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Here’s a breakdown of who the Rams have selected through the first three rounds of the 2026 NFL draft.
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Ty Simpson | Quarterback
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6 feet 1, 211 pounds | Alabama | Round 1, Pick 13
Notable: Simpson is the first quarterback drafted in the first round by the Rams since 2016, when they selected Jared Goff with the No. 1 pick.
Last season: Simpson, a fourth-year junior, passed for 3,567 yards and 28 touchdowns while leading the Crimson Tide to an 11-4 record.
Why the Rams drafted him: Quarterback Matthew Stafford, the reigning NFL most valuable player, is 38 years old. So the Rams are looking beyond this season, when they are expected to be a favorite to play in Super Bowl LXI at SoFi Stadium. Simpson will have the luxury of being tutored by coach Sean McVay while sitting behind Stafford.
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Max Klare | Tight end
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6 feet 4, 246 pounds | Ohio State | Round 2, Pick 61
Notable: Klare began his career at Purdue and played three seasons for the Boilermakers before transferring to Ohio State.
Last season: Klare caught 43 passes for 448 yards and two touchdowns for the Buckeyes, who finished 12-2.
Why the Rams drafted him: McVay at times used a tight-end heavy offense during the latter part of last season, so the Rams need reinforcements for a position group that includes veteran Tyler Higbee, Colby Parkinson, Davis Allen and Terrance Ferguson. Higbee is at the far end of his career and Parkinson is in the final year of his contract, and none of his salary is guaranteed, according to Overthecap.com.
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Keagen Trost | Offensive tackle
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6 feet 4, 311 pounds | Missouri | Round 3, Pick 93
Notable: Trost attended Morgan State, Indiana State and Wake Forest before playing his final season at Missouri.
Last season: Trost was a key player for a Tigers team that ranked eighth nationally in rushing offense.
Why the Rams drafted him: Trost joins an offensive line that has several players in the final years of their contracts, including guards Kevin Dotson and Steve Avila, center Coleman Shelton and tackle Warren McClendon Jr. Left tackle Alaric Jackson is the only player signed beyond 2026. Trost will provide depth as the Rams look to the future.
The post Rams 2026 NFL draft: A close look at their picks through third round appeared first on Los Angeles Times.
