The Los Angeles Rams are supposed to be loading up for a championship run in 2026. Matthew Stafford still has juice. Davante Adams is on the roster, even if he’s 33 with over 1,000 career catches. The defense has pieces. This is the year, or close to it.
So what did the Rams do with the 13th overall pick in the draft? They took quarterback Ty Simpson, a raw prospect who might not see a meaningful snap all season.
That decision tops a list of the most questionable moves across the NFL this offseason. And it’s not just because Simpson might bust. It’s because the Rams had obvious needs at receiver, offensive line, and secondary — and they chose to stash a developmental quarterback instead.
Here’s the full rundown, starting with the biggest head-scratcher.
10. Saints Bet Big on an Aging Running Back
New Orleans signed Travis Etienne Jr. to a four-year, $48 million deal with $28 million guaranteed. Etienne is 27 years old with over 1,000 career touches. He’s been productive — three 1,000-yard rushing seasons and 13 touchdowns last year — but this team isn’t competing in 2026. By the time they might be relevant again, Etienne will be on the wrong side of 30 and probably declining. That contract looks like it was built for a contender, not a rebuild.
9. Colts Paid Alec Pierce Like a Franchise Wideout
Pierce got four years and $116 million from Indianapolis, with $60 million guaranteed over the first two years. He’s a deep threat who led the league in yards per catch each of the last two seasons. But he only has one 1,000-yard season in four years. And he’s still recovering from ankle surgery. If his target share goes up, his yards per catch are almost certainly coming down. That’s a lot of money for a guy who might just be a really good No. 2.
8. Titans Overpaid for One Good Season From Alontae Taylor
Tennessee gave Taylor three years and $58 million with $42 million guaranteed. He had a legitimately strong 2025 with New Orleans. But the two years before that, according to ESPN’s Seth Walder, he allowed 1.6 yards per coverage snap — far above the league average. That’s the kind of payout you give a proven star, not a guy with one good year and a lot of variance.
7. Buccaneers Let Jamel Dean Walk
Tampa Bay didn’t push hard enough to keep Dean, who landed with Pittsburgh. He’s 29 and doesn’t have a Pro Bowl on his resume. But he’s solid, durable, and had three interceptions last season plus nine passes defended. The Bucs could have used that veteran presence in a secondary that’s already thin.
6. Bears Didn’t Fix Their Pass Rush
Chicago finished 22nd in sacks and 29th in pressure percentage last season. Head coach Ben Johnson said the team believes in the guys they have coming back from injury. But they didn’t add any real outside help. It’s the same mistake Washington made after 2024 — assuming internal improvement will fix what the numbers say is broken. It usually doesn’t.
5. Seahawks Chose Derick Hall Over Boye Mafe
Seattle let Mafe walk in free agency and kept Hall, who was still under contract. Walder called it a mistake, noting that Mafe has been better on a per-snap basis against both the run and pass. The Seahawks could have traded Hall and paid a few million more to keep the better player. They didn’t.
4. Falcons Gave Kyle Pitts a Bag He Hasn’t Earned
Pitts signed a three-year, $54 million deal after being franchise-tagged. He set a career high with 88 catches last season but still didn’t crack 1,000 yards. Take away one huge game and he had 762 yards and two touchdowns in the other 16 contests. His 1.77 yards per route run ranked 10th among tight ends. That’s not top-five money.
3. Cowboys Traded Osa Odighizuwa
Dallas sent Odighizuwa to San Francisco for a third-round pick. He ranks third among defensive tackles in quarterback pressures since 2024, behind only Zach Allen and Chris Jones. The Cowboys improved their defense overall this offseason, but trading a young, ascending player in his prime feels like a move they’ll regret if these teams meet in January.
2. Bills Traded for DJ Moore
Buffalo gave up assets for a 29-year-old receiver coming off the worst season of his career. Moore’s 2023 season was great, but expecting a repeat feels like a stretch. The Bills have also struggled to draft wideouts under Brandon Beane, so the trade makes some sense by default. But it doesn’t look like the kind of move that puts Josh Allen over the top.
1. Rams Drafted Ty Simpson Instead of a Receiver Who Could Help Now
When the Rams picked Simpson at No. 13, Makai Lemon was still available. So were KC Concepcion, Omar Cooper Jr., De’Zhaun Stribling, and Denzel Boston. Tight end Kenyon Sadiq was there too. Simpson might not play a down in 2026. And if the Rams fall short of a Super Bowl, the list of guys they passed on will be long and painful.
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