Rams counter new NFC West rushing threats with mammoth run-stuffing rookie

The Los Angeles Rams' NFC West rivals cleaned out the running back class in the 2026 NFL draft. Jeremiyah Love is a Cardinal. Jadarian Price is a Seahawk. Kaelon Black is in San Francisco. 

With all those new faces stampeding toward the Rams' defensive line, perhaps coordinator Chris Shula whispered something to Les Snead'about drafting a counter before Day 3 concluded. The general manager obliged by taking Alabama nose tackle Tim Keenan III with the 232nd overall pick, the last of the Rams' draft.  

By draft stock or college resume, Keenan is hardly a match for the influx of rookie running backs, but he could do some good things just the same by clogging up rushing lanes with his immovable frame.

Rams hope Keenan can combat rivals' rejuvenated RB rooms of the future

Listed at 6-foot-1 and 327 pounds, Keenan presents an obstacle that ball carriers can only hope to evade laterally by going around him. There is no going through Tim Keenan III. 

Anyone hoping to be wowed by his college stats will be disappointed. In three seasons as a starter, Keenan registered 95 tackles, including 12.5 for loss, and 5.5 sacks. As a senior, he earned a Pro Football Focus grade of 68.0, including a pass-rush score of 62.9 and a run-defense grade of 71.1. 

None of those figures jump off the page. At Alabama, Keenan was asked to do one thing: stop the run. He isn't an every-down player, as most pure nose tackles aren't. But as a seventh-round pick, here was a prospect worth a swing to counteract the fresh legs churning up the turf in Arizona, Seattle, and San Fran. 

Of course, the Rams already have a dominant nose tackle in Poona Ford and an excellent backup in Tyler Davis, plus Kobie Turner elsewhere on the line. They aren't bringing in Keenan to move mountains on Day 1. Shula will work to develop him so that he can be a factor in the years ahead, when Price and Black really have the NFL legs beneath them. 

Don't worry about Love. He'll be smashing through d-lines from the get-go. Leave the law firm of Ford, Davis, and Turner to deal with him for now. 

Two traits Keenan has to his advantage: a strong base and enormous size. He is more massive as a rookie than any incumbent on the depth chart. If he improves his downfield explosiveness and ability to shed blocks, he could contend with Ty Hamilton, a 2025 fifth-rounder, for snaps against run-heavy formations. 

The Rams probably didn't land the next Dexter Lawrence, but they got themselves a run-stopper they can develop into a rotational asset to call on when needed. And, oh, they'll need to. 

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