After acquiring a first-round pick from the Falcons at last year’s draft, the Rams entered this offseason with two No. 1s. They were scheduled to select 13th and 29th until general manager Les Snead made yet another win-now move in a March trade with the Chiefs. Snead gave up No. 29 in a package for star cornerback Trent McDuffie, whose presence should boost the Rams’ Super Bowl chances next season.
Once the Rams lost the 29th pick, their odds of using a first-rounder on a developmental quarterback reportedly decreased. Expectations were they would look for immediate aid at No. 13, where USC wide receiver Makai Lemon and Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq were still on the board. Either could have improved an already formidable offense and provided another weapon for quarterback Matthew Stafford. However, instead of drafting Lemon, Sadiq or another pro-ready prospect, Snead decided to take a long-term gamble on Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson.
With Stafford entering his age-38 season and the unproven Stetson Bennett as the Rams’ only other quarterback, it is not surprising they drafted a passer. It did come as a shock that they spent their top pick on one, though, especially in a weak class for the position.
Simpson was considered the second-best QB available throughout the pre-draft process, trailing Raiders No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza, but there was some doubt he would go in the first round. After making a mere 15 starts at Alabama, Simpson entered the draft as a polarizing prospect. He had Snead in his corner all along, though. Even before Simpson officially left school in January, Snead had a first-round grade on him. He said as much to Simpson’s father, Tennesee-Martin head coach Jason Simpson, back in December.
While there was talk that Rams head coach Sean McVay was unhappy with the Ty Simpson pick in the immediate aftermath, he and Snead “were on the same page on this,” Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic said as a guest on Check The Mic with Steve Palazzolo & Sam Monson. Rodrigue added that the Rams would not have taken Simpson without McVay’s blessing.
If Simpson stayed in school for his senior season, the 23-year-old could have taken a $6.5MM offer from Miami to transfer and replace Cardinals third-rounder Carson Beck, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Had he fallen out of the first round, Simpson would have made more money playing for the Hurricanes in 2026. As the 13th overall pick, though, he will sign a four-year deal worth a fully guaranteed $25.41MM.
At least from a financial standpoint, Simpson made the right move leaving college for the pros. The question is: Did the Rams make the right move when they picked him? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.
Grade the Ty Simpson pick
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C 30% (582)
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D 25% (481)
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F 22% (431)
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B 16% (306)
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A 7% (140)
Total votes: 1,940
Drafting a backup qb while trying to contend is a F. Stafford is WAY better than Smith was when KC took Mahomes and the Rams were way closer to a superbowl then the Smith led Chiefs too.
C grade from me. Thought it was pretty dumb to not pick an impact player that could help them this year, or if you were gonna draft Simpson, trade back a bit because definitely didn’t need to pick him at 13.
That being said, it’s not a bad idea to have him learn for a few years under mcvay and Stafford.
There are very few rookies who actually make a massive impact. I applaud this move that the rams picked a QB. If he develops as expected the rams will have their QB for the next 15 yrs.
For sure, and I don’t disagree. And tbh I’m quite glad they took Simpson because Lemon fell to my birds. But Lemon would have been a much bigger help to the rams this upcoming season.
I’d give it a more passable grade than all the reports of McVay and Snead being in “lockstep” that have followed since.
Given that the Rams are perennial contenders and rarely have a top 10-15 pick. .. smart move. Ty Simpson can sit and develop instead of getting rushed before he’s ready.
I gave the move a C grade. Too many teams wait too long with QBs in the twilight of their career and then they end up scrambling to see if Joe Flacco or Philip Rivers is still available. I have no idea if Simpson is a guy worth transitioning to but the Rams are trying to get ahead of a potential disaster if Matty misses extended time and that makes a lot of sense to me.
Gave them a D, both for drafting a backup during their contending window but also for not trading back. You cannot convince me anyone else was that high on him.
This was a case of fear of loss.
IF they knew they were going to take Simpson in the first round, trade back or better yet, make the 13 pick part of the KC trade and get something back right then (lower round pick or something) and use the 29 pick on Simpson.
They reached way too much on the pick.
That’s why I graded it a D…
Major reach but is what it is not like LA fans care lol
Can’t believe the marketing spin that McVay was on board with this pick….does this mean they go into the season with Stafford as the only guy with experience since they most likely aren’t going to pay Jimmy G to be his backup when they have Stetson who they’ve protected as if he’s Gold, and now Simpson who won’t even be holding a clipboard….they could have had a stud at 13 but instead Snead opted for a QB who wouldn’t even be in the top 5 in a normal QB year. God forbid Stafford goes down there goes their playoff window.
