Zooey wrote:

zn wrote:

Yes Kiper rated him that high. And it’s 39th among players, not rushers:

No, Invader is right. 39th among Edge rushers. From the Kiper link you posted.

My mistake.

Mistakes like that will drop me to 39th among huddle posters.

Anyway I edited out the misleading quotation from the article you originally responded to.

zn wrote:

LB Nikhai Hill-Green – Alabama | LA may have found its off-ball pass-defending linebacker. This solid prospect made it a point to play in a wide range of defensive schemes, improving along the way. His pre-draft interview gives off great football-passion vibes

from https://rollingout.com/2026/04/13/jaguars-nikhai-hill-green-in-nfl-draft/

A linebacker with a resilient college journey

Hill-Green’s path to NFL Draft consideration has been anything but conventional, and that is precisely what makes him such a compelling prospect to evaluate. He launched his college career at the University of Michigan, recording 50 tackles and two tackles for loss in 2021 before an injury in 2022 derailed that chapter and prompted a transfer. Rather than let the setback define him, he moved on to Charlotte, where he rebuilt his momentum and earned third-team All-American Athletic Conference honors in 2023, finishing that season with 73 tackles, nine tackles for loss and two sacks.

His most impressive chapter came in 2024 at Colorado, where he shared the field with current Jaguars players Travis Hunter and B.J. Green. Hill-Green finished that year with 82 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions — numbers that speak to both his instincts and his growth as a player. Across five collegiate seasons and 55 total games, he has constructed a résumé that commands attention from NFL scouts looking beyond the first few rounds of the draft.

… His experience across three programs — Michigan, Charlotte and Colorado — reflects an ability to adapt to new environments and different coaching expectations, a quality that NFL organizations deeply value when assessing late-round prospects.

Beyond his tackle numbers, his two interceptions in 2024 reveal an instinctive feel for the game that extends well beyond standard linebacker duties. That kind of versatility can make him a genuinely useful piece in multiple defensive looks, adding real value as coaches build out their schemes for the upcoming season.

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Rams make a jumble of roster moves immediately after 2026 NFL Draft

Bret Stuter

https://ramblinfan.com/rams-make-jumble-roster-moves-immediately-after-2026-nfl-draft-udfa

With the addition of five drafted rookies, the Los Angeles Rams still need 20 more players to round out their 90-man training camp roster. Ironically, the same team that needed three days at the 2026 NFL Draft to add just five players was wasting no time at signing rookies now that the draft has concluded. And as hinted in a previous article:

“The team’s greatest need for depth after the draft includes defensive backs, offensive linemen, offensive skill players, and defensive players for the trenches.”

LA is a pretty tight group, with many roster spots already claimed by veterans. But this is also a team that has been generous in affording real opportunities to make the team to rookies signed after the draft. In fact, many starters have come from such modest beginnings, including left tackle Alaric Jackson and both linebackers Nate Landman and Omar Speights

Knowing this, it’s always wise to learn something about the newest rumored additions to the roster

QB Matthew Caldwell – Texas | A resilient quarterback who flashed some impressive athleticism at his pro day, Caldwell is a 6-foot-4, 210-pound quarterback who last backed up Arch Manning at Texas.

DT Jalen Logan Redding – Minnesota | A versatile defensive lineman whose superpower is the ability to line up anywhere along the defensive front

CB Nyzeir Fourqurean – Wisconsin | An intriguing big-bodied defensive back who measures 6-foot-1. Fourqurean was incredibly productive, logging 90 tackles in two seasons.

DL Jaxson Moi – Tennessee | A rugged interior defensive lineman, Moi gives a bit of a snarl to the trenches. At 6-foot-2 and 305 pounds, he’s ready to suit up and get to work

RB Dean Conners – Houston | The lone running back (so far) added to the Rams roster, Conners has the type of speed that begs to be trialed in a special teams role.

DT Payton Zdroik – Air Force | This defensive lineman was touted as a sleeper of this draft class, and that could be spot on. He was surprisingly productive, ending with 116 tackles, 29 tackles for a loss, and 14.0 quarterback sacks.

CB Drey Norwood – Missouri | Norwood is a 6-foot-0 cornerback who was a solid pass defender for the Tigers. While he did not jump off the page at any specific area, he proved to be effective in all roles of a cornerback.

