Why Myles Garrett Trade, Ty Simpson Pick Both Make Perfect Sense for Rams

When the Los Angeles Rams spent the No. 13 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, most of us reacted the same way.

Why would a team in win-now mode, with Super Bowl aspirations, spend their top-15 pick on a player they hope never sees the field this season, or anytime soon?

For many, the news that the Rams are finalizing a blockbuster trade with the Cleveland Browns for star pass rusher Myles Garrett might make that pick even more puzzling.

But really, the Rams are just being greedy.

In the short-term, Garrett gives them the most dominant defensive player in the game, to pair with last year's MVP on the other side of the ball. They've got future Hall of Famers at two premium positions, and they acquired one of the league's best corners in Trent McDuffie earlier in the offseason. Even though they passed on any number of instant-impact rookies with that first-round pick this year, the Rams' other moves represent a clear and aggressive investment in the short-term championship window they currently have.

But this year's NFL Draft gave the Rams an opportunity to have their cake and eat it, too.

Thanks to a draft-draft trade from the previous year with the Atlanta Falcons, the Rams were armed with a top-15 pick most title-contending teams don't get to bargain with in terms of talent acquisition. You can certainly make the argument that Simpson wasn't a first-round talent in this draft (I certainly have), but there's no denying that having even above-average quarterback play is worth plenty in today's NFL.

Simpson still needs a ton of refinement, and his lack of starting experience at the college level means he'll likely require plenty of patience when he does get on the field against pro defenses. But he showed flashes of potential for the Crimson Tide last season, and what better place for him to learn the ropes than in Los Angeles, with Stafford in front of him, and Sean McVay running the offense?

Yes, the Rams could have used a big-play receiver like Makai Lemon, or a dominant offensive lineman like Olaivavega Ioane. Heck, they could have taken Reuben Bain Jr. with that pick, if it was a high-end edge rusher they wanted. Simpson's play fell off down the stretch last season, too, as injuries and inconsistency led to poor accuracy and decision-making, nearly costing Alabama a spot in the College Football Playoff. There's plenty of work that needs to be done before he's ready to be a successful starting quarterback in the NFL.

But Simpson allows them to hedge for the future at the game's most important position, and the Garrett trade proves they can still put all their other eggs in the win-now basket by adding high-end talent that can make an impact right away.

This kind of trade obviously puts an incredible amount of pressure on the Rams to win the Super Bowl this year, and if they don't, many of us will have no problem pointing back to the Simpson pick and wondering what could have been, had they spent that selection on someone who actually played a significant role on the field this season.

But if they do walk away with the Lombardi this year, they gamble will have paid off, and they'll already have their quarterback of the future in the building, with a year of experience in McVay's offense, and the benefit of watching Stafford execute it at the highest level.

We all know the Rams have never been shy when it comes to making bold moves in pursuit of championships under McVay and general manager Les Snead, and the last one they made at the quarterback position worked out pretty well, netting them Stafford and a Super Bowl victory. They'll have to deliver again, and the outcry will be loud if they can't get it done, but the Simpson pick gives them the parachute of upside at the most important position in the game, win or lose.

And if Simpson pans out long-term, he'll extend the Rams' championship window for years to come, giving them time to reload the roster by hitting on later-round picks (something they've done successfully in recent years) and spending wisely in free agency to keep a winning roster around him.

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This story was originally published June 1, 2026 at 11:45 AM.