Ohio State TE Max Klare
The Rams doubled down on the offense, taking another player at a position where they were already in good shape. Klare is a good receiving tight end, similar to Terrance Ferguson , but he's not a great blocker. With Davis Allen and Colby Parkinson entering contract years, the Rams are preparing for what could be their eventual departures by taking Klare here.
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He finished third on Ohio State last season with 448 yards receiving, catching two touchdown passes, as well. Klare was named a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2025.
The Rams are clearly committed to running 13 personnel again in 2026, given all the tight end depth and talent they have. Klare isn't much of a blocker, but his strong hands could make him a red zone threat and a middle-of-the-field target for Stafford.
Round 3, No. 93: OT Keagen Trost, Missouri
After adding what were viewed as luxury picks in Rounds 1 and 2, the Rams finally addressed a need on the offensive line. They selected Trost at No. 93, bolstering the tackle position with a versatile lineman who can play outside or move inside to guard.
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Trost fits the mold as a prospect who "leveled up" in college, starting out at Morgan State in 2019 and finishing at Missouri in 2025, with stops at Indiana State and Wake Forest along the way. He's a good candidate to be the Rams' swing tackle right away, while potentially also competing for the starting right tackle spot as a rookie.
Round 6, No. 197: WR CJ Daniels, Miami
Miami WR CJ Daniels
Trade details:
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Rams trade:Nos. 207, 251, 252
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Eagles trade:No. 197
The Rams traded up 10 spots to go get their guy in the sixth round, giving up their last two picks in the seventh. Daniels was a standout player for the Hurricanes last season, catching seven touchdown passes and racking up 557 yards on 50 receptions.
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He spent four years at Liberty before transferring to LSU in 2024 and then to Miami in 2025. He's a veteran prospect who comes with great experience, something the Rams tend to prefer when drafting players.
Daniels was a second-team All-Conference USA selection in 2023 when he led Liberty with 55 catches for 1,067 yards.
Round 7, No. 232: DT Tim Keenan III, Alabama
Alabama DT Tim Keenan III
With their final pick in the 2026 draft, the Rams turned their attention to the defense. They bolstered the defensive line with a massive player in Keenan, a 327-pound nose tackle from the Crimson Tide.
The Rams are loaded on the defensive line already but Keenan provides some valuable depth at nose tackle behind Poona Ford . He's a true run-stuffer in the middle, lacking the desired length to get off blocks but he makes up for it with effort and a high motor.
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Rams 2026 draft pick recap
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Round 1, No. 13 overall: QB Ty Simpson, Alabama
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Round 2, No. 61 overall: TE Max Klare, Ohio State
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Round 3, No. 93 overall: OT Keagen Trost, Missouri
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Round 6, No. 197 overall: WR CJ Daniels, Miami
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Round 7, No. 232 overall: DT Tim Keenan III, Alabama
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: LA Rams 2026 NFL Draft recap: Analysis of every pick and trade
