The Rams have regularly see their own draft pick fall late in the first round in recent years (if they’ve had one at all), but armed with the Falcons’ selection (via a first-round trade last year), Los Angeles will use the mid-first-round real estate to make a long-term investment.
Rumored to be high on Ty Simpson — but seen as iffy to select him this high — the Rams are taking a Matthew Stafford heir apparent at No. 13 overall. The Falcons traded up 20 spots to add James Pearce Jr. last year, and the Rams will use the return on that exchange to bet on Simpson, a one-year Alabama starter.
Stafford has not yet signed an extension, but that is widely rumored to be in the offing. This will create an interesting dynamic, as the Rams have followed the 2020 Packers’ lead by taking a quarterback in the first round as a Super Bowl contender. Jordan Love turned out to be a smart move; will the Rams be thankful they took Simpson in a draft-and-develop scenario?
A recent Trade Rumors Front Office piece listed the Rams’ lack of prime draft real estate as a factor in the Simpson derby. While rumors circulated the team was preparing to add strength to this year’s roster — as rumblings Simpson could fall out of Round 1 altogether emerged — the team will take the chance on adding a passer who will not be expected (barring a Stafford injury) to contribute this season. It is quite possible Simpson will be sitting for at least two years, representing a rare (pretty much Green Bay-only) developmental route among modern QBs.
Such an approach may be the best-case scenario for Simpson. The same developmental route benefited him in Tuscaloosa. After sitting as a true freshman behind future No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young, Simpson then sit two more years behind Jalen Milroe before finally being named the starter for the Crimson Tide. In his single season leading the first-team offense, Simpson was able to look past an initial faltering out the gate in a brutal loss to a below average Florida State team to become one of the hottest names in college football over the first half of the season.
In nine starts, Simpson looked like the early frontrunner for QB1 in this draft class, completing 66.9 percent of his passes for 21 touchdowns and only one interception while averaging 273.4 passing yards per game. Despite the disappearance of the Tide’s WR1 from 2024, Ryan Williams, and the surprising lack of a run game in Bryant-Denny Stadium, it looked like Simpson had put his squad back on track for an easy run to the College Football Playoff. Over the next six weeks, though, Simpson saw a stark decline in quality of play, completing only 60.5 percent of his passes for seven touchdowns and four interceptions while only averaging 184.3 passing yards per game.
Speculation over what caused this deterioration offered theories that a home loss to Oklahoma had revealed his kryptonite, that teams had finally gotten enough film to figure him out, or that his health had limited his performance. It was believed that a lower back injury and elbow bursitis began hurting him in October, while other reports cited gastritis that caused him to lose nearly 20 pounds. Adding injury to insult, his season ended when he suffered a fractured rib in a blowout loss to the eventual champion Hoosiers.
Sitting behind Stafford, Simpson should have plenty of time to get fully healthy, if he isn’t already. He’ll also have ample time to clean up the minor parts of his game that scouts nitpicked from his lone year as a starter. Evaluators wanted to see a greater variety of touch on his passes along with improved consistency on deep passes. Any lack of starting experience isn’t going to go anywhere as he sits for a a couple more years, but as a prospect praised for his mental acuity, getting to study film and NFL defenses while backing up an MVP for a year or two should work miracles for his NFL development.
If all goes as planned, it may be some time before we hear Simpson’s name again with any significance. If all goes as planned, Simpson should be taking over a talented offense as a seasoned NFL player with a couple years of preparation under his belt. The Rams are hoping things will go according to plan.
WHAT THE ACTUAL FUUUUUUUK
God this might be worse than the Falcons taking Penix Jr
Adam Schefter on ESPN said the Rams called Stafford today to let him know they would draft Simpson. Atlanta never called Kirk Cousins when they drafted Michael Penix.
Whether you inform them or not isn’t really the issue
It’s wasting the pick
Rams got lucky the falcons first was high as it was wasn’t even their own pick lmao
Instead of adding to the defense like Bain Jr in a division with Super Bowl champion Seahawks and the 49ers or adding to the offense with home grown talent in your back yard at USC Makai Lemon
They take a QB who’s gonna sit a while…..how does that help Stafford towards another ring?
There is such a thing as professional courtesy.
As for your bright idea that the Rams should draft someone just because he played at USC? Pro football teams did things that way in the dark ages. Not in today’s NFL.
And Lemon just got drafted by Philly who swapped positions with Dallas. Precursor to A.J. Brown getting traded?
“ As for your bright idea that the Rams should draft someone just because he played at USC?”
Oh you mean my bright idea to draft
A first round grade wr that’s been discussed all off season as an area the rams were focusing on
Who went few picks later to the eagles
Who many had mocked to the rams leading up to the draft?
This might not be your thing chucky.
