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Football: The Rams’ colliding past, present and futureThe 12-5 Rams were one of the best teams in football last year. Matthew Stafford finally won his first MVP, then agreed to return for 2026. Around him, the team has had a buzzy offseason, with a mix of developments that feel like they correspond to the franchise’s different eras:
The future: Drafting QB Ty Simpson with the 13th pick. The Alabama product won’t play as long as his 38-year-old colleague, Stafford, is on the roster. GM Les Snead could’ve used that pick on someone designed to maximize his remaining time with a Hall of Fame QB, but he opted to put a succession plan in motion instead. (Here’s Jourdan Rodrigue explaining how the GM saw the board.)
The present: Trading last week for Myles Garrett. Acquiring the best defensive player alive, fresh off setting the sacks record, qualifies as “win-now,” yeah. It cost them Jared Verse, an excellent edge defender in his own right, plus a handful of premium draft picks. You only do this if you think you can win it all this year. And it’s not just Garrett: Trent McDuffie, the star cornerback from the Chiefs, cost them a 2026 first-rounder.
