The Los Angeles Rams’ decision to take Ty Simpson in the first round already raised eyebrows back in April. After the San Francisco 49ers handled the Rams 27-7 in Australia last week, it looks even harder to defend.
That result did more than hand Los Angeles a rough Week 1 loss. It also put the Rams’ draft choice back under the microscope, especially after an offseason that otherwise screamed urgency. The team added Myles Garrett, Trent McDuffie and got Aaron Donald to come out of retirement, so the Simpson pick stood out then and feels even stranger now.
Los Angeles is built to chase wins right now. Matthew Stafford likely has only a few years left, and the roster is packed with veterans. Against that backdrop, using a first-round pick on a quarterback from the University of Alabama looked like a future-minded swing on a team that seemed set up for the present.
Week 1 didn’t do much to quiet the criticism. The Rams came into the season with plenty of talk around them - some calling them a “super team,” others going so far as to say they might go undefeated - but the Niners exposed enough flaws to knock that image down a notch. San Francisco moved the ball well against what was supposed to be a dominant defense.
It also matters that Garrett was clearly not fully healthy and has to undergo surgery, while Donald didn’t even make the trip. That doesn’t make the Rams terrible, but it does chip away at the idea that they were some untouchable force.
The bigger issue is what Los Angeles passed on. Instead of taking a player who could help immediately, the Rams spent premium draft capital on someone who probably won’t be ready for years. The fact that Simpson couldn’t even win the backup job only adds to the head-scratching nature of the pick.
Sean McVay’s reaction didn’t help, either. From the outside, it looked like the head coach wasn’t thrilled with the selection, and his curt answers suggested he would have preferred a rookie who could make an impact right away.
None of this means the Rams are headed for collapse. They’ll look different when they see the 49ers again in Week 15, and McVay is too good a coach for this team to simply vanish. There’s too much talent there for that.
Still, the 49ers made one thing plain: the Rams are not unstoppable. And for now, the Simpson pick remains a strange bet for a team that seemed to be pushing all in elsewhere.
Maybe years from now, Simpson turns into an MVP and the decision looks brilliant. But for the 2026 season, it’s still a real question mark.
And from San Francisco’s side, there’s no reason to complain.
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49ers Rookie Edge Rusher Already Facing An Early Concern
Romello Height got an extended look right away in his NFL debut, and that alone spoke to how the 49ers view their rookie third-round pick. The edge rusher was on the field for 30 snaps and was used heavily in passing situations, a sign San Francisco wanted to see what he could give right away after entering the league with a reputation as one of the more pro-ready young defenders in the class.
Instead, the first game left plenty to sort through. Height came away without a tackle or pressure on 18 pass rush attempts, a quiet opening night for a player expected to bring more immediate polish because of his age and college experience. For a 49ers defense that leans on steady production up front, the bigger question now is how quickly he can turn opportunity into impact. [Read more 🡒]