All posts by : Don Lichterman

On The Rampage: The Rams’ No. 13 Pick Reflects a Misread of Timing, Urgency, and Draft Value

Rams’ Selection of Ty Simpson at No. 13 Raises Questions About Timing and Draft Value

The Los Angeles Rams used the 13th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, a decision that immediately shifted attention away from the roster’s current trajectory and toward a longer-term projection at the most important position in the game. For a team structured to compete now, the selection stands out not because of the player alone, but because of the context surrounding it.

At the time of the pick, the board still offered players expected to contribute immediately. Rueben Bain Jr. remained available and was selected at No. 14. The Philadelphia Eagles then traded up to secure Mikael Lemon. Both players project as contributors in the near term at positions where performance is measured on every snap. The Rams passed on both. They also passed on Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq, who, despite the Rams’ existing depth at the position, was widely regarded as one of the strongest overall prospects still available.

The selection becomes more difficult to reconcile when placed alongside the current quarterback situation. Matthew Stafford remains the starter and continues to perform at a level that supports contention, especially considering he was the MVP last season. His contract runs through the 2026 season, and while there has been periodic discussion about retirement, the organization has maintained a flexible, year-to-year approach rather than signaling an immediate transition.

“We’ve been like that,” head coach Sean McVay said when asked about Stafford’s status. “You’ll probably see us put another year in there as kind of a placeholder, like we’ve done each of the last couple years. But he’s earned the right to be able to be on a year-to-year basis, and that’s something that we’re comfortable with out of respect for him. And hopefully he continues to say, every year, ‘I’m ready to go again.’”

That framework suggests continuity rather than urgency. Stafford is “ready to go again” this season, and beyond 2026 remains open-ended rather than defined.

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On The Rampage: The Rams at No. 13 and the Demand for an Immediate Starter Otherwise Trade it Away!

Today is what it must feel like for people when they wake up on Christmas morning. Like any red-blooded American, the lead-up includes putting on Draft Day, the Kevin Costner and Jennifer Garner film, featuring Terry Crews, Chadwick Boseman, Ellen Burstyn, Frank Langella, Denis Leary, Sam Elliott, Timothy Simons & Kevin Dunn from Veep, Chi McBride from Hawaii Five-0, Patrick St. Esprit, Wade Williams, and Pat Healy whom have all been a ton of things but anyway, the Rams enter the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh with seven selections. The focus is entirely on No. 13 overall, a pick acquired from Atlanta that gives the organization access to a tier of prospects it rarely reaches.

The remaining picks, 61, 93, 207, 232, 251, and 252, provide flexibility, but none carry the same expectation of immediate impact. That expectation rests on the first-round decision, and the standard is straightforward. The player selected at 13 must be capable of starting immediately. If that threshold is not met, the pick itself becomes the asset, and moving it is the more rational approach.

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