Chad Alexander, John McKay, Dave Ziegler, Others Receive Vikings GM Interview Requests
2:38pm: It is certainly possible more candidates emerge, but the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling notes Gray and the five candidates to emerge today represent the full list of external options in the Vikings’ search.
12:59pm: The Vikings’ mid-offseason GM interview search is forming. After Bills assistant GM Terrance Gray received the first known request Wednesday, the Vikes have sent out a host of interview slips.
Minnesota is focusing on the assistant GM level; five more execs with that title join Gray among the NFC North franchise’s list of hopeful meetings. A second-chance candidate — a rarity in the modern NFL — is on Minnesota’s list, with NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero noting the team sent Titans assistant GM Dave Ziegler a request.
Rams assistant GM John McKay, 49ers AGM R.J. Gillen, Chargers AGM Chad Alexander and Seahawks AGM Nolan Teasley also received interview slips from the Vikings, according to Pelissero, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones and ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Alexander, Gillen and McKay have been part of GM interview processes before; this is a first for Teasley. Gray joins this quintet among candidates, with the Vikes’ current top front office decisionmaker — interim GM Rob Brzezinski — likely to receive an interview as well.
Ziegler teamed with Josh McDaniels with the Raiders, but Mark Davis short-circuited this regime’s plans by firing both less than two years in. Ziegler, who established himself as a GM candidate by working with the Patriots and Broncos, landed as the Titans’ assistant GM in January 2025. Considering Ziegler’s abrupt Las Vegas ouster and the Titans’ 2025 performance, it is a bit surprising the Vikings are interested.
That said, Ziegler did work closely with Bill Belichick and now-Texans GM Nick Caserio in New England, which won three Super Bowls during Ziegler’s time in the front office. This is Ziegler’s first interview request since his Vegas dismissal. After both Tom Telesco and Trent Baalke received pink slips in 2025, the NFL does not have any second-chance GMs in place presently.
Gillen and McKay each interviewed for the Dolphins’ GM post this year. That marked the first such meetings for both NFC West execs. Gillen climbed to the AGM level in San Francisco in 2025, coming up through the scouting ranks to become the team’s player personnel director in 2023. Gillen has been with the 49ers since before John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan’s arrivals, being hired during Trent Baalke‘s GM tenure.
McKay joined the Rams a year before Sean McVay, joining Les Snead‘s front office as a scouting assistant. The McVay-era Rams have certainly represented a launching pad for HC and GM candidates. Ex-Ram staffers Brad Holmes (Lions) and James Gladstone (Jaguars) are currently in GM roles.
Alexander has more interview experience than his California AGM counterparts. The Chargers exec joined Gillen and McKay in the Dolphins’ search and competed with Gladstone for the Jags’ gig last year. The Raiders also brought in Alexander for a meeting in 2025. Alexander has been with the Chargers since shortly after Joe Hortiz‘s 2024 GM hire, coming over from the Jets.
Teasley’s name may be the most interesting here, seeing as the Seahawks won Super Bowl LX. Teasley climbed to the AGM level in 2023 but has been with the Seahawks under John Schneider since 2013. Schneider having won Super Bowls 12 years apart, with two completely different rosters, sets him apart in NFL history. Considering how impressive the Seahawks’ post-Russell Wilson retooling effort has been, it is unsurprising Teasley is on the GM radar. If the Vikings do not end up hiring him, the longtime Seattle staffer figures to be a prime candidate for roles come winter 2027.
The Vikings fired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in late January and went through the draft with Brzezinski in place in the interim. The team held off on conducting a search until after the draft. With that point having arrived on the NFL calendar, Minnesota’s next FO boss figures to emerge this month.
Rams Hire Phil Savage As Consultant
The Browns were not the only team to add a former GM before the draft. As Cleveland brought in Tom Telesco and Trent Baalke to help with its two-first-rounder itinerary, Sportsboom.com’s Jason La Canfora notes the Rams added Phil Savage to their personnel department.
