The Rams’ decision to spend their 2026 first-round pick on Ty Simpson is looking rougher by the week.
Los Angeles is hanging on at 5-4 and trying to keep itself alive in both the NFC West race and the NFC Wild Card picture, but the roster is getting hit from every angle. Puka Nacua is now sidelined with MCL, PCL, and turf toe injuries and is expected to miss a good amount of time, while Davante Adams is already on injured reserve.
That kind of injury pileup has made the Simpson pick stand out in a bad way. ESPN’s Ben Solak called attention to it, writing, "The Rams' 2026 first-round pick, QB Ty Simpson, has been a healthy scratch this season while the team's depth is decimated."
The issue goes beyond the receiver room. Jaylen Watson is out for the rest of the season, Trent McDuffie is dealing with an injury, the defensive line has taken hits, and the offensive line isn’t fully healthy either.
Los Angeles used the pick on the Alabama quarterback as a long-term insurance policy, banking on Simpson as a young option in case Matthew Stafford doesn’t return in 2027 and beyond. But with the Rams needing help now, that choice has come back to bite them.
There were other directions the team could have gone. Makai Lemon, Denzel Boston, and KC Concepcion were all mentioned as wide receiver alternatives who could have stepped in immediately. The Rams also had other needs they could have addressed in the secondary, along the defensive line, or up front on the offensive line.
Instead, they took a quarterback who hasn’t been active this season and would only be pressed into action if things went completely off the rails.
The Rams made the move knowing their future first-round picks were on the way out, and justified Simpson’s selection by betting they’d remain contenders and not be picking this high again. But Solak noted that, heading into Week 10, they’re projected to pick 18th overall, only a few spots behind the 13th overall slot where they took Simpson.
Even before the Myles Garrett trade, the pick already felt like a strange fit for an all-in team. Now, with injuries stacking up and the offense suddenly short on playmakers, Simpson’s selection looks even worse.
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Davante Adams could be back in time for the Chiefs game, which would give Los Angeles a major boost as the schedule stiffens, and cornerback Trent McDuffie is also trending toward a Week 10 return. The bigger question remains Puka Nacua, whose injury timeline is still murky and could keep him out for at least another month, leaving the Rams to navigate the toughest part of the calendar while waiting for more clarity. [Read more 🡒]
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Drafting Ty Simpson as a potential successor only sharpened the message. Los Angeles is still built to support Stafford, but the front office has also been careful not to mortgage the years beyond 2027, a sign this team is already thinking about a roster reset around the 2028 season even while it keeps chasing wins in the present. [Read more 🡒]
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Young also made it clear he had no interest in the idea, brushing it aside on social media after it surfaced. For the Rams, the bigger point is that general manager Les Snead passed on making roster changes involving Young during the trade period, a sign the club still sees him as part of the solution rather than a movable piece. [Read more 🡒]