Rams assistant GM admits that looming dilemma dictated draft

Many Los Angeles Rams fans came away from the 2026 draft disappointed. Frustrated. Even outraged. This is a team with Super Bowl aspirations that will last as long as Matthew Stafford's bad back can extend them. Yet, armed with the 13th pick of the draft, the Rams did nothing to improve the roster. 

A future-focused theme continued throughout the draft. Asked about the team's approach, assistant general manager John McKay gave an answer that, if you think about it, makes some sort of sense. 

In sum, McKay cited the free-agency dilemma awaiting the Rams next year. "It's a high number of guys, high number of high-level contributors" that the roster will lose. 

And he's right. While that argument leaves plenty of questions unanswered, it at least explains the thought process behind Los Angeles' polarizing draft selections.

Rams anticipate slew of free agents in 2027

Some of those unanswered questions: Will Ty Simpson be prepared to lead a Super Bowl contender before his rookie contract expires? If Stafford plays two more seasons, Simpson will have three years, including a fifth-year option, remaining. 

Did they really need another tight end in second-round pick Max Klare? 

Why didn't they draft a receiver earlier, instead of settling for CJ Daniels in the sixth round? The roster still lacks any semblance of a No. 3.

Examining the reality of the Rams' situation lends some support to their strategy. This roster is in win-now mode partly because Stafford is at the end of his career. And while attaching a second year to his contract would be ideal, for now, he is set to become a free agent after this season. The Horns can't kick the can down the road forever. 

In addition to Stafford, the tight-end room will also shrink. Colby Parkinson, last season's leader of the pack, hit the open market. So will Davis Allen. Tyler Higbee signed a two-year deal in March, but he might hang it up after another injury-plagued season.

On the offensive line, tackle Warren McClendon, center Coleman Shelton, and guards Steve Avila and Kevin Dotson will all be free agents. That's almost the entire group. The Rams needed a swing tackle, anyway, and adding Keagen Trost in the third round is a pick that should satisfy everyone. They might ask him to take on a starting role as soon as 2027. 

Receivers Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, and Xavier Smith will all need new contracts from someone.

On the other side of the ball, defensive tackle Kobie Turner will reach the end of his deal unless the Rams extend him beforehand (get on it). Edge rusher Byron Young is another one. Add starting linebacker Omar Speights.

Obviously, the Rams have a lot to figure out. 

McKay's response raises parallel questions to those it explains

With only five picks to work with, the front office could only address so many needs. The clearest examples are, of course, at quarterback and, to a lesser extent, tight end. Tim Keenan III plays nose tackle like Turner, but as a seventh-rounder, he's not a likely replacement. There's plenty to like about Daniels, but he profiles as more of a substitute for Smith than for Adams.  

Really, McKay's answer is about the Simpson pick. Because the quarterback is such an important position, wanting to invest now is an understandable mindset, even if it is controversial in the Rams' context. 

Even granting that, some fans might turn McKay's response against him - not incorrectly. Nakua is an extension candidate, but Adams is already a year older and will likely be gone in '27. Using the 13th pick on Makai Lemon, or even trading back for a different receiver, would have addressed that directly. 

Had the Rams chosen Miami defensive end Rueben Bain Jr., a one-time top-eight projected pick who fell to 15th, they would have an insurance policy in the pass rush.

Drafting Klare helps secure the future of the tight-end room, particularly if LA wants to challenge Terrance Ferguson after an underwhelming rookie year. But the same could be said for taking a receiver with the 61st overall pick, with appealing options still available.

Probably, the main takeaway here is that the Rams did what the Rams wanted to do, and that was mostly about securing the future at the most important position on the field. 

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