Hindsight means nothing in the NFL, but it is a great tool for non-shot callers to criticize football's top decision-makers. For the braintrust of the Los Angeles Rams, their 2026 NFL Draft strategy is coming under intense criticism after a slew of injuries revealed just how much they're lacking in depth.

Many fans clamored for the team to draft receiver Makai Lemon or tight end Kenyon Sadiq, but the Rams chose to use their first-round selection on quarterback Ty Simpson. Fans wanted a coverage linebacker because the team was once again poor at defending against inside attacks and play action, but instead of adding a player like Jacob Rodriguez, the Rams decided to stay put for the early part of the draft, adding tight end Max Klare (who won't play much as a rookie, outside of injuries) and tackle Keagen Trost to round out the first two days.

Their other two picks, CJ Daniels and Tim Keenan, were developmental players. Daniels is often inactive, and Keenan didn't make the team.

This week, we have learned that Poona Ford is out for the season, while Davante Adams and Kobie Turner were put on injured reserve. Neither Myles Garrett nor Terrance Ferguson is ready to return, and Nate Landman is in the concussion protocol. If we're being honest, if Aaron Donald didn't return, this team would have looked even worse than they do, and they have looked bad.

Their two wins were against Jameis Winston and the New York Giants after Jaxson Dart was hurt early, and against the Philadelphia Eagles, where the Rams were outplayed despite the absence of DeVonta Smith and Saquon Barkley (for most of the game).

Their 2026 draft strategy was before the Garrett trade, meaning they made their selections without knowing they would have him and Donald.

The results are clear: Their draft strategy displays a clear overestimation of their roster from the front office, and the team wasn't ready for the injuries they're suffering. They're not playing below their level of expectation. They are meeting it. The front office overestimated their roster, ignored the public concerns about depth, and the same holes have reopened.

Now, they'll have to patch whatever holes they have, as they look to turn around their season.