ESPN heavily questions Rams for making Ty Simpson decision in 2026 NFL Draft originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Rams made the most questionable pick of the first round in the 2026 NFL Draft, selecting quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th pick.
Not to say that Simpson can't be a very good player one day, but with quarterback Matthew Stafford on the roster and a chance to win a Super Bowl as early as next year, it's a bit questionable why a team would take a quarterback when they have one of the best in the world already and not address another need.
However, there are other reasons for making these decisions, and an ESPN insider recently outlined them, despite all of the questions that have come with this pick.
“Biggest question: What went into the decision to think about the future at quarterback instead of solving an immediate need on a team considered a Super Bowl contender in 2026? Ultimately, Snead and the Rams hope they're not picking this high in the first round of the draft in the foreseeable future, as this is the pick they have after trading out of the first round a year ago.
“Snead has been clear that the Rams want to maximize the roster for as long as Stafford is playing, but by going into the draft with no major voids on the roster, it allowed them to take a player who they hope can help keep their Super Bowl window open after Stafford's retirement,” Sarah Barshop of ESPN wrote.
The Rams will simply have to be hopeful that this type of decision works out. They might look back in a few years and realize that they should have gone with someone else, but Simpson also has a chance to be a very good player one day, and when Stafford decides to hang them up, that should be a good thing.
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