The Los Angeles Rams took Ty Simpson with the 13th-overall pick, a first-round quarterback meant to be their future. But here we are, late October, and Simpson hasn’t played a single down all season. The debate over taking a QB in what was supposed to be a “win now” year for the Rams was hot on draft day, and it’s even hotter now. Folks are asking if the Rams would be getting more out of their top pick if they’d gone a different route, and honestly, it’s not looking good for them.
Wide Receiver Woes: A Missed Opportunity?
Wide receiver was a glaring need for L.A. heading into this draft, everyone saw it. They waited until the sixth round to grab C.J. Daniels out of Miami, which felt like a gamble then. Now, with Davante Adams’s injury highlighting just how thin that receiving corps is, it’s screamingly obvious they needed serious help at the position way earlier. The best rookie receiver out there, Carnell Tate, went fourth overall to the Titans, so the Rams never had a shot at him. But what about the other guys who went later in the first round? Makai Lemon was a popular mock draft pick for the Rams, but he’s been less than impressive with the Eagles since being taken 20th overall. He’s sitting on 18 receptions for 127 yards with no touchdowns. That’s a measly 7.1 yards per reception. Ouch. Then you got Omar Cooper Jr., now with the Jets, who went 30th overall. He’s only played three games, but he’s already racked up 12 catches for 248 yards and two scores. That’s making an impact! But the real standout, not named Tate, is KC Concepcion with the Browns. This guy has 30 receptions for 315 yards so far. Before last weekend, he had 186 receiving yards, then he just exploded for 8 catches and 129 yards in the first half against the Titans! Concepcion is already third in Rookie of the Year odds, according to FanDuel, only trailing Tate and his own teammate, second-round pick Denzel Boston. Could any of those guys have been wearing Rams horns right now? You gotta wonder.
Offensive Line Strength: The Only Silver Lining?
Now, to be fair, maybe an offensive lineman wouldn’t have been the “bang for their buck” move either, even if Simpson isn’t playing. Vega Ioane of the Baltimore Ravens has been as impactful as almost any rookie this season, even if he doesn’t get the same highlight reels as the skill players. Four tackles were drafted after Simpson: Blake Miller to the Lions, who has five starts and is coming off a strong Week 7; Monroe Freeling to the Panthers, getting increased playing time because of injuries; Max Iheanachor to the Steelers, who his head coach just praised big time on Monday; and Caleb Lomu to the Patriots, who has one start on a rough O-line. So, there were plenty of solid O-line talents available. But here’s the kicker: the Rams haven’t actually needed a ton of extra help on their offensive line this year. They’re allowing one of the lowest pressure rates in the entire NFL, ranking eighth overall. So, while other teams might have benefited from those rookie linemen, it looks like the Rams were already pretty solid up front. That means if they *had* taken an O-lineman, he might not have seen the field much more than Simpson.
So, where does that leave us? The debate isn’t going anywhere. The Rams chose their future QB in a “win now” year, and he’s not on the field while other teams are getting immediate returns from their rookie first-rounders, especially at a position the Rams desperately needed. What’s next for the Rams? They’ll be back on the field, and every snap from here on out will only add more fuel to this “what if” fire about their first-round pick.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Turf Show Times.
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