Rams GM says drafting Simpson frees up future assets for all-in season

Lost among the discourse with the Ty Simpson pick is someone few realize: The Los Angeles Rams don't need to worry about who will succeed Matthew Stafford, meaning all of their future picks are now trade-able assets.

This is exactly what Rams general manager Les Snead explained on ESPN's "Pat McAfee Show" this week. He noted that because the Rams expect to pick late in the next few drafts, they can more easily move on from those picks without having to worry about a post-Stafford world. That gives the team more firepower to add pieces around Stafford immediately.

"When you have a QB who’s in the twilight of his career, a lot of times, you want to save those early picks to ensure just in case Matthew decides, ‘I’ve had enough,'" Snead said. "But at the end of the day, when you’re not sure when he might say it’s over, you like to insure some of those other picks in case you need to react versus pro-acting for the next QB. We can now maybe use those picks to add different players to chase special with Matthew, whether it’s through the draft or doing what we did with Trent McDuffie and adding a veteran.”

Snead is also saying what a lot of people speculated about the Rams' mentality with the No. 13 pick: it was a luxury they were drafting so early, so they might as well try to solve out their future quarterback problem before they become desperate to do so after Stafford retires. And while the Rams got a lot flak for the selection, none of that will matter if they start trading 2027 picks for veterans who can immediately help the team win a Super Bowl in 2026.

Simpson isn't part of the Rams' immediate future, but they now can cross off a big priority for their to-do list a year early. That type of stress relief is hard to come by in the NFL. Now, they can truly just focus on winning in 2026 and beyond with Stafford under center and a lock-and-loaded roster on both sides of the ball.