Rams 7th Rd pick (232) Tim Keenan, DT, Bama

I don’t understand what that description means by “lack of size.” A person who weighs in at 327lbs is not usually lacking in size, not even if they’re a nose tackle in the NFL. He does have noticeably short arms though. I like it when the Rams draft DTs though. I hope he sticks around and becomes a space eater.

They traded the two comp picks at the end of the draft to move up in the sixth round to get the wide receiver they wanted.

Given two wide receivers were picked before their old position, itmay have been the only way they could get the one they wanted.

from https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/interactive/the-beast-2026/player/tim-keenan-iii-alabama-defensive-tackle/

An instinctual player who could be this year’s version of Khyiris Tonga.

A three-year starter at Alabama, Keenan lined up at nose tackle in defensive coordinator Kane Womack’s multiple scheme. He was a Nick Saban favorite, because of his reliability and “do your job” production — and that continued with the Tide’s new staff. He got a late start as a senior following preseason ankle surgery, which affected his production, but he played his best ball late in the season (see the SEC championship game versus Georgia).

Like a tea pot, Keenan is short and stout. He is strong and technically sound with his hands to stack the point and create leverage. But he’s also often late to rid himself of blocks, mostly because of his length. Though limited as a pass rusher, he can be a bowling ball once he gets rolling downhill.

Dane’s takeaway

Keenan lacks range and suddenness as a block shedder, but he is an instinctual player with the refined hands to clog up run lanes. He is a better football player than a toolsy athlete and could be this year’s version of Khyiris Tonga.

Strengths

Compact frame with burly muscles in his arms, legs and neck Plays from a low position and has density to hold his ground Assignment sound and strives to maintain gap integrity
Eager hands to create pop at contact and unload into target Instinctive — quickly adjusts to run flows Feels developing screens and dumpoffs Creates decent push once he gains access to blocker’s edge Voted one of four captains for 2025 season (he and Deontae Lawson captained the defense) Outstanding worker and highly respected in the program (Saban: “You can always count on him to do his job. … He gives great effort.”)

Weaknesses

Short-armed player and can be out-leveraged at the snap Struggles to regain ground once he loses it Average short-area quickness, which limits his pass-rush options
Doesn’t offer much range to make stops away from his starting point Works hard to keep weight in check, but something to monitor (enrolled at 380 pounds) Underwent tightrope surgery (Aug. 2025), which sidelined him for first three games of senior season; missed second half of senior year in high school because of right MCL surgery (Oct. 2020)
Senior-year production was underwhelming

from

from https://theramswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/rams/2026/05/04/rams-nfl-draft-tim-keenan-scouting-reports-experts/89932227007/?taid=69f8e262873ee600014500d2&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=twitter

Me: some of this repeats what we already read but still.

With their final pick in the 2026 draft, the Los Angeles Rams took one of Ty Simpson’s teammates at Alabama: nose tackle Tim Keenan III. He immediately becomes one of the biggest players on the team, weighing in at 327 pounds with a 6-1 frame, bolstering the defensive line behind Poona Ford and others.

Keenan was dominant in 2024 while with the Crimson Tide before taking a step back last season, causing his stock to slip. But the Rams have a vision for him up front and believe he can help them, particularly as a run stopper.

Leading up to the draft, Lance Zierlein of NFL.com and The Athletic’s Dane Brugler released scouting reports for Keenan, discussing his strengths and weaknesses. Zierlein projected him to be a sixth/seventh-round prospect, while Brugler gave him a sixth/seventh-round grade.

Here’s what each expert wrote about Keenan in pre-draft scouting reports.

Lance Zierlein, NFL.com
Keenan is a girthy nose tackle with average talent and upside. He has the frame/play strength to take on blocks and fight for ground with reasonable success. However, a lack of length limits his ability to command the point of attack with a quick punch-and-shed. He’s more block-beater than block-eater and won’t offer much as a rusher. Keenan has Day 3 value as a rotational player.

Dane Brugler, The Athletic
Like a tea pot, Keenan is short and stout. He is strong and technically sound with his hands to stack the point and create leverage. But he’s also often late to rid himself of blocks, mostly because of his length. Though limited as a pass rusher, he can be a bowling ball once he gets rolling downhill. Overall, Keenan lacks range and suddenness as a block shedder, but he is an instinctual player with the refined hands to clog up run lanes. He is a better football player than a toolsy athlete and could be this year’s version of Khyiris Tonga.

Keenan won’t get a chance to start right away, but with the way Chris Shula rotates his defensive linemen, he could see playing time as a rookie. He’s a perfect backup to Ford in the middle, especially on early downs.