Rams avoid massive 2027 questions by drafting Ty Simpson

When the Los Angeles Rams decided to invest in their future by selecting quarterback Ty Simpson, they answered the lingering question of who would succeed Matthew Stafford once he decides to retire. While the team looks to use Stafford's final years in the league to groom Simpson, they enter 2026 without having to wonder about the future.

With the 13th pick, the organization viewed it as a luxury selection, as they used their other first-round pick in a trade for Trent McDuffie. Addressing a critical need with one selection, one could understand why the Rams felt like they didn't need to address another need with the pick used on Simpson.

However, the true value of the selection comes in two forms. The Rams are firmly out of the Arch Manning sweepstakes, and they will get to retain their first-round picks moving forward.

How the Rams' decision to draft Simpson will pay off

Quarterbacks like Manning, Dante Moore and LaNorris Sellers will be under a microscope as the hype behind the 2027 class grows. The Rams do not need to worry about that mess and will avoid the media nightmare that the quarterback narrative will become.

But the real payoff will come on draft day. The reason many are upset that the Rams used the 13th pick on Simpson is that the Rams never usually draft that high, as the pick came from Atlanta. Thus, the Rams wasted an opportunity to snag a potential generational player.

In the same breath, the Rams won't be in the quarterback mix, and if they're as good as advertised, they'll be picking in the back half of the first round in 2027. Since they have Simpson, the Rams won't have to pay inflated quarterback rates to trade up, giving the Rams the first-round picks needed to add top talent during the final years with Stafford and the first few years of Simpson.