Some of the present implementations provide a method for a user equipment (UE) for performing a random access (RA) procedure. The method transmits, to a base station, an RA preamble. The method then receives, from the base station, an RA response (RAR) associated with the RA preamble, the RAR containing a media access control (MAC) payload. The MAC payload identifies a set of one or more uplink (UL) grants for the UE. The method selects a UL grant from the set of one or more UL grants identified by the MAC payload for transmitting an Msg3 to the base station.