Ty Simpson played a big role in the Myles Garrett trade after the Los Angeles Rams decided to draft him, per Adam Schefter
The Rams took a lot of flak for drafting Ty Simpson in the top half of the first round, but the move apparently played a big role in pulling off the Myles Garrett trade.
More details are coming out about the inner workings of the Myles Garrett trade and Adam Schefter recently revealed how Ty Simpson played a role in everything.
“They (the Los Angeles Rams) started calling right after that contract got restructured, and they kept calling, and they kept calling, and they wouldn’t leave the Browns alone,” Schefter told The Pat McAfee Show’s Ty Schmidt. “Initially, it was all about draft picks, and when the Rams selected Ty Simpson on draft night, it was with the idea that they thought they could get Myles Garrett. Because by locking up the quarterback position, they no longer, in their minds, felt the need to have to address that position in the ’27 or ’28 draft, because they had their quarterback of the future.
“So now they can go all in with their other picks and try to trade for a player like Myles Garrett.”
It’s an intriguing strategy, especially when considering the controversy that came with the Simpson pick. Many believe the Rams overspent mightily, but honestly, the fact it helped lead to the Myles Garrett trade takes some of the heat off.
Especially when including the fact Matthew Stafford is still considered year-to-year. The Rams could very well be in a spot, as soon as 2027, where they have both an MVP-caliber QB and a solid backup to go along with a terrifyingly talented roster.
That’s pretty wild to think about.
Schefter says Myles Garrett is even better than the Rams anticipated before the trade
It’s safe to say the Rams are ecstatic about acquiring the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, especially after reviewing the tape from last season.
“Now, the Rams went back and looked at all his plays from last season and they actually came away more impressed than they thought they were going to be,” said Schefter. “He was better than they thought he was going to be. They knew he was good, and they said ‘We didn’t know he was this good.’”
Myles Garrett career stats
Garrett is one of the most accomplished defensive linemen in NFL history and the numbers completely back it up.
- Sacks: 125.5
- QB hits: 239
- Tackles for loss: 149
- Forced Fumbles: 23
- Pro Bowls: 7
- First-team All-Pros: 5
- Defensive Player of the Year: 2
- Games played: 134
Garrett turns 31 in December, but clearly has shown zero signs of slowing down. Not only did he earn his second DPOTY award last year – he set the NFL record for most sacks in a single season (23.0).
He also recorded a league-high 33 tackles for loss and then 39 QB hits to go along with that. It’s elite, incredible production that hardly anyone can match.
Overall, it’s impressive how the Rams navigated all of this and then really went for the jugular once Simpson came into the fold. They played the long game and it worked out. Now, their chances of getting to the Super Bowl are the best it’s been in years thanks to the calculated approach.