OL Austin Blaske – North Carolina | The former Tar Heel is one of the few offensive linemen who has experience at all five positions. His versatility is absolutely what intrigued the team to sign him up.

C Chad Linberg – North Carolina | A teammate of Blaske (above), Linberg offers interior offensive line versatility. And he was a rumored target of the Philadelphia Eagles.

OLB Darryl Peterson – Wisconsin | Clearly, LA recruited Peterson heavily, meeting with him on multiple occasions. And he recorded 6.5 quarterback sacks and 12.5 tackles for a loss in 2025.

WR Nick Anderson – LSU | Despite the lack of production in college, this 6-foot-4, 208-pound receiver out of LSU is tough to ignore. Projected as early as Round 4, he offers size and speed. Unfortunately, injuries interrupted his development, so he’s raw.

CB Al’zillion Hamilton – Fresno State | Despite his 5-foot-11 height, Hamilton is a bona fide ball hawk. If he can learn from Trent McDuffie, LA landed a good one.

TE Rohan Jones -Arkansas | A highly regarded but lightly scouted tight end, Jones hauled in 19 passes for 519 yards and four touchdowns in 2025. Yes, that averages more than 27 yards per reception.

OLB Eddle Walls – Houston | … This 6-foot-4, 250-pound edge rusher lowered the boom on unsuspecting quarterbacks. He’s big enough and productive enough to keep on your radar.

DE Wesley Bailey – Louisville | Another potent edge rusher, Bailey exploded in one season for the Louisville Cardinals in 2025 with 6.0 quarterback sacks and seven tackles for a loss.

LB Nikhai Hill-Green – Alabama | LA may have found its off-ball pass-defending linebacker. This solid prospect made it a point to play in a wide range of defensive schemes, improving along the way. His pre-draft interview gives off great football-passion vibes

DB Nick Andersen – Wake Forest | Well, this could get confusing. A 2nd rookie named Nick Andersen (with an e) is rumored to have signed with LA. This 5-foot-11, 197-pound defensive back is ultra productive. He may have what it takes.

TE Dan Villari – Syracuse | Dan Villari joins a packed tight end room, but he possesses an intriguing background as a former quarterback. He stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 245 pounds, and is compared to LA Rams tight end Davis Allen. He can do it all on offense: Run, pass, and catch. Very interesting rookie prospect who deserves to stay on your radar.

wv wrote:

Probably the only modern smallish QB that really was an outlier was Drew Brees.

When I first started reading your post, I immediately thought of Brees. But then you mentioned him.

Fwiw Joe Montana was 6’2, 200. Purdy is 6’1.

It’s a different era of course but great 6’0 and 6’1 qbs from the past include Bart Starr, Unitas, Fran Tarkenton, Sonny Jurgensen, Len Dawson, Joe Theismann, and Billy Kilmer.

So oh ye, be it known-eth, it has-eth been done-eth.

from https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Max-Klare-TE-Purdue

Scouting Report: Strengths

Loose, fluid athlete who can run the full route tree and bends with ease at the top of his stems to create natural separation from linebackers and safeties alike.

Genuine vertical threat with the speed to climb past second-level defenders on seam routes. He burned safeties at Purdue on those 62-yard and 32-yard chunk plays that changed games.

Excellent production on intermediate and deep targets throughout his career, consistently winning at the catch point and delivering reliable yardage on throws beyond ten yards.

Attacks the ball after the catch with real intent. He turns upfield quickly, reduces angles on pursuing defenders, and fights through arm tackles to squeeze out extra yards.

Reads zone coverage well and has a feel for settling into soft spots rather than drifting through them. Quarterbacks trust where he will be, and he rewards that trust consistently.

Versatile alignment piece who lined up roughly evenly from in-line, slot, and wide positions at Ohio State, giving coordinators a moveable chess piece to exploit matchup advantages.

Showed legitimate growth as a run blocker at Ohio State compared to his Purdue tape. He became more willing to fit up at the point of attack and improved noticeably when blocking on the move.

Multi-sport background and former quarterback experience give him a natural feel for timing, spatial awareness, and how defensive structures try to take away throwing windows.

Scouting Report: Weaknesses

Blocking remains the clear question mark. His hand placement is inconsistent, he gets grabby at the point of attack, and he lacks the anchor strength to sustain against NFL-caliber edge defenders.

