The Los Angeles Rams’ two biggest moves of the offseason, trading for Trent McDuffie and drafting Ty Simpson, are a continuation of general manager Les Snead’s “F them picks” mentality. Even if Simpson is only the second player drafted in the first round by the Rams in the last 10 years, he represents the “F them picks” strategy, which is to use first round picks as a weapon instead of as a crutch, better than anybody.
So far Snead has proven, through two Super Bowls and seven playoff trips in the
last nine years, that “F them picks” works for him. Having two first round picks this year and then trading one for McDuffie and using the other on a quarterback who might not see the field for the next several seasons, just reinforces the Rams’ mentality to not rely on first round rookies to help Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford win the Super Bowl.
Ty Simpson isn’t a diversion away from that. If anything, Simpson is “F them picks” in the living flesh.
Ty Simpson not worried about skeptics
Simpson recently responded to the criticism of L.A.’s decision to draft him at 13, shrugging it off as part of the job:
“I really didn’t care, to be honest with you,” Simpson told Sports Illustrated at the NFLPA Rookie Premiere. “Everybody can have an opinion, but it’s my job to take care of my business.”
We don’t know yet if Simpson will be a good NFL quarterback or not and the fact remains that until his name was called at 13, almost nobody expected him to be drafted that high. Whether it’s criticism of Simpson as a prospect due to various factors like lack of college experience or a disappointing end to his 2025 season at Alabama, or criticism of the Rams because he was drafted well before expectations, few quarterbacks picks in draft history was as surprising as this move.
And that also emphasizes the “F them picks” mentality:
Les Snead doesn’t care if he took Ty Simpson “too early” because whether it’s at 13 or 33, the general manager just wanted to get a quarterback in the draft who the Rams feel might have the tools to develop into a starter. It doesn’t matter if he goes top-15 or outside of the top-30 to Snead because to him, first round picks are over-valed anyway.
The Rams “F them picks” for 2027
It is also “F them picks” to say that the Rams do not think that any first rounder was going to help them win the Super Bowl next season. Sean McVay has flat out said this since the draft, even name dropping Makai Lemon, Kenyon Sadiq, and Rueben Bain as prospects who he does not believe will help the Rams win the Super Bowl.
So instead of drafting a player for 2026, the Rams drafted a player who might not see the field for years.
Former Rams CB Aqib Talib said on The Arena podcast on Tuesday that he believes Stafford is viewed as L.A.’s starting quarterback for at least two more years:
But Simpson sees the time he gets to spend behind Stafford, whether it’s one year or longer, as a “big advantage” for his career:
“I think it’s really, really cool to, one, be in the room with Matthew, who has done it at a high level for so long, and then see it from a wide receiver standpoint with Davante and Puka,” Simpson said. “And Davante especially, because of him being similar to Matthew, but I think both of those guys are two guys who are one of the greatest at their positions. The fact that I can watch both of them at the same time on my team, it’s a big advantage for me.”
Snead and McVay don’t think like other regimes. The ones who believe that a first round rookie will be able to help them save their jobs or reach the playoffs.
For one, Snead and McVay have long-term security in L.A.. The only person who could fire McVay in the next five years would be McVay. He’s not going anywhere. And the same could be said about Snead.
With that kind of security, the Rams felt like “Why not?” when it came to taking a quarterback prospect over anyone else. Even if he has lower odds of developing into a starter than a receiver or a defensive player or someone else — and this is indisputable, as all QBs have lower odds of starting — their jobs are safe. Look at Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch.
Since when did they get fired because of Trey Lance?
The Rams may not reap the rewards they hope to get by drafting Ty Simpson, or they could look like geniuses in two or three years. The point is that to them, it doesn’t matter. The outcome of the Simpson pick is not what they care about. They care about winning the Super Bowl. When it comes to who they pick in the first round, the message is clear:
“F that”.
