Rams Close 2026 NFL Draft with Late-Round Additions Daniels and Keenan
The Los Angeles Rams have finalized their 2026 NFL draft class, wrapping up the annual selection process by adding Miami wide receiver CJ Daniels and Alabama defensive tackle Tim Keenan III on the final day. Daniels arrives from a highly competitive Atlantic Coast Conference program, bringing perimeter speed and reliable hands to bolster the team's passing options. Keenan, meanwhile, offers immediate interior defensive line depth after anchoring a tough Southeastern Conference front. While these late-round selections provide valuable roster flexibility, they are ultimately secondary to the franchise's overarching draft strategy. The lasting legacy of Los Angeles's 2026 efforts rests squarely on a high-stakes quarterback maneuver executed earlier in the weekend. Should that signal-caller investment pan out, these late additions will be celebrated as shrewd, low-risk value picks. However, if the quarterback gamble fails, the entire class will be remembered as a misstep, likely leaving head coach Sean McVay to shoulder the frustration of a missed opportunity.
VXZ Analysis
By anchoring their draft strategy around a high-stakes quarterback gamble, the Rams are essentially putting their entire competitive window on red. While securing SEC and ACC talent like Keenan and Daniels adds necessary roster depth, these rotational pieces cannot mask the reality that Los Angeles has bet its future on one highly volatile position.
Originally published at www.latimes.com