The Los Angeles Rams‘ bold decision to draft Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson at No. 13 in the 2026 NFL draft has been met with skepticism from fans, NFL experts, and peers alike.
Instead of adding an immediate impact play for the Rams’ Super Bowl run, L.A. made a play for its long-term future by bringing in a young quarterback who doesn’t need to (and won’t) start right away.
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And while many have criticized general manager Les Snead for this move, one of his former players thinks it’s a great idea. Veteran defensive end Chris Long, who played for the Rams from 2008 to 2015 (so, three years with Snead), said that what L.A. did is the equivalent of winning the lottery (with the Atlanta Falcons‘ pick turning into the No. 13 overall selection) and putting the money in the bank instead of immediately spending it.
“Like, that’s some rich people [expletive] man and that’s just what the Rams are,” Long said. “They’re so rich that they were like, ‘Yeah, I think we have everything we want. We’ll take care of the needs that we have elsewhere later. We think it’s important to draft a guy to succeed our quarterback, who’s currently playing out of his mind at 38 years old or whatever he is.’ The Rams are a [expletive] wagon and they’re going to be good for a while if this kid can play quarterback in the NFL. I mean, it’s just like, this is what great organizations do.”
Watch the full clip here (Warning: NSFW language):
Many expected the Rams to add a Day 1 starter to the roster with the luxury pick, but Snead and company instead looked at the future of the franchise in a post-Matthew Stafford era. There was no guarantee they could find his replacement next year or the year after, so they decided to use their gift to at least start a plan for the future than scramble.
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And with such a locked-and-loaded roster everywhere else, it’s easier to try to develop a rookie quarterback on a rookie contract than try to find a veteran that will cost more and still take time to integrate into the offensive system.
It’s a measured take from Long, but not one that many in the NFL world agree with at the moment.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Chris Long explains why the Rams’ Ty Simpson pick was actually smart
