As much as the Los Angeles Rams’ selection of quarterback Ty Simpson was a shock for fans and the NFL community, it was a necessary pick at 13th overall. LA has successfully rebuilt its roster through the draft since their 2021 Super Bowl victory and subsequent collapse. Simpson is a needle the team is hoping to thread in order to stave off a similar downturn.
If Simpson successfully becomes the Rams’ next franchise quarterback, he will help solve a slew of problems for his new team:
- More salary cap space to re-sign ascending players
- Retaining premium draft capital
- Flexibility to add veterans through trades and free agency
- Ending the year-to-year cycle with Matthew Stafford
A fork in the
road was placed in front of the Rams. Les Snead and Sean McVay were given two options: go all-in for another Super Bowl or hedge their bets for sustained success in the future. They instead asked, “why not BOTH?”
The selection of Simpson was far from a panic move. It also was not a luxury pick.
Taking a quarterback addresses the franchise’s precarious quarterback succession, resets salary cap realities, and extends the team’s window of contention. There is no other way to interpret this news than to conclude that McVay and Snead are building the roster for the long haul. In some ways it is counter instinctual and the riskiest possible decision; however, fans should applaud the regime for trying to have it both ways.
Salary cap reset
The rookie contract quarterback window remains one of the most significant advantages in football. Recently we’ve seen the following teams leverage such on their way to a conference championship:
- Jayden Daniels & Washington Commanders
- Brock Purdy & San Francisco 49ers
- Jalen Hurts & Philadelphia Eagles
- Jared Goff & Los Angeles Rams
- Drake Maye & New England Patriots
- Bo Nix & Denver Broncos
- Joe Burrow & Cincinnati Bengals
- Josh Allen & Buffalo Bills
- Patrick Mahomes & Kansas City Chiefs
The Eagles, 49ers, Bills, and Chiefs sustained their success as their quarterbacks transitioned to long-term, high-cost deals; however, this doesn’t disprove the upper hand that helped them reach new heights initially. Teams can assemble much deeper supporting casts around a quarterback on a rookie contract. It’s a reality. Afterwards the hope is that your signal caller is elite enough to elevate those around them and create a new competitive edge despite a lesser overall roster. Whether Simpson can become an upper echelon passer remains to be seen, but at least for the foreseeable future he will make roster building easier for LA.
The Rams are soon to be victims of their own successes. After stringing together impressive draft classes starting in 2023, they must soon extend those players or risk losing them to free agency. The same goes for key contributors that were signed from outside teams or those looking for their third NFL contract.
At risk for Los Angeles over the next couple of years are:
- Puka Nacua, WR
- Alaric Jackson, LT
- Steve Avila, LG
- Coleman Shelton, C
- Kevin Doston, RG
- Warren McClendon, RT
- Colby Parkinson, TE
- Braden Fiske, DT
- Kobie Turner, DT
- Byron Young, EDGE
- Jared Verse, EDGE
- Kamren Kinchens, DB
While the Rams are soon to open the check book once again for Matthew Stafford, they will soon end the year-to-year cycle of their quarterback asking for more money. LA won’t be able to sign every single player on this list even if they made the switch to Simpson immediately. They will certainly be able to retain more once they are in the rookie contract window.
Keeping options open
The Rams landed their future quarterback with a single first round pick. Let that sink in.
In order to take Goff in 2026 the team traded a total of six picks to the Tennessee Titans that included two first rounders and two second rounders. Stafford cost the Rams Goff, two first-round picks, and a third-round selection. Snead and McVay expect to draft at the back of the first round each year. Picking at #13 was a bonus gifted to them by the Atlanta Falcons, and they made sure to capitalize.
What does that mean to the team moving forward? Well, they can easily get more aggressive in order to maximize the Super Bowl window with Stafford and build a competitive roster for Simpson thereafter.
The Rams no longer need their top picks in a draft class next year that will supposedly have more options at quarterback. They already have their guy. The Browns, Jets, Cardinals, Vikings, Dolphins, Steelers, Colts, Saints, Panthers, and Falcons could all be willing to part with players in exchange for dry powder in 2027, especially if their season starts in a disappointing fashion. LA is in a position to take advantage.
By investing in Simpson now, the Rams are choosing controlled risk over complacency. If he hits, Los Angeles gets to chase another ring with Stafford while already building the bridge to its next era. Should LA miss, they’ve spent only a single first-rounder to take a swing at football’s most important position. For a franchise boldly refusing to pick between present contention and future stability, that’s exactly the kind of bet worth making.
This was necessary. Ty Simpson is not a luxury pick.
