Rams Rookie Class Has Produced Little Early Impact in 2026
Turf Show Times wrote midway through the 2026 season that the Los Angeles Rams’ five-player rookie class had produced little immediate help. The class had appeared in six combined games.
The evaluation places the Rams’ draft strategy under scrutiny while separating the players’ early production from the injuries and roster circumstances that have limited their opportunities. Turf Show Times attributed the lack of playing time to several factors, including injuries and the Rams’ limited number of draft picks.
The central issue begins with quarterback Ty Simpson, whom Turf Show Times identified as the No. 13 overall selection. The outlet wrote that Simpson had not taken a snap during the season, making his selection a long-term bet rather than an immediate source of production.
Key Takeaways
- Turf Show Times wrote that the five-player Rams rookie class had appeared in six combined games.
- Ty Simpson had not taken a snap after Los Angeles selected him 13th overall.
- Max Klare and C.J. Daniels had received limited playing time in their early opportunities.
The Rams Rookie Class Has Produced Limited Snaps
Turf Show Times wrote that four of the class’s six combined appearances came from tight end Max Klare. The second-round pick from Ohio State had played one offensive snap in four games, along with 12 special-teams snaps.
The outlet described Klare as buried on the depth chart after the Rams continued emphasizing multiple-tight-end personnel. That approach had been part of the team’s roster direction, but Klare’s early usage has not produced a meaningful offensive role.
Wide receiver C.J. Daniels had played three offensive snaps against the Las Vegas Raiders without receiving a target, according to Turf Show Times. The outlet connected that limited production to a broader need for help at wide receiver.
Simpson’s situation is different because his playing time has been nonexistent rather than merely limited. Turf Show Times wrote that the Rams could have selected an immediate contributor with the 13th pick while still viewing Simpson as a long-term quarterback gamble.
The Snap Count Data Shows the Early Production Gap
| Player | Reported playing time | Roster status or production |
|---|---|---|
| Max Klare | 1 offensive snap, 12 special-teams snaps | Four games |
| C.J. Daniels | 3 offensive snaps | No target against Las Vegas |
| Tim Keenan | 19 snaps | With the Raiders |
| Keagen Trost | No debut | Activated from injured reserve |
Turf Show Times wrote that defensive tackle Tim Keenan was no longer with the Rams and had played 19 snaps for the Raiders. That total was 15 more than the rest of Los Angeles’ 2026 rookie class had combined on offense or defense, according to the outlet.
Keenan’s playing time came against the Rams, adding an unusual layer to the comparison. The outlet used that contrast to highlight how little the remaining rookies had contributed on the field.
Offensive lineman Keagen Trost has also been held back by injuries, Turf Show Times wrote. The third-round pick had been activated from injured reserve earlier in the month but had not yet made his debut.
The Draft Tradeoff Centers on Immediate Help
Turf Show Times framed the rookie production issue as a question of roster planning rather than a final judgment on the class. The outlet wrote that Los Angeles entered the draft focused on building for the future, with the expectation that its selections could develop into contributors as older players moved on.
That strategy left the Rams without an obvious young player to provide immediate help during a difficult season. Turf Show Times noted that injuries contributed to the shortage of opportunities and that Los Angeles did not have a large number of picks to fill the roster with young contributors.
The outlet also raised alternative draft paths, including the possibility of selecting tight end Kenyon Sadiq in the first round and exploring quarterback options later. References to Carson Beck and Drew Allar were presented as speculative draft analysis, not established alternatives that the Rams were committed to pursuing.
Turf Show Times also questioned whether Simpson could have been acquired later in the draft, while noting that the Rams valued him more highly than other teams appeared to. The outlet compared that possibility with the front office’s earlier decision to trade up for Braden Fiske in 2024.
The evaluation included a broader reminder that rookie contributors can help championship-level rosters, even when a team is built around established players. Turf Show Times wrote that the Rams’ future-focused plan has yet to produce that kind of contribution from this class.
Keagen Trost Provides the Next Roster Checkpoint
Turf Show Times wrote that Trost had been activated from injured reserve, giving the Rams another available option from the 2026 draft class. The offensive lineman had not debuted at the point discussed, so his first appearance would add a new data point to the group’s playing-time total.
For now, Trost’s activation is the latest roster-status development involving the class. Turf Show Times identified his pending debut as the next possible change to a rookie group that had produced six combined games and limited on-field impact.