Light for the position at 246 pounds with a frame that sits below average among tight end prospects. He will need to add functional mass without sacrificing the athleticism that makes him dangerous.

Ball skills are uneven. He had a noticeable drop issue at Purdue and while the rate improved at Ohio State, he still fights certain throws rather than plucking them cleanly out of the air.

Production and efficiency took a step backward at Ohio State. His yards per route run, average depth of target, and receiving grade all declined, and he failed to stand out at the NFL Combine, where he chose not to run or jump and looked average in pass-catching drills.

Durability is worth monitoring. The 2023 ankle injury cost him most of that season, and his relatively light frame raises questions about how he will hold up absorbing contact from NFL defenders over a full 17-game schedule.

Scouting Report: Summary

Klare is a pass-catching tight end first, and his NFL value will be defined by how quickly an offense can get creative with his alignments. When you watch his Purdue tape from 2024, the picture is clear: this is a guy who can threaten vertically, win on intermediate crossers, and make defenders pay when they guess wrong in zone coverage. His feel for route stems and leverage manipulation is advanced for a college tight end, and his ability to line up from multiple spots gives offensive coordinators real flexibility. The move to Ohio State did not showcase him the same way, but anyone who watched both years of tape understands the production dip had more to do with target share and scheme than regression as a player.

The blocking is the thing that keeps you up at night. At his current weight and with his current technique, he is a liability on early downs when the offense needs to run the ball behind the tight end. He improved during his year in Columbus, no question, and he showed more willingness to get after it in the run game than he ever did in West Lafayette. But “improved” and “ready” are not the same thing. NFL defensive ends will eat him alive if he cannot add 15 pounds of good weight and learn to strike with his hands inside the frame instead of reaching and grabbing. The pass protection numbers were not alarming, but the run blocking tape still makes you wince on too many reps.

The NFL is starving for tight ends who can stress defenses in the passing game from multiple alignments, and Klare fits that mold. His best landing spot is an offense that will deploy him as a big slot or flex piece early in his career while he develops the blocking chops to become an every-down contributor. He is not a finished product, and the combine did nothing to quiet concerns about his overall athletic ceiling in a deep tight end class. But the route-running instincts, the production history, and the positional versatility give him a real floor as a move tight end who can contribute as a receiver from Day 1. The ceiling depends entirely on what happens in the weight room and the blocking sled over the next two years.

Ty Simpson highlights vs. Georgia pic.twitter.com/7ktifAFnYv

— RAM BLITZR. 💙💛 (@inurhead69) April 26, 2026

I like this draft but it is so future oriented, it’s like getting a 2 year Certificate of Deposit on your birthday instead of cash.

* Simpson is controversial, being picked so high yet not being a wowy-zowy style big guy who can run. He does have traits that fit what the Rams want (smart, played in a pro offense, accurate, fast processor). It’s as if the Rams got Brock Purdy in a year when you had to take Brock Purdy in the 1st round. The big knock is lack of playing time, but then he’s not going to be a day one starter. The Rams offensive coaching staff is loaded with guys who can bring him along. So it remains to be seen whether or not we will eventually see if time will tell.

* Klare. This is one of their picks for the future. As I keep saying, after 2026 the Rams face both veteran TEs being free agents plus 4 starting OL. In order to run 3 TE sets they will need 4 TEs, or they’re one injury away from not running 3 TE sets. I doubt they will keep 5 but who knows. Klare’s a move TE who can run WR routes, he’s not an in-line blocking TE. He’s onboard as a match up nightmare type, and though he isn’t projecting the vibe of a Kellen Winslow or Antonio Gates, he really does look like he can develop into a good one.

* Trost is (IMO) a guard in the Avila/Dotson mold. After 2026, they probably can’t keep both Avila and Dotson. This team absolutely needs a top performing OL. Trost fits the mold of good Ryan Wendell OL players. So, a pick for the future who can maybe step in if a guard gets banged up this season. He may also be a prospect at ROT. Anyway all I can say about him is that the Rams made a top OL out of nothing, and he looks like he’s the kind of guy they tend to have success with.