Yeah, I’m sort of shocked because they could’ve just resigned Jimmy G for cheap and draft Simpson at least in the 2nd/3rd round instead.
I’m wondering if the agent reached out and told them that someone was going to draft them later in the round or before their next pick.
Jimmy G is considering retirement. The Rams did want to sign him.
How can it be anything other than an F? They drafted a guy they didn’t need way too high. They almost never pick that high, so this was their chance to get an impact player to push them over the SB edge. Instead, they drafted a guy who MIGHT play in a couple years.
The guy they were going to take otherwise went 20th overall so he’s not as impact as people think
Yeah, neither was that Jaxon Smith-Njigba guy
Oh he was on the board?
He was drafted 20th. Saying that lemon isn’t as impactful as people think, because he was taken 20th, is faulty logic because we’ve seen guys like JSN go 20th.
Zay Flowers
Justin Jefferson
Brian Thomas Jr
Addison
Aiyuk
Brown
Moore
Ridley
Lots of guys were taken in the 20s 1st round last couple years
It’s impossible to accurately grade draft picks this early. Ask me in 5 years.
I have put you in my calendar…
😉
I gave it a C. I do not understand why they didnt try to trade back to around 25 where they could still gave grabbed him.
Doesn’t everyone who has posted anything negative about Simpson wonder why he was even on the Rams radar at all let alone trading back to 25 to get him? Far better options were available to help immediately in their quest for playoff and SB glory.
Next years draft has got far better prospects, and they could have signed Jimmy G as the backup plan on a 1 year deal with an option for insurance in case Stafford goes down….Rams fans have to face reality…their playoff hopes rest on the health of their 38 year old QB with all the ailments he currently has….his arm is 21, but the rest of him body is 50+
Meanwhile Pitt is still waiting on 40+ year old QB to make up his mind. Smart play for the long term health of the franchise.
Don’t worry, they drafted Allar.
I gave it a D, I bet they could’ve traded it back to ATL for their first round pick next year and had a top 5 pick going into the 2027 draft.
D
Pro:
You for your QB of the future. Whether he is or isn’t remains to be seen
Con
You have the 2025 NFL mvp nearing the end of his career
You were in the NFC Champ game last season
You lose years on current contracts
You lose cheap years on Simpsons contract while he waits on the bench
By the time Stafford hangs em up who knows how many holes the Rams will have to fill to be a contender or what cap hell they will be in
If this was a Love Rodgers situation where they were taken in the back half of the draft ok. But to not address the glaring need of WR in free agency then pass on Makai Lemon who fell into your lap was just bad decision making
I gave it a C though it deserved a D. Reason for the C being that they turned the other pick into McDuffie and signed Watson/resigned Curl for the defense.
Still felt they could have traded back & still taken Simpson in the early 20’s at worst.
Grade: Incomplete. If Stafford remains healthy, it’s a B. If he isn’t then a D-.
Don’t you mean the opposite? If Stafford remains healthy, the pick would’ve been better used on a player like Lemon, who could get them over the top and contribute right away. If Stafford gets hurt, then you’ve at least got an inexperienced back-up, although it probably won’t be enough to get them into the playoffs (which, along with the fact that they probably could have found a comparable talent at the end of round one next year, is why I’m not a fan of the move).
Can’t grade such a choice until you see results from his participation towards on-field activities, practices or preseason games.
Wow…an optimist….this kid isn’t even going to handle the clipboard let alone sniff anything meaningful on field….practices mean squat and what are “on field activities?
Ifn he ever gets into a Season game = on field activities.
Yet at the least Snead ensures his ‘friends kid’ gets a nice chunk of $ from Kroenke!
Looked at his tape over the past 29 months and can confirm he is a legit QB1
Tape…29 months….what Tape…he was a 1 year starter!
Tape?
That stuff is still used???
I thought everything was digital now…
F
Could have drafted Bain. You get a D for DUMB!
If you’re a Rams fan you have to trust Snead and the HC period.
Regardless of the spin, just because they use the phrase “Snead and McVay were on the same page” doesn’t mean McVay was buying into the pick…all that does is emphasize that Snead is the boss and McVay works for him…..and McVay has to be happy with what ever the boss wanted.
“I give it a F”
“I give it a D”
Good to know there are so many arm chair GM’s on here who know better than the guy who has built and sustained a perennial contender.
The question was asked, and answered on this site….your problem?
The engineer who built the Titanic thought it was a great ship too until…..
As I type this, it appears Dan Orlovsky has voted 140 times for an A grade.
déjà vu .. ram’s drafted goff’s eventual replacement .. how much will it cost them ?