Despite huge additions, the Los Angeles Rams' offseason was hit with a disappointing grade.
The Los Angeles Rams are in a "win-now" type of structure, similar to what the team engaged in during the 2021 season, which led to a Super Bowl win. Additions like Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson were coupled with the blockbuster deal to land Myles Garrett.
Despite these moves, not everyone is a big believer that the Rams made all the right decisions. ESPN's Seth Walder gave the organization a "C+" for their offseason performance.
"Surplus value doesn't tell the whole story, however. It makes sense to prioritize the present as Super Bowl favorites with a waning quarterback window. But what kind of present value tariff is worth it? Should the Rams sacrifice two percentage points of future Super Bowl probability later for one point today? Three? It's an open question, but Garrett for Verse straight up would have been reasonable and a win-win, even with the surplus value loss. But the addition of three picks, including a first-rounder, is too rich for me," Walder wrote.
Walder pointed to the other draft picks that were surrendered to land Garrett, which were heft. A first-round, second round, and third-round were added to haul for the Cleveland Browns.
Walder seems to think that a player-for-player swap would have been better, as Verse is a solid player in his own right. He is certainly not Garrett but he can get to that level.
There is value to what Walder is saying, givent that those draft picks can heavily impact the team when they are building around Ty Simpson. However, the Rams wanted to go all-in during the 2026 season, due to it potentially being the last for Matthew Stafford.
Another reason for the lower grade is the Simpson pick in general. The Rams chose to forego a potential immediate impact player for a quarterback that may play in 2027, but could also easily sit behind Stafford for the next two seasons at least.
"Selecting a player who won't play without a Stafford injury is the opposite of maximizing their current window. And it looks even stranger after the Garrett trade. It's not because backup quarterbacks don't matter -- they do -- but a veteran backup could have been had for much less capital," Walder said.
The Simpson pick may be one that haunts the Los Angeles front office, especially if Stafford does play through his new two-year deal. He is contracted through the 2027 season, and head coach Sean McVay made it a point to indicate that the team belongs to the reigning MVP.
Stafford himself also pointed to playing past 2027, which would put another wrinkle in the Simpson acquisition. If the Rams are highly competitive in 2026 and 2027, what reason would they have to then replace their leader with an unproven prospect?
Simpson does have the benefit of learning from one of the best quarterbacks in the league, and that knowledge is priceless. However, his sitting behind Stafford for multiple years would seem like a complete waste of a first-round pick.