Hey bud remember when you said the Cowboys were going to trade up to 2 and spazzed when told that wasnt going to happen? Look at you spaz again
Liking your own comments is crazy btw lmaoooo
lol you got sooooooooooooo upset you brought up an old conversation on a completely unrelated article that is just amazing lmao
How funny is it that the Eagles jumped in front of the Steelers to take Lemon while he was on the phone with the Steelers. What a joke of a franchise this has become.
12 picks and you sit idly by while guys like Lemon, Downs and even Simpson—all who play positions you need—get drafted
And the draft is here in Pittsburgh
What a clown show the Steelers are
Rams and Seahawks were very equal teams last year. Not much separated them. Seahawks squeaked it out. Rams would’ve have beaten the Patriots just as bad in the SB. That said, Rams should still compete for a SB in 2026.They aren’t one player away, they’re there now. They won’t get a shot to draft a high 1st round QB next year, or probably the year after that. They had they chance to take their QB of the future and took it. Simpson can sit on the bench for a season and learn the game from a very good coaching staff and future HOF QB.
Jordan Love would like to speak with you…
Here are the last 15 or so Super Bowl winning QBs
Darnold who was a free agent signed by Seattle
Hurts who was a 2nd round draft pick
Mahomes who the Chiefs traded up for in that years draft (traded up for)
Mahomes
Stafford who was traded to LA wasn’t drafted by LA
Brady who signed as a free agent
Mahomes
Brady who was a 6th round pick
Nick Foles who was a 4th round pick
Brady
Manning who signed as a free agent
Brady
Wilson who was a 3rd round pick
Joe Flacco who was drafted late 1st or mid first
Eli Manning
Aaron Rodgers who was a late 1st
Brees who was a free agent
There was no need to take Simpson 13th overall esp when defense wins championships. We’ve seen defenses last two years crush opposing offenses en route to Super Bowl victories
Rams should have taken a pass rusher or traded back and risked taking Simpson later
“It’s All About The QB” = NFL for people who breathe through their mouth. Simpson to Los Angeles at 13 is proof NFL clubs draft for their own needs.
The Rams did answer their defense need in the first round; remember they had two first rounds pick they had their own 29th pick and the 13th pick trade with Atlanta. They took there 29th pick and shipped it to KC for CB McDuffie a few weeks earlier.
“ Rams should have taken a pass rusher”
They finished around 15th in rushing defense and and around 20th in pass defense.
“ The Rams did answer their defense need in the first round”
No they answered their secondary issues
They didn’t address their front 7 rush defense and pass rush depth issues
Guarantee Bain Jr would have helped with the whole stopping the run and more guys to get after opposing QBs than Simpson will for 2026
So would Aaron Rogers, who could have won a Super Bowl with a good receiver that year instead of the Pack using the first round pick on a prospect QB sitting on the bench. Blew their window…
Yea bc that one year they drafted love in the 20’s stopped them from doing that the previous decade +
Smart football executives don’t treat the draft like there’s only the current season to draft for.
Dumb football executives make dumb future decisions for their replacements
See Terry Fontenot- Penix Jr – Ian Cunningham for reference
Youre right it was so dumb for the Chiefs to draft Mahomes with Alex Smith there, Jordan Love while Rodgers was there, Mendoza while Kirk is there.
Your takes are bad and you should feel bad
Mendoza was essentially there before Cousins. They signed him with the knowledge they had the 1st pick in the draft this example is a reach.
Raiders were also not a game away from the Super Bowl
Essentially there but he wasnt. Regardless, the notion is that you have a team has an NFL ready established vet at QB and made a draft move thinking about the future. The guy who ate too many crayons as a kid is saying only dumb execs draft with future replacements in mind. Im saying thats a terrible take and gave examples for when it works past, present, and future, specifically referencing QBs too. Those other factors (knowing they wanted Mendoza, Raiders being a bad team) are not relevant to the logic thats being argued.
Don’t forget drafting Rodgers when Favre was there. Some fans are clueless they don’t understand that some teams don’t draft for need but rather draft for the future! The packer model of drafting and sitting QB’s first round hasn’t hurt it’s surprising most teams don’t follow the strategy
Haha yeah i did think of that after I hit post. Its definitely not uncommon or always a disaster to draft with the future in mind, even if it doesnt help the immediate squad.
I said earlier this team does not need Simpson. They just did the NFC west a favor for 2026
The NFC West was the league’s best division last term even if Fox Sports didn’t want to acknowledge it.
It’s why you’re not a gm, and the reason why the packers have been competitive and not picking too 10, it’s not wasting a pick letting a young quarterback development behind a HOF starter. He stands to learn a lot
It’s wasting a pick and wasting a chance to improve the roster for a superbowl run in 2026
Who’s gonna help more in 2026? Lemon or Simpson?