Savage, the former Browns GM and Jets interim front office boss, joined the Rams in late March. This hire came after the team traded the No. 29 overall pick to the Chiefs for Trent McDuffie.
[RELATED: Grade Rams’ Ty Simpson Draft Decision]
An Alabama native who spent six-plus years as the executive director of the Senior Bowl, Savage worked under Joe Douglas with the Jets from 2019-24. The team hired the veteran exec as a senior personnel advisor in 2019 and kept him on to steer the ship in the final weeks of 2024, with Douglas fired during that season. Savage, 61, also remained with the team as a consultant in 2025.
Savage working with the Jets’ new regime may have been beneficial for the Rams, with at least one NFL exec connecting the dots (via La Canfora) ahead of the NFC West team surprisingly choosing Ty Simpson 13th overall last month. Savage having knowledge of the Jets’ inner workings certainly did not hurt as the Rams determined who their top competition would be, and the Alabama native’s extensive time in Mobile with the Senior Bowl and with the Crimson Tide as a broadcaster for a while may have helped push the Simpson-L.A. connection past the goal line.
Moreover, an exec informed La Canfora that Savage was high on Simpson during the pre-draft process. The Rams were loosely connected to the one-year Alabama starter, with a report indicating the team liked the quarterback but not at No. 13. The team’s McDuffie trade was viewed as one likely to send Simpson elsewhere — perhaps to Arizona or New York — but the QB revealed post-draft he met in secret with Sean McVay at points. The Rams do not hold “30” visits, making it harder to gauge their interest level in certain prospects.
The Rams viewed the Cardinals as a threat to take Simpson, believing their NFC West rivals held heavy interest. Hence, the team’s decision not to risk losing Simpson by trading down from 13. Les Snead helped Simpson determine if he would enter the draft or stay in school, with a $6.5MM NIL deal from Miami — which wanted him to replace Carson Beck in 2026 — being extended. Snead, who had known Simpson’s father from their SEC playing days, had been in on the QB since the fall.
Savage debuted in the NFL as a Bill Belichick assistant in Cleveland back in 1991, later teaming with Alabama icon Ozzie Newsome in the Ravens’ front office. His various Alabama ties may well have contributed to the Rams determining this was the correct window to acquire their Matthew Stafford heir apparent.
2027 NFL Fifth-Year Option Tracker
May 1 marked the deadline for teams to decide on fifth-year options on 2023 first-rounders. The 2020 CBA revamped the option structure and made them fully guaranteed, rather than guaranteed for injury only. Meanwhile, fifth-year option salaries are now determined by a blend of performance- and usage-based benchmarks:
- Two-time Pro Bowlers (excluding alternates) will earn the same as their position’s franchise tag
- One-time Pro Bowlers will earn the equivalent of the transition tag
- Players who achieve any of the following will receive the average of the third-20th top salaries at their position:
- At least a 75% snap rate in two of their first three seasons
- A 75% snap average across all three seasons
- At least 50% in each of first three seasons
- Players who do not hit any of those benchmarks will receive the average of the third-25th top salaries at their position
PFR’s Offseason Outlook series examined each of these decisions in-depth. Twenty-two options were exercised this year. Here is how each team with an option decision proceeded with 2023 first-round contracts:
- QB Bryce Young, Panthers ($25.9MM): Exercised
- QB C.J. Stroud, Texans ($25.9MM): Exercised
- DE Will Anderson Jr., Texans ($21.51MM): Exercised
- QB Anthony Richardson, Colts ($22.48MM): Declined
- CB Devon Witherspoon, Seahawks ($21.16MM): Exercised
- LT Paris Johnson Jr., Cardinals ($19.07MM): Exercised
- DE Tyree Wilson, Saints ($14.48MM): Declined
- RB Bijan Robinson, Falcons ($11.32MM): Exercised
- DT Jalen Carter, Eagles ($27.13MM): Exercised
