The Los Angeles Rams have selected former Ohio State Buckeyes tight end Max Klare.
This pick stands out for the Rams for several reasons. Not the least of which is their decision to make back-to-back selections geared more toward the future than this coming season. After all, the Rams have Super Bowl aspirations.
Still, Klare could fit in better than it seems at first blush.
Rams Make Surprising Pick With Max Klare
GettyMax Klare of the Ohio State Buckeyes participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.
“#RamsHouse got an INCREDIBLY athletic TE in Max Klare!” Sports Illustrated’s Justin Melo posted on X in reaction to the pick.
Klare arrives with 116 receptions for 1,329 yards and 6 touchdowns in four college seasons. He split his time between Purdue (three years) and Ohio State (one year). Despite his lack of prolific usage, he profiles as an adept pass-catcher in the NFL.
“Highly athletic, pass-catching tight end capable of earning volume targets on the pro level. Klare can live beyond the typical targeted depth for most tight ends thanks to his route inventory and ability to generate separation across the field. He’s best from the slot but can widen out when a matchup presents itself. Hands and ball-tracking are below average but his production could make teams forget the drops,” NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein wrote in his pre-draft profile on Klare.
“Improved as a run blocker as the season progressed, but “functional” might be the finish line there. In a league craving impact tight ends, Klare has a chance to inject life into an offense hunting mismatches.”
Klare was TE6 for The Ringer’s Todd McShay, who ranked him the 97th overall prospect.
“Route IQ, reliability, and YAC. Those are the three traits that all overachieving tight ends possess coming out of the draft. Klare is very good in all three areas—and that’s why I see shades of Dalton Schultz (Texans), Cole Kmet (Bears), and [Jake] Ferguson (Cowboys) in his game. Klare should immediately contribute as a versatile no. 2 tight end, and he has enough size and athleticism to emerge as a team’s TE1,” McShay wrote.
“Best suited for a play-action-heavy offense that features the tight end on a lot of delayed releases, crossers, middle-field spacing concepts, stick concepts, and so on.”
Rams Boast Deep TE Room
GettyMax Klare #86 of the Ohio State Buckeyes jumps over Bo Mascoe #3, Kaj Sanders #5 and Dariel Djabome #8 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.
Klare joins 2025 second-round pick Terrance Ferguson, who was lightly utilized for large portions of his rookie season. Ferguson, whom the Rams selected after trading out of the first round, finished with an 11-231-3 line.
The Rams also return last season’s top player at the position, Colby Parkinson, and 2021 Super Bowl champion Tyler Higbee.
Veteran backup Davis Allen is also on hand.
That is a lot to sort through, even for the Rams. LA utilizes 13-personnel–one running back and three tight ends–heavily. However, it cannot be ignored that the Rams, after selecting backup QB Ty Simpson in Round 1, again took a player who will contribute lightly if at all in Year 1.
The Rams clearly believe in their moves in free agency and on the trade market. That yielded Jaylen Watson and Trent McDuffie, respectively.
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Rams Add Competition For Last Year’s Top Pick in Max Klare