How Rams could fall apart by the time Ty Simpson takes over

The Los Angeles Rams earned some endearing names for their aggressive team building approach: “F them picks”, “stars and scrubs”, and “veteran-centric”.

Despite “F them picks” enduring as the lasting moniker, I find that “stars and scrubs” most accurately represents how the Rams were able to accumulate key veterans, stay under the NFL salary cap, and field an overall competent team without glaring weakness. Calling any player on a Super Bowl winning team a “scrub” is not fair. It’s said tongue in cheek.

There is truth to how Los Angeles drafted in volume historically in order to balance out what seemed like a top-heavy roster. The below table sums the total number of draft picks the Rams made from 2017 to 2026 and tallies picks at low-value positions like RB, TE, S, LB, FB, K, and P.

While the Rams used to frequently draft in excess of their standard allotment of seven picks, they have fallen below this mark the last two years and are committing premium resources to low-value positions. It’s not necessarily the number of RB’s or TE’s drafted by LA that is concerning—it’s that they are often using their top picks to do so.

YearTotal PicksLow-Value PicksLow-Value Detail201785TE 1, S 1, LB 2, FB 12018114RB 1, LB 3201984RB 1, S 2, LB 1202097RB 1, TE 1, S 2, LB 2, K 1202194RB 1, TE 1, LB 2202284RB 1, S 2, LB 12023147RB 1, TE 1, S 1, LB 3, P 12024104RB 1, S 1, LB 1, K 1202563RB 1, TE 1, LB 1202651TE 1Total8843—

Let’s zoom in further on the last three drafts.

While the Rams selected 10 players in 2024, 40% are no longer on the team less than three years removed. That’s not a positive development considering draft picks are cost-controlled for at least four years and these players should be entering the peak of their rookie contract development.

Once you take Jared Verse out of the 2024 draft haul, the top three remaining picks are Braden Fiske (cost an extra second rounder in trade up), Blake Corum, and Kamren Kinchens.

And then the Rams spent premium picks the following year on Terrance Ferguson (second) and Jarquez Hunter (fourth). The investment at tight end continued this past draft when they selected Max Klare in the second round.

I can’t shake the feeling that Los Angeles could come to regret the fact they are moving away from the strategy that served them well for nearly a decade. They are no longer drafting in high volume. Most of their remaining top picks are committed to consensus low-value positions like running back, tight end, and safety.

Then comes the reality that the Rams used their highest draft pick since 2016 on a quarterback, Ty Simpson, that hopefully won’t play for at least a year. It’s a tough pill to swallow for fans that a team with Super Bowl expectations would make an investment that may not pay dividends for multiple seasons. Of course, if Simpson is a great player we will never second guess the choice.

But I’m worried about the state of the roster by the time he takes over as the franchise quarterback. Do the Rams have the infrastructure to be built for the long haul even if they are making fewer draft selections?

LA was able to stave off a total collapse in the last era of “F them picks”. It feels much different this time around.