Why win-now Rams drafted Ty Simpson over these offensive weapons

An often-repeated criticism regarding the Los Angeles Rams making Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson the 13th overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft is that a win-now Rams team that has reigning Most Valuable Player Matthew Stafford should have instead spent that draft asset on a 2026 Week 1 starter. 

For an article published on Wednesday morning, Nate Atkins of The Athletic addressed what could have been for the Rams had head coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead gone in a different direction on the night of April 23. 

Rams "did consider" drafting these players over Ty Simpson

"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."

The New York Jets grabbed Sadiq with overall pick No. 16. NFL insider Connor Hughes of SNY noted that Sadiq is "far from a polished player" and "will take time to develop."

Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles thought enough of Lemon that they traded up to take him with the draft's 20th overall pick. He could be viewed as a potential replacement for A.J. Brown, who is expected to be traded by the Eagles to the New England Patriots at some point after June 1. 

"Had the Rams not taken Simpson," Atkins continued, "they would have gone with an offensive skill player, according to a team source. 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."

Why Rams didn't trade the Ty Simpson pick

According to Atkins, "trade offers that came the Rams’ way" for the 13th pick were seen by team officials as "soft." 

"The Detroit Lions had interest in moving up," Atkins said, "... but the return didn’t excite in a draft that thinned out considerably by Day 3 due to so many college players returning for name, image and likeness compensation."

If Simpson proves to be as good as Snead and McVay hope, the signal-caller could one day be viewed as the steal of the 2026 draft. That said, only time will tell how Snead and McVay will feel this coming winter about spending a 2026 first-round draft pick on a project for the future.