Rams rumors: Insider reveals the 2 ‘impact’ players LA considered before Ty Simpson pick

The Los Angeles Rams were not afraid to rock the boat during the 2026 NFL Draft. Los Angeles invested in QB Ty Simpson instead of adding a player who could make an impact as a rookie. But the Rams reportedly came close to actually going with the consensus opinion.

The Athletic’s Nate Atkins revealed that LA considered drafting two impact players before making the Simpson selection.

“The Rams did consider players at potential impact positions,” Atkins wrote. “They looked into USC’s Makai Lemon, who won the Biletnikoff Award as college football’s top wide receiver. They examined Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq, who posted the fastest 40 time of any tight end since at least 2003.”

This reporting lines up with what most fans and analysts expected from the Rams before the draft. In theory, those players could raise the floor of LA’s offense and help them make a Super Bowl run.

However, Atkins explained why the Rams decided to go in a different direction.

“Had the Rams not taken Simpson, they would have gone with an offensive skill player, according to a team source,” Atkins added. “But it was difficult to see either rookie providing an immediate impact, given the Rams’ crowded tight end room and the limited volume remaining for a third receiver to play behind Davante Adams and Puka Nacua.”

Los Angeles entered the draft with Colby Parkinson, Tyler Higbee, and Terrance Ferguson at tight end. They may have needed to really be in love with Sadiq to draft him at 13.

Lemon could have been a solid investment in a replacement for Adams, who is already 33 years old. Instead, the Rams took advantage of their high draft pick to grab a quarterback for the future.

Hopefully the Rams don’t have buyer’s remorse during the 2026 season.