Rams give inside look at 2026 draft with fantastic new video
· Yahoo Sports
Teams don’t let fans inside the war room during the NFL draft, besides quick shots on the TV broadcast and for the prospect calls afterwards, but the Los Angeles Rams do a great job of pulling back the curtain a little bit.
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Their video series “Behind The Grind” takes fans behind the scenes each offseason, whether it’s free agency, the draft, OTAs or training camp. And on the latest episode that was just released this week, the focus was on offseason additions.
After going through the team’s free-agent signings and Trent McDuffie’s extension, the episode gets into the draft. Assistant general manager John McKay provided insight on every pick the Rams made, beginning with Ty Simpson at No. 13 overall.
McKay said it started with area scout Ted Monago, who identified Simpson as a quality player. Simpson was then evaluated by the Over The Top scouts, and eventually, Les Snead and his team.
“Ty was somebody we had a lot of consensus love from, and there wasn’t really anybody dissenting and saying, ‘Hey, I don’t know if this guy’s a fit.’ It was pretty clear to see that he fit what we were looking for,” McKay said.
McKay then discussed why the Rams feel Max Klare is a fit for the team at tight end, being their second-round pick out of Ohio State. His well-rounded skill set blends well with what the Rams already have at tight end.
“When you’re identifying guys that can play in 13 (personnel), that versatility is a huge thing,” McKay said when talking about Klare.
When it came to Keagen Trost, his versatility really drew the Rams to him, and he was “an immediate favorite.” McKay believes he can play all five positions at a high level, and though he projects as a backup now, the Rams view him as a starter in the future.
CJ Daniels had equally unanimous buy-in from the Rams’ group. McKay highlighted his blocking ability and strong hands, while also mentioning that he’s a good route runner.
“Everything about CJ checked the box for us. We’re super fired up to get him,” McKay said.
The Rams’ final pick was defensive tackle Tim Keenan III. And as soon as the Rams went on the clock, Sean McVay pointed to the Alabama defensive lineman.
“Oh, baby. Go Big Tim? Big Timmy! Come on!” McVay said excitedly.
Keenan brings size to the defensive line that only Poona Ford possesses, which is part of the reason the Rams liked him as a fit at nose tackle. And as a high-character player with great leadership qualities, he’s exactly the type of player the Rams like.
The entire episode is insightful, showing a little bit of what goes on behind the scenes during the draft. Just don’t expect to see the “little argument” that led to McVay’s grumpy mood.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Go behind the scenes of LA Rams' 2026 draft in new video