Sean McVay gets his version of Dalton Kincaid years later

Klare has a low ceiling as a blocker and needs to continue adding refinement as a route runner, but his combination of athleticism, toughness and ball skills gives him a modern-day skill set. He projects as an F tight end, similar in ways to Dalton Kincaid.

You can line up Klare pretty much anywhere on the field and he can put defenses in a bind. He has experience playing in-line, in the slot, outside, and in the backfield. At 6-4, 247 lbs. he’s a matchup advantage over smaller defensive backs and lesser athletes at linebacker.

Klare took an NIL pay day to transfer to Ohio State. He was more of a focal point at Purdue and his usage and production decreased by 25% (targets and yardage) in his final college season. This is purely projection and speculation, but Klare could have pushed for first round consideration if he would have remained at Purdue.

On the surface it seems rich that LA would spend back-to-back second round picks on tight ends; however, Ferguson and Klare may share the same label on the depth chart but they are vastly different players. Ferguson is one of the most unique players at the position in all the NFL. He’s one of a kind. Passes thrown his direction averaged a depth of 18.3 yards during his rookie year. Ferguson is the Will Fuller of tight ends.

While Klare is more of a receiving weapon than a blocker, he’s an intermediate option in the passing game and averaged less than eight yards in average depth of target (ADOT) across his college career at Ohio State and Purdue. The shorter depth of his targets is somewhat hidden in the stat sheet because Klare averaged 11.4 yards per reception and 5.6 yards after the catch. He’s a legitimate YAC threat.

How a crowded TE room can co-exist

Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen are in contract years. The Rams signed Tyler Higbee to a two-year deal this offseason and they have an easy exit after 2026. Allen is not a guarantee to make the roster after recent developments and Parkinson could be a trade candidate if he loses ground in a crowded position group.

Ferguson and Klare are not going anywhere as second round picks. I wouldn’t expect Klare to see the field often as a rookie similar to Ferguson a year ago. This was a selection for the future.

I’d expect Parkinson to enter the season as the entrenched starting traditional tight end. Ferguson’s usage increased dramatically towards the end of last year and his rise in production should continue on an upward trajectory. There is a role for Higbee and Allen as depth and rotational players, especially considering LA’s frequent deployment of three tight end sets in 2025.

It will be tough to keep five tight ends. If the Rams are crunched for numbers ahead of roster cuts, Allen should be the first man out.

This pick feels familar

The Rams selected Jared Goff first overall in 2016. Their second pick came in the fourth round and they used it on Higbee.

While Goff did not play as a rookie until midseason, Higbee grew into a safety blanket for his quarterback. Their relationship blossomed in 2018 when Goff and Higbee led a key drive that resulted in a win over the New Orleans Saints as LA earned a trip to the Super Bowl.

History has a habit of repeating itself.

Los Angeles followed up their first-round selection of quarterback Ty Simpson with a tight end in Klare. The Rams can only hope that Klare is on the receiving ends of passes from Simpson that carry the same importance in franchise history.

With Matthew Stafford under center for an uncertain period of time, the future feels a ways off. It could be here sooner than we’d like to believe.