INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- The 2026 NFL draft started Thursday in Pittsburgh.
With their first pick, the Los Angeles Rams selected quarterback Ty Simpson with the No. 13 overall pick.
Here's a list of the Rams' selections and what you need to know about them.
Analysis of every pick | Updated depth chart
Round 1, No. 13 overall: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
My take: The Rams hope they found Matthew Stafford's eventual successor in Simpson, selecting him with the No. 13 pick they received in their 2025 draft-day trade with the Atlanta Falcons. By picking Simpson, the Rams addressed a position that wasn't a hole on a roster considered to be a Super Bowl contender in 2026, rather than taking a player who could help immediately. Rams head coach Sean McVay was clear Thursday night: "This is Matthew's team." McVay said Simpson will compete with 2023 fourth-round pick Stetson Bennett for the backup quarterback spot this offseason. Simpson said he was eager to learn from Stafford and McVay, the latter he called a "quarterback genius."
When will he be expected to get regular playing time? That remains to be seen because every indication from McVay this offseason is that the Rams would love to have Stafford for as long as he wants to play. At the league meetings last month, McVay said Stafford has "earned the right to be able to be on a year-to-year basis." Simpson probably will get significant snaps during training camp and the preseason, especially because McVay said he'll be competing with Bennett to serve as the team's backup quarterback.
What we're hearing about Simpson: Rams general manager Les Snead praised Simpson's "perseverance."
"I think right now he's still becoming, but I would say the journey that he's had," Snead said when asked what stood out about Simpson's character. "I think the thing you appreciate is persevering through the ebbs and flows of going to Alabama, earning the job, getting his first -- let's call it -- the opening game against Florida State and they lose that game. ... but to see probably that from that point forward, how they progressed as a team [and] him as a quarterback."
Round 2, No. 61: Max Klare, TE, Ohio State
My take: For the second year in a row, the Rams drafted a tight end in the second round. Klare joins a crowded position group of Tyler Higbee, Terrance Ferguson, Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen. Last season, the Rams used that group, playing a significant amount of 13 personnel (three tight ends on the field). According to ESPN Research, the Rams had 331 plays in 13 personnel last season, more than twice as many as any other team.
When will he be expected to get regular playing time?: Barring injury, Klare isn't expected to see regular playing time in 2026. Tight end has typically been a tough position to learn in McVay's offense and the depth in the room won't lend itself to extended offensive snaps next season. But Higbee considered retirement this offseason and Parkinson is going into the final season of his contract, so Klare could have a chance to play significant snaps in 2027.
Round 3, No. 93: Keagen Trost, OT, Missouri
My take: The Rams have four of five starting offensive linemen entering the final seasons of their contracts (guard Steve Avila, center Coleman Shelton, guard Kevin Dotson and tackle Warren McClendon Jr.), so adding depth at the position makes sense. Trost allowed a 1.5% pressure rate in 2025, the best mark among offensive tackles in the SEC and seventh-best by any offensive tackle across FBS (min. 500 snaps as OT), according to ESPN Research.
What we're hearing about Trost: McVay and Snead praised Trost's versatility, saying that he can play all five spots on the offensive line. Trost started 13 games at right tackle for Missouri last season but has made a spot start at left tackle at Wake Forest as well.
"To be able to solidify behind Warren and Alaric [Jackson] -- and being able to get David Quessenberry back was big -- but this guy can play right, he can play left, he can play inside, he can really play all five," McVay said.
Round 6, No. 197: CJ Daniels, WR, Miami
My take: The Rams finally added a wide receiver, trading up 10 spots to take Daniels at No. 197. Last season at Miami, Daniels caught 50 passes for 557 yards and seven touchdowns. The Rams have a need for a third receiver and Daniels will likely compete for snaps with a trio of WRs already on the roster: Jordan Whittington, Xavier Smith and Konata Mumpfield.
Round 7, No. 232: Tim Keenan III, DT, Alabama
My take: Keenan was a three-year starter at Alabama and lined up primarily at nose tackle. He was the Rams' first defensive selection of the draft. Keenan missed the first three games of the 2025 season after having ankle surgery in August.
Keenan was the final selection of the Rams' five-pick draft, the smallest class in team history.