- RT Darnell Wright, Bears ($19.07MM): Exercised
- G Peter Skoronski, Titans ($19.07MM): Exercised
- RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions ($14.29MM): Exercised
- LB Lukas Van Ness, Packers ($13.75MM): Exercised
- LT Broderick Jones, Steelers ($19.07MM): Declined
- DE Will McDonald, Jets ($13.75MM): Exercised
- CB Emmanuel Forbes, Rams ($12.63MM): Declined
- CB Christian Gonzalez, Patriots ($18.12MM): Exercised
- LB Jack Campbell, Lions ($21.93MM): Declined
- DL Calijah Kancey, Buccaneers ($14.48MM): Exercised
- WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks ($23.85MM): Exercised
- WR Quentin Johnston, Chargers ($18MM): Exercised
- WR Zay Flowers, Ravens ($27.3MM): Exercised
- WR Jordan Addison, Vikings ($18MM): Exercised
- CB Deonte Banks, Giants ($12.63MM): Declined
- TE Dalton Kincaid, Bills ($8.16MM): Exercised
- DT Mazi Smith, Jets ($13.93MM): Declined
- RT Anton Harrison, Jaguars ($19.07MM): Exercised
- DE Myles Murphy, Bengals ($14.48MM): Declined
- DT Bryan Bresee, Saints ($13.93MM): Exercised
- LB Nolan Smith, Eagles ($13.75MM): Exercised
- DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Chiefs ($14.48MM): Declined
Rams Decline CB Emmanuel Forbes’ Fifth-Year Option
The deadline for fifth-year option decisions has arrived, and although the Rams did not make a first-round pick in 2023, they held an option call thanks to their waiver claim of Emmanuel Forbes. As expected, Los Angeles will not provide the cornerback with a 2027 guarantee.
Forbes will see his option declined, per The33rdTeam’s Ari Meirov. The Rams overhauled their cornerback contingent this offseason, importing Chiefs starters Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson into their starting lineup. A record-setting extension followed for McDuffie, while his former Kansas City sidekick signed a three-year, $51MM Rams accord.
[RELATED: 2027 NFL Fifth-Year Option Tracker]
It would have cost the Rams $12.63MM to exercise Forbes’ option. The 2020 CBA made options fully guaranteed, after the 2011 CBA allowed teams to pick up options and cut players later free of charge as long as they passed a physical. Although the current CBA has caused teams to be more careful with option decisions, the salary cap’s annual spikes have allowed some flexibility here.
Twenty-two 2023 first-rounders saw their options exercised this year. That beats the 2022 first-round contingent (19, though Derek Stingley Jr. was extended early) and the 2021 first-round crop (16, though three players were extended in that group). The 2020 draft only featured 12 exercised options, though the Packers extended Jordan Love in lieu of exercising his.
The ’23 first-round cornerback collection was 2-for-4 in exercised options, with the Seahawks and Patriots respectively extending Devon Witherspoon and Christian Gonzalez‘s rookie deals through 2027. The Giants, however, declined Deonte Banks‘ option today. Witherspoon and Gonzalez have become two of the NFL’s best corners, while Banks and Forbes have not lived up to the first-round billing.
The Commanders chose Forbes 16th overall, one spot in front of Gonzalez, and that regime was removed from power after the ’23 season. The Adam Peters-Dan Quinn duo moved on from the Ron Rivera-Martin Mayhew first-rounder quickly, cutting the lanky CB in November 2024 after dangling him in trades. The Rams swooped in with a claim and have used him sparingly since.
Coming to Washington after a Mississippi State career that included incredible ball production (14 INTs in three seasons, six pick-sixes), Forbes also entered the league south of 170 pounds. Size became an issue for the young ballhawk, who has five interceptions in three seasons. Forbes fell out of favor with Quinn’s staff and played in just two Rams games after being claimed in 2024. Last season, however, brought a much bigger role. L.A. used Forbes as a 14-game starter and deployed him on 73% of its defensive snaps. Pro Football Focus, however, graded Forbes 91st among qualified CB options in 2025.