“Oh but the future” so you’re punting on 2026 saying the future matters more than now lmao
How’s that worked out for the packers exactly? Or falcons? Didn’t help Garapollo win a Super Bowl on his own. Didn’t help Brock osweiler become a star. Didn’t help McCarthy didn’t help Lance. Lots of guys sat behind great QBs and didn’t do much
This is why you’re no GM
Given how hard it is to find QB’S in these drafts and how low the Rams typically draft? How is this a wasted pick? This kid is very talented and in the Rams system will blossom. No thus is NOT the Falcons all over again. Simpson is a much better QB and will have time to sit and develop, something the Falcons didn’t give Penix….sneaky good pick here…
Doesn’t help stafford win another ring but it helps the entire organization to prepare for life after stafford who could very well retire after this season. Easy decision considering free agency and trades so far.
If he develops for 2-3 years and then prospers it sets the rams up for success for the next 10-12 years.. this pick was for their future. It’s the same model the packers have had in place since 2005
If ifs and buts were candy and nuts it would be christmas time every day.
How does Simpson improve their odds chances of winning a superbowl in 2026?
Is Stafford getting younger?
Are their rookie contracts suddenly skipping a year?
Is it a guarantee SImpson is the “heir”?
Its a wasted pick cause youre punting on 2026 looking towards “the future”
Meanwhile Seahawks are retooling what they lost
49ers are filling their holes
Cardinals cant suck forever
And Rams are worried about the future when their window is now lmao
Made it all the way to the NFC championship, lost, and their grand idea is run it back with a different back up QB for 2026. Dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb.
It’s not a wasted pick if it was for their future of the franchise which obviously it was.
So punt on 2026 for the “future” that may or may not happen lmao. Amazing strategy.
Agree. Teams within the Superbowl window normally look to fill more immediate needs rather than taking a chance on a QB prospect who is (1) likely going to sit out the year and (2) not considered a solid candidate by many NFL experts. A WR is going to have more impact…
If they took Simpson at 29 ok
If they traded back into the 1st ok whatever
Taking him 13th overall when your window is now was asinine
As a Falcons fan thank you for this. Now we can hear everyone talk about this for 2 years now sheesh…Hopefully he’s good but Stafford is still a championship QB. Heck I’d take Stafford over Penix, Tua and Simpson right now
I think this is worse. The Falcons were a ‘possible’ playoff team. The Rams are a Super Bowl contender with some obvious weak spots. This makes ZERO sense. Not to mention Simpson was not a first round talent. If it were second or maybe third round, then ok, but good grief.
All that being said, I stated months ago Simpson would be the 4th or 5th QB taken. I was WRONG. So, who knows, maybe Simpson will actually be their franchise QB of the future, but this had me shaking my head. Stafford had to be like … “WTF .. I been Penix’ed”
Whoa. Didn’t expect that.
Risky move for a win now team, but best possible outcome for Simpson. Sit behind Stafford and train with McVay.
Not risky at all. This is the highest pick the Rams have had, very talented QB on the board..draft him! Super Bowl contenders rarely get chances to draft a top QB and given how scares they are lately… smart move on the Rams part…as a team with very few holes…
Super Bowl contenders are also rarely in position to take one of the top offensive tackles or receivers.
Very talented? He was tagged as late 2nd, early 3rd, in THIS draft. Would have been even further down in other years.
Rams had needs in a chase for the Super Bowl THIS year. They did not address them. Decent player, bad pick, HORRIBLE pick given the spot in the draft.
Wow I was betting my house they’d take Makai Lemon. Just wow. I’m dumbfounded
But hopefully not homeless…
I lost the house
They spent their second 1st round pick on the KC CB (trade). One starter and one to learn. I get the strategy.
I agree 100%
This feels exactly like Jordan love back in 2020 when everyone including Aaron Rodgers was pissed at the packers
I’m one of the only people that actually think this is a good move since stafford/mcvay will be a great mentor and Simpson would have been an automatic bust if he started in his rookie season
I agree. Stafford is one back injury from being out. Very sensible to take a proper development/pinch starter.
Remember that Stafford was hinting at retirement before the 2025 season because of his back ailments, even the Rams management was saying there was a possibility of him walking away. Then comes the 2026 draft the Rams had two first rounds pick 13 and 29. They used there 29th pick traded it to KC for McDuffie (CB) a few weeks earlier. They just used their 13th for a QB that played in a similar offense at Alabama as the Rams run. It was a good move they have protected their QB position, if Stafford has a injury or thinks about calling it a career after this coming season. Now the second round I could see the Rams taking a WR so if they do, I will call this draft a win, win already for the Rams for 2026.
So, you are ok with planning for a future of possibly making the playoffs versus going for it with a team that is one of the favorites RIGHT NOW?
Nope. Bad pick. I get that a succession is important, but the Rams will be old as heck when Stafford bows out and will need to rebuild anyway, wasting the ‘cheap first round QB first five years impact’. Nope. Horrible pick. Good player, but wrong pick.
