The Los Angeles Rams have gone all-in on the tight end spot in recent seasons, and rookie Max Klare is the latest guy to step into a seriously crowded room. With Colby Parkinson, Tyler Higbee, second-year playmaker Terrance Ferguson, and Davis Allen already there, Klare is next in line to fight for ample playing time in what’s clearly a tight end-heavy offense. He’s not just another guy, though: Klare was L.A.’s second straight tight end picked in the NFL draft, snagged 61st overall in April, right after Ferguson went 46th last year. This dude has his work cut out for him, no doubt, facing an uphill climb to stand out.
Uphill Battle in a Stacked Rams Room
Let’s be real, the Rams haven’t been shy about investing in tight ends, and Klare is walking into a situation where he has to earn every snap. They’ve got veterans and another high draft pick all looking for targets. What’s going to make him special? The word on the street is his versatile skills as a receiving tight end could be a game-changer. Think about it: a guy who can catch anything thrown his way is always gonna get a look, especially when you’re trying to separate yourself from the pack. That’s a huge asset when you’re fighting for reps against a bunch of established players. He’s going to need every bit of that versatility to make an impact.
Purdue’s Nightmare, Klare’s Dream Season
Klare’s journey to the NFL wasn’t exactly smooth sailing. Coming out of St. Xavier in Cincinnati as a three-star recruit, he chose the Purdue Boilermakers over some big names like Duke and Georgia Tech. His first two years there? Honestly, nothing much to report. He barely played as a freshman in 2022, then got hit with a season-ending injury in 2023 after showing signs of breaking out in a 44-19 win over Illinois. But even with that setback, he was a dependable short-yardage target, and Purdue quarterback Hudson Card wasn’t shy about praising him to Sam King, calling Klare “one of the best tight ends that I’ve been around. He’s a great player. He can block and he also runs some of the best routes that I’ve been around. He makes my life easy and he’s going to do some special things.”
And Card was right! Klare went off in 2024, putting up his best collegiate season. He led the team with 51 receptions for 685 yards and four touchdowns. That 685-yard total was the sixth-highest by a tight end in Purdue history, and according to Purdue Athletics, he finished eighth in the FBS in receiving yards by a tight end. He was one of only nine Big Ten tight ends since 2000 to record at least 680 receiving yards. He roared back from injury in the season opener against FCS Indiana State with five catches for 71 yards, and later torched the Fighting Illini for a career-high 133 yards. He even made third-team All-Big Ten. The wild part? Purdue went 1-11 overall, 0-9 in the Big Ten, with brutal 66-7 and 66-0 losses to Notre Dame and Indiana. That dismal team record probably kept him from getting even more respect from voters. It was time for a change, and Klare opted to transfer.
Klare was at Rams practice on Monday, June 8, 2026, looking to show off what he can do. Can he translate that breakout individual college performance into a roster spot and meaningful snaps in L.A.’s loaded tight end room? Everyone’s watching to see if he can deliver on that promise.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Turf Show Times.
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