The Los Angeles Rams used their second-round pick on a position that already had excellent depth for 2026. They selected Ohio State tight end Max Klare at No. 61 overall, bolstering a group that was as deep as any tight end unit in the NFL last season.
With Colby Parkinson, Tyler Higbee, Davis Allen and Terrance Ferguson all returning, it’s hard to see a role for Klare as a rookie. But it sounds like the Rams have a plan for him to play this season.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN shared recently that the Rams expect Klare to play as a rookie and he could become one of their top tight ends in 2027 when Allen and Parkinson’s contracts expire. For that reason, the Rams want to build chemistry between Klare and Ty Simpson.
“The second-round tight end, Max Klare, who’s trying to crack the lineup,” Fowler said. “I’m told he’s expected to play this year, not only this year, but could be one of their top tight ends in 2027, so they want to build a rapport between Klare and Simpson.”
As their top two draft picks, Simpson and Klare could be two key players on offense in 2027. If Matthew Stafford retires after this season, that opens the door for Simpson to step in as the starter next year. At tight end, if Parkinson and/or Allen leave in free agency, and if Higbee retires, there will be plenty of room for Klare next to Ferguson.
The tight end depth could quickly go from five to two in 2027, with Klare and Ferguson being the go-to players at that spot.
Klare is a talented receiver like Ferguson, so he’ll give the Rams offense another pass-catching weapon alongside Puka Nacua. He’s a terrific athlete with high upside, which is why the Rams were so thrilled to get him in the second round.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Report: Rams TE Max Klare expected to contribute as a rookie
Reporting by Cameron DaSilva, Rams Wire / Rams Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