Has Jordan Love won anything with the Packers? Maybe they could have used the extra win now boost when they still had prime Rodgers
And if the packers didn’t draft Love back in 2020 and had him sit Where would the packers be? Probably recycling QB’s struggling through 7-10 and 6-11 seasons
They’d have Malik Willis who they acquired to be Loves backup and would have acquired him to back up Rodgers who’s looked equally good running LaFleurs offense
Why is there so much Jordan love hate he has only been starting for 3 years and people fault specifically him for not having a ring
I can understand Jalen hurts hate but hating Love would be like hating Texans version Deshaun Watson
Isn’t that pretty much where they are? Record aside, do you really think the Pack are anywhere near being a Super Bowl contender? LOL
I mean they could’ve taken a player in another position to better their chances on winning now with Stafford who might have 2/3 years left maybe or get a solid young guy to develop behind Stafford and learn from McVay and continue being successful for the next 10 years.
Not necessarily a bad move but not expected
The big difference of rams vs falcons is they have a MVP QB still playing for him to learn. They pass the torch when Stafford is done. They got puka in the 5th, they trust their scouts. Ppl forget WRs can be picked all over the draft and developed in a good system. I love their 1st pick
They could’ve traded back and still got him imo. Could’ve just drafted one of the other QB options (Beck, Allar, Klubnik) in the 2nd or 3rd and been in the same boat.
Those QB’S are WELL below Simpson in talent. Rams are loaded in talent.By drafting Simpson here they have 5 years of control vs 4 had they drafted a 2nd tier guy…those other QB’S aren’t in the same class as Simpson…teams have to want to move up for Rams to move down BTW
Based on one partial good season? A lot of failed NFL QBs have better resumes than that…
Yea and everyone was saying the same about Allar, Beck, etc after one season. Simpson was not good at all the last 7 games. You know when he was going against better competition and teams had time to get some tape on him. Last 7 games he was roughly 60%, 200 yards/g. only 8 TDs and 6 TOs. I still think he could be good, but I also think Allar & Beck could be just as good if they were drafted by LAR. He was at one of the best programs in the nation and sat for a WHILE so he did get to clean up his mechanics and footwork. Give Allar a year with LAR and he could be looking the same way imo, is younger, and has a better arm.
Did you know that Alabama was ranked over 110 when it came to the OL ratings this past season in college football? Also, they were rated over 100 when it came to the running back position this past season in college football this past season. So, I would not lay the total blame at the QB’s feet. Alabama has never been rated that low at the positions of OL and running backs since before the Saban days.
Yes I knew all of that. I also know that QBs with only one year of starting haven’t done well going to the NFL, and as I mentioned half of that one year didn’t look good. He doesn’t have great athleticism or arm strength either. And if this kid sits an additional 2 years, that means he would’ve only started 15 games in like 6 years. That doesn’t sound like a recipe for success.
Smart move. Let Simpson sit for at least 2 seasons to learn and develop
They’re doing it the packer way. Again smart move
Although I had Rams going with a WR, this is the perfect situation for Ty to develop properly. Wouldnt be surprised if this works out well for the Rams
The biggest head scratcher of the draft.
Why was it a head scratcher when it’s obvious that it was a pick toward their future. And he he develops and prospers and if they have success then it was a smart move
Because it’s a super bowl contending team and there were better players available that could’ve had an immediate impact. McVay looked extremely irritated discussing this selection after the draft.
Then improve your roster in free agency then lol
They literally made Trent McDuffie the highest paid corner in NFL history and signed Jaylen Watson. What are you even talking about here?
He may not even see the field the next 4 years.
at some point, you have to prepare for life post – Stafford. Based on the Rams’ track record with personnel, I wouldn’t bet against their front office.
GM Les Snead is one of the best GMs in all of football, and this is definitely a process I can get behind. The only thing I would have done differently is trade down some, and get some extra capital, but I think if The Rams keep building their roster out like they have been going into the future, and giving Simpson time. I think that it could be a great pairing. I know there were some bad losses last year for Alabama, but there are quite a few times that I saw the clutch gene from Ty Simpson last year, and even as a Georgia Bulldogs fan. I came away impressed with him. Mendoza to me isn’t that much better of a prospect than Simpson. The one thing I noticed with Simpson is there were times in which I noticed he would try to make something out of a play in which was clearly over with, and should just throw the ball away instead of trying to force it or extend a bad play. Just move on to the next play, but that is something that can be fixed with this coaching staff.
McVay looked noticeably agitated at their post draft presser. That was the first time i’ve seen McVay and Snead not look in lockstep together.
wasted pick. Mcvays reaction said it all.
Good move, imo. Had my Raiders traded back with the Jets, I’d have used the Jets #16 on Simpson.