The Los Angeles Rams sent shockwaves through the 2026 NFL Draft by selecting quarterback Ty Simpson with the No. 13 overall pick. While the pick itself raised eyebrows for a team in win-now mode, the real head-scratcher might be what the Rams left on the table.

According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Rams could have traded down, picked up extra draft capital, and still landed Simpson. "While the Rams' plans for Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson at No. 13 crystallized, a look at the board suggests Los Angeles could have moved back and still gotten its passer," Fowler noted.

Here's the kicker: from picks 14 through 20, teams like the Baltimore Ravens, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Jets, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers, and Philadelphia Eagles all passed on quarterbacks. The biggest threat to the Rams' plan? The Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 21—who ultimately took Drew Allar in the third round, suggesting Simpson might have been their target in Round 1.

Even the Jets, the only potential wildcard in that stretch, are reportedly eyeing the 2027 quarterback class, especially with three first-round picks next year. Meanwhile, the Lions and other teams were reportedly calling the Rams to move up for an offensive lineman, giving Los Angeles a golden opportunity to slide back and still get their guy.

For a team built to win now, passing on that trade-down opportunity makes a questionable pick look even worse. It's a reminder that in the draft, sometimes the best move is the one you don't make—and the Rams might have missed a huge one.