* CJ Daniels is the one guy I can see contributing right away. Interestingly, he plays like Nacua (that is, specifically, he plays the way Nacua does at the point of the catch), and also says he bases his route running style on Adams. This, to me, is an exciting player. He could develp into their WR3 this year. He’s sophisticated and crafty running routes, but an absolute monster at the point of the catch, with highlights featuring impossible catches that are completely if not in fact eerily like Nacua’s. He’s another receiver who is built to maximize Stafford’s gunslinger habit of throwing aggressively to tight spots.

* Tim Keenan. A bull at NT who will not be getting great pass rush numbers. Team captain type who does everything right and can clog the run, but is basically a sumo wrestler on a DL that is made up of ninjas.

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InvaderRam wrote:

an aside note. this. and i keep harping on it. this is one of the markers that will define sean’s legacy. his ability to draft and develop a qb. as jourdan said, mcvay won’t actually be in there getting his hands dirty with simpson, but he will be overseeing the process. he is directly involved in hiring the people who are responsible for tuning simpson up. and i agree with jourdan. he needs a stable environment to accomplish this.

Well said and I agree.

InvaderRam wrote:

goff may not have been the best match personality wise? i don’t have anything to base that on. just a hunch.

I agree with that though I’d put it this way–the 2 of them were incompatible. It went both ways.

It’s revealing to read about how Ben Johnson worked with Goff. He began by finding out what Goff liked and what he thought he was good at. Johnson built it from there.

Does/will McV connect better with Simpson? Well TS is much more cerebral about the game than Goff was. In 2017 they hired Orlosky as the #2 to Goff, but his real job was to teach Goff how to read defenses. Orlovsky has said that when they began, Goff had no idea. None. He played in a college spread at UC that did not really depend on a qb knowing defensive fronts and coverages. It was the same reason Mahomes sat for a year. Simpson is light years ahead of that.

.

Zooey wrote:

zn wrote:

Yet I fall back on knowing that there has never been a Rams story, ever, where we did not hear fairly quickly what was going on behind the scenes.

I never saw anything explaining Ernest Jones. That may be one exception.

You might be right about that. But then that one was no mystery. He spoke up in public about how he deserved an extension, and doing that (griping publicly) goes against Rams code.

InvaderRam wrote:

i guess it all hinges on whether or not you think mcvay is close to leaving. i don’t know. he was pretty close to doing that five years ago. catch me on another day and i may have a different opinion.

Rodrigue addresses all of that in the vid I posted (it’s embedded in a tweet, just above).

Rodrigue’s view is that he went through his crisis in 2022 and came out of it, and that was that, he’s a coach.

Vincent Bonsignore@VinnyBonsignore
Here is the price they paid to get Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford:

Four 1st round picks, two 2nd-round picks, two 3rd-round picks AND Goff (And a ton of salary)

(Obviously well worth it)

What it cost them to get Simpson: Handing a slip of paper to the commissioner. And maybe, if he doesn’t pan out, some regret on losing out on a player that could have helped them.

If Simpson works out, that’s incredible value.

And that doesn’t even take into account what they might have to pay to find Stafford’s replacement, if they didn’t draft Simpson.

Even if he doesn’t work out, the cost is minimal. They still have all future assets to address QB.

Once the Rams decided Simpson could be a dude, they pretty much had to take him. There’s no guarantee they’ll be in a position anytime soon to get their QB at cost of handing the commissioner a slip of paper.

Zooey wrote:

I simply don’t know, but I am somewhat concerned that McVay and Stafford are secretly “married,” and that McVay is going to leave when Stafford retires.

Why is this draft producing more than its share of conspiracy theories?

Their explanation was simple and makes sense. They have Stafford for a couple of years, but not forever. They like Simpson (and it is clear that Simpson has traits that fit this offense).They don’t see themselves getting a high 1st round pick again for a while.

No matter what the reason, no GM who built a reputation for working collaboratively is going to take a qb his head coach does not like. That’s whether or not the head coach was dumb enough to actually say “I plan on retiring when the qb does.” Garappolo is retiring, they don’t have a #2 anyway. They can see Simpson developing. Their coaching roster includes an unusually rich list of good offensive minds, and if they didn’t like Simpson, they would have spoken up.

McVay is in coaching because he loves coaching, that much is obvious, and he went through his early mid-life crisis in 2022 and came out of it.

There’s nothing under the rug. Or between the lines. There is no backstage drama. Their story adds up and makes sense and fits all the data points we know.

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