Los Angeles Rams NFL Draft 2026 pick tracker: Grades, fits and scouting reports

AFC EastBillsDolphinsJetsPatriotsAFC NorthBengalsBrownsRavensSteelersAFC SouthColtsJaguarsTexansTitansAFC WestBroncosChargersChiefsRaidersNFC EastCommandersCowboysEaglesGiantsNFC NorthBearsLionsPackersVikingsNFC SouthBuccaneersFalconsPanthersSaintsNFC West49ersCardinalsRamsSeahawksScores & ScheduleStandingsFantasyNFL OddsNFL PicksNFL DraftPodcastsScoop City NewsletterNFL Draft UpdatesRound 1 GradesPicks TrackerBest AvailableThe BeastTop 300 Rankings2026 NFL Draft Tight end Max Klare joins a Rams team that loves to run 13-personnel sets. Steph Chambers / Getty Images Share article10The Athletic has live coverage of the 2026 NFL Draft. The Los Angeles Rams entered the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday with seven picks over the three-day event. With their first pick in Round 1, at No. 13, they selected a quarterback for the future, taking Alabama’s Ty Simpson. He’s expected to become the backup to Matthew Stafford in 2026, with hopes of being a future starter when the 38-year-old Stafford decides to retire. But the Rams’ top need is wide receiver, as they want a third option behind Puka Nacua and Davante Adams to provide injury cover, allow them to play in three-receiver sets at times and have a future replacement lined up for Adams next year. The next is weak-side linebacker, where Omar Speights offers a decent option, but Los Angeles could use a coverage upgrade. Beyond those, it’s mostly depth concerns along the offensive line, which could need new starters as soon as 2027. The final need is special teams, which should come in depth pieces on offense and defense who can be blockers, coverage players and return specialists to fix the team’s biggest Achilles’ heel. Keep coming back here throughout the draft for grades and analysis of each Rams pick. This is the draft’s most enigmatic selection, and it’s not close. If a team needed Simpson to start right away, the best grade is a C-minus. He’s not ready for the NFL in that capacity. But as a backup behind a potential Hall of Fame quarterback in Matthew Stafford? That’s interesting. My question is, can Simpson become a Jordan Love success story, or is he Jake Locker? Check the Magic 8-Ball in three or four years. Simpson earned second-team All-SEC honors while leading the Crimson Tide to a College Football Playoff quarterfinal appearance. Simpson (6-foot-1, 211 pounds) threw for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns, five interceptions and a 64.5 completion percentage last season. But he only has 15 career starts. He needs an NFL redshirt season. This is a gutsy move for Sean McVay and Les Snead. — Scott Dochterman Simpson has the command and process of an NFL quarterback, but he needs valuable experience to be more efficient in his reads, and to better understand what is open and what isn’t. He projects as a low-level NFL starter, with the ceiling of a mid-level starter and floor of a backup (reminiscent of Daniel Jones with lesser physical traits). A Daniel Jones with fewer physical traits; mid-level starter at best, backup at worst. Los Angeles Rams select QB Ty Simpson with No. 13 pick in 2026 NFL Draft Heir apparent for Stafford, but for fantasy, when will that be? And, will we see pre-injury or post-injury Simpson? Because the former looked like a potential QB1, and the latter looked like a career backup. There are few better teams for Simpson’s landing spot, ceiling-wise. However, he’s not a redraft option, and in dynasty, he’s a SuperFlex mid-late first-round pick. — Jake Ciely For the second consecutive season, the Rams drafted a tight end in the second round. It’s a solid pick if the staff believes a tight end can help the offense immediately more than a receiver. I beg to differ, and that’s absolutely no knock to Klare. In his lone season with the Buckeyes, Klare (6-foot-4, 246 pounds) caught 43 passes for 448 yards and two touchdowns. He played his first three seasons at Purdue. — Dochterman Klare has a low ceiling as a blocker and needs to continue adding refinement as a route runner, but his combination of athleticism, toughness and ball skills gives him a modern-day skill set. He projects as an F tight end, similar in ways to Dalton Kincaid. Has the skill set NFL teams are looking for, though blocking will never be a strength. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms