Rams' Myles Garrett trade influenced by player nobody saw coming

The Los Angeles Rams' blockbuster trade to acquire defensive end Myles Garrett from the Cleveland Browns felt, at least to a degree, like a make-up move after the controversial selection of Ty Simpson in the 1st round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

But what if I told you the Garrett trade would have never happened without the Simpson selection?

That is precisely what is being discussed in the aftermath of what is now officially the biggest trade of the 2026 offseason, maybe the biggest trade we've seen since the Rams acquired Matthew Stafford back in 2021. Let's get into it.

Rams likely don't do Myles Garrett deal without drafting Ty Simpson

Here is the case being made by Ari Meirov, who covers the NFL for The 33rd Team:

"One detail the Rams have privately stressed: The Myles Garrett trade likely doesn’t happen if they don’t draft Ty Simpson at No. 13.

With a QB they believe can be the future already in place, the Rams are once again comfortable using future draft capital to acquire elite talent. They don’t need to worry about those picks for a QB."

That makes a lot of sense. Teams have been protecting future NFL Draft assets like their lives depend on it, especially when it comes to 2027 draft capital. Even if the Rams expect to be near the bottom of the order in every round, those picks would be borderline untouchable without a future quarterback in place.

But in Simpson, unpopular as the selection was for many fans and pundits alike, they have a young QB they believe can step in whenever Matthew Stafford decides to hang up the cleats. You can supplement and address your roster at other positions in plenty of other ways, but leaving yourself without assets to invest in the quarterback position is a brutal place to be.

This is the luxury of having a long-term plan. When a general manager like Les Snead is operating with that type of long-term security and confidence, it gives him the type of gusto it takes to call Browns GM Andrew Berry and simply say, "Name your price."

To say that doesn't happen without the Ty Simpson pick is not hyperbole. Suppose the Rams had taken someone like Makai Lemon or Kenyon Sadiq with the 13th pick. It would have scratched the instant gratification itch for another playmaker. It may have even put a nice long-term plan in place for life after Davante Adams and/or Puka Nacua. But replenishing at receiver is a lot easier year-to-year than it is at quarterback.

The Rams had a strong conviction in Simpson, and they were willing to make an unpopular decision to invest in him. Not only that, but they made it worth Matthew Stafford's while by putting a bunch of extra zeroes in his bank account.

Stability at that position changes everything. Rams fans got a glimpse of Snead's aggressive opportunism after the Stafford blockbuster once upon a time. It's where the "F*** Them Picks" mantra came from. And although the organization denied it at the time of the draft, that version of Snead is 100 percent back in business.

With a full quiver of future draft picks at his disposal, he was able to fire on Garrett now. And all because of a player nobody would have seen coming.

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