Mel Kiper bares his fangs in strong discontent over Rams drafted rookies

Let's just say that the Los Angeles Rams were the most talked-about team during the 2026 NFL Draft. That is mostly due to the fact that they used their first round pick, 13th overall, on Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, in hopes that he will develop into a competent successor to Matthew Stafford. With the team under the microscope, their other picks in the draft were ridiculed as well.

As is the case after every draft, each team has its class graded. Perhaps one of the most well-known experts of the NFL Draft is ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.

Kiper unveiled his grades for all 32 teams in an article on Sunday. Kiper gave the Rams a "C+" grade, as he was confused by the team's strategy after the team was one win away from reaching Super Bowl 60.

Mel Kiper Jr. gives Rams' 2026 draft class a 'C+' grade

Here's what Kiper had to say:

"I had wide receiver and right tackle as my top two needs for the Rams, and I saw addressing either position in a meaningful way in Round 1 as the potential topper on building a real no-joke contender. When Los Angeles got on the clock at No. 13, Monroe Freeling and Blake Miller were there. Makai Lemon, whom I projected to the Rams in my final mock draft, was still there. It was all lining up for coach Sean McVay and the Rams.


But then Los Angeles shocked everyone and took Ty Simpson. On one hand, smart front offices try to plan ahead, moving on future needs before they actually develop. Stafford is 38 years old. He has dealt with various injuries over the past few years. Stetson Bennett IV was the only other quarterback on the roster, and there was no plan of any sort for QB of the future. That's all valid. But taking Simpson here did not line up with the team's Super Bowl window and current trajectory. It did nothing to make the team better today."

Kiper understands the logic the Rams had in trying to ensure they had their quarterback of the future, with Stafford essentially year-to-year, despite winning the NFL MVP Award this past season. But Kiper didn't agree with drafting Simpson that early, saying he had the Alabama quarterback as a late first-round pick for a team with an immediate need for a quarterback.

Kiper also brought up the fact that Simpson is a risk, considering he only played 15 games in his collegiate career, and they were all this past season, where he had mixed results.

When it comes to their later draft picks, Kiper called tight end Max Klare a "slight reach." Kiper believed the Rams could have targeted a potential WR3 in Zachariah Branch out of Georgia instead. But the Rams passed, allowing Branch to get selected by the Atlanta Falcons. While the Rams did draft wide receiver CJ Daniels out of Miami in the sixth round, Kiper said: "He isn't the WR3 I was hoping to see" in the Rams draft class.

It is up to the Rams to get the last laugh and say that their 2026 class was better than many believed. The Rams have shown they earned the benefit of the doubt, as they are one of the consistently great teams in the NFL. Time will truly tell.

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