Will Rams draft for now or the future? LA must solve the question before April

As the Los Angeles Rams enter the spring, the mood in Thousand Oaks is a mix of high-stakes urgency and rare luxury. Fresh off a season where quarterback Matthew Stafford squeaked by to claim the NFL MVP while leading the league in passing touchdowns. As the dust settled on another season, the Rams were only a few plays away from another Super Bowl appearance.

However, Stafford’s decision to return for his 18th season creates a fascinating strategic dilemma.

With two first-round picks (No. 13 and No. 29) for the first time in an era, the single most important question they must answer before April is: How will general manager Les Snead balance the "Post-Stafford" succession plan while giving their MVP enough immediate help to secure one last ring?

The Quarterback Succession: Ty Simpson vs. Immediate Impact

Despite Stafford’s MVP form, he turns 38 this February and has dealt with a recurring back injury, and the Rams haven't had a legitimate young successor on the roster in years.

• The High-Stakes Choice: With both picks (acquired via trade with Atlanta), the Rams will be in the range for Alabama’s Ty Simpson, a mobile, high-ceiling passer who could execute quickly considering the surroundings available in L.A.
• The Conflict: Drafting a quarterback at 13 means passing on a blue-chip offensive tackle or an elite corner (LSU's Mansoor Delane/Tennessee's Jermod McCoy) that would arguably help Stafford win a title right now. If they don't take a QB there and hope Simpson, or another talent, is there at 29, they risk a "post-Stafford" collapse in a limited QB class; if they do, they might be leaving their MVP unprotected.

Defensive Infrastructure

While the offense led the league in scoring in 2025, the secondary was the team’s Achilles' heel in the playoffs. Before April, the Rams must decide how to deploy their $45.7M in projected cap space.

• The Free Agency Target: The team already secured defensive back Quentin Lake with an extension, but they still need a lockdown presence. Deciding whether to pay for a veteran like Kam Curl or a top-tier corner will dictate whether they must use their second first-round pick (No.29) on the defense.
• The Byron Young/Kobie Turner Timeline: Both defensive anchors are now extension-eligible, meaning GM Les Snead and the front office must decide before April if they are prioritizing internal deals over external free agents.

Nacua "Super-Extension"

Nacua is coming off a sensational 129-catch season and is now eligible for a massive extension. With current wide receiver market rates exceeding $40 million annually, the Rams need to find a "win-win" structure before the draft.

• The Impact on the Draft: If the Rams can’t reach a framework for Nacua’s deal by April, and with Davante Adams carrying a $28 million cap hit, the team may feel forced to use one of their early picks on a wideout to ensure the offense doesn't become prohibitively expensive in 2027.

As a whole, the Rams have spent years prioritizing proven veterans over draft picks (away from the defensive front). In 2026, they finally have both. But by the time the draft begins in Pittsburgh, they must decide if they are building a bridge to the next decade, or pushing all their remaining chips into the middle for an encore from Stafford.