As cornerback play may have been the Rams’ Achilles heel last season, the team paid up for replacements in McDuffie and Watson. The team also let Cobie Durant, Derion Kendrick and 2025 deadline acquisition Roger McCreary walk. Forbes may still have a role in 2026, but a significant snap-share reduction appears in the offing. The 6-foot cover man does represent important depth behind the ex-Chiefs and nickel Quentin Lake, however, and has one more season to boost his free agency stock.
Rams Viewed Cardinals As Ty Simpson Threat; Lions Offered L.A. First-Round Trade
Coming out of the first round with the most surprising selection, the Rams have established a Packers-like runway for Ty Simpson to develop behind Matthew Stafford. While holding the Falcons’ first-round pick (No. 13 overall) gave the Rams rare draft real estate, most were still borderline shocked to see Simpson go as high as he did.
Los Angeles has been high on the Alabama product since the 2025 season, and GM Les Snead has known Simpson’s father for much longer. Sean McVay‘s attitude in his post-first-rounder presser created buzz the head coach was not on the same page as his GM, but he has gone to great lengths to indicate that is not the case. McVay and Snead were believed to be in lockstep on Simpson, as should be expected given the HC’s accomplishments and influence in the organization.
[RELATED: Grade Rams’ Simpson’ Selection]
The Rams did consider other players at 13, and The Athletic’s Nate Atkins notes the team received a trade offer from the Lions. The return, however, did not excite the Rams, who stayed at 13 and chose Simpson. The Lions held the No. 17 overall pick. We had heard the Rams fielded calls from teams interested in outflanking the Ravens for Vega Ioane, but the Lions had been closely linked to filling their post-Taylor Decker tackle need.
The Lions could have been targeting Ioane as an option to replace Christian Mahogany at left guard, but they ended up with Clemson’s Blake Miller at 17. Detroit had seen three tackles — Spencer Fano, Francis Mauigoa and Kadyn Proctor — go off the board from Nos. 9-12, and we heard shortly before the draft a run on O-linemen was expected midway through the first round. That ended up taking place, as nine blockers went off the board between Nos. 9 and 28.
Detroit could have been eyeing a move up the board to grab Miller, but no tackles were selected from Nos. 13-16. That gave the Lions Miller, whom the team is expected (per ESPN’s Eric Woodyard) to play right tackle opposite Penei Sewell.
As for the Rams, Atkins views the team as deeming the Cardinals a threat for Simpson. The Cardinals were closely tied to Simpson during the pre-draft process and entered Round 1 as the odds-on favorite, per Vegas, to leave Pittsburgh with the QB rostered. The Rams thought the Cardinals had “heavy interest” in Simpson.
While Arizona chose Jeremiyah Love at No. 3 and did not have another pick until No. 34, we heard buzz about the team potentially eyeing him via a trade back into Round 1. We saw the Giants execute that route to nab a quarterback in 2025, taking Abdul Carter at No. 3 and using their No. 34 pick to climb back into the first round for Jaxson Dart.
While the Rams could have potentially traded down and added assets to grab Simpson — who had been part of a clandestine research project, with secret meetings between McVay and the QB commencing — they did not want to take that chance. Thus, Simpson will be tied to a larger-than-expected rookie contract due to going off the board at 13.
Even if the Rams had re-signed two-year backup Jimmy Garoppolo, Atkins adds the team would still have prioritized Simpson as a QB stash in Round 1. The team has still not ruled out Garoppolo backing up Stafford this year, but the 34-year-old passer is considering retirement. Garoppolo engaged in talks with the Cardinals to follow ex-Rams OC Mike LaFleur to Arizona, but the discussions hit a snag and led to the team signing Gardner Minshew. he and Jacoby Brissett — the latter a potential trade candidate — now serve as bridge options in front of third-round pick Carson Beck.
Had the Rