For the second straight night, the Los Angeles Rams took a player on offense who may not contribute much as a rookie. And for the second straight year, they drafted a tight end in Round 2.
At No. 61 overall, the Rams selected Ohio State tight end Max Klare. It was a somewhat surprising pick by Los Angeles, given its depth at the position already. However, it made one thing clear: The Rams are preparing for the future instead of prioritizing the present, as they did in free agency and throughout the offseason so far.
Tight ends can take some time to acclimate to the NFL. Just look at Terrance Ferguson, who was barely on the field early last season despite being the team’s top pick in the draft. It’s hard to imagine Klare having a huge impact as a rookie in 2026, especially when you look at the depth chart with Colby Parkinson, Davis Allen and Tyler Higbee already on it next to Ferguson.
This was a pick for the future, knowing Parkinson and Allen are both entering the final year of their contracts. The Rams may not want to keep both of them, so by drafting Klare, they’re ensuring they have enough depth to continue running 13 personnel if there’s some turnover next offseason.
In the immediate future, the Rams have enough playmakers at tight end to run 15 personnel if they want. All five of their tight ends are capable receivers, and though Klare and Ferguson have to improve as blockers, the diversity in that group is excellent.
That being said, it’s not the type of pick that fits what Los Angeles had done all offseason. It’s not a selection that will help Matthew Stafford or the offense much in 2026 as they chase a Super Bowl. It was made with one eye toward the future, getting ahead of what could be an offseason of departures in 2027.
While there’s no such thing as going “all-in” in the draft (besides aggressively trading up), this pick feels like just the opposite. It’s a safe pick that helps the Rams long-term, not right now.
Grade: C+
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: Grading Rams’ selection of TE Max Klare in 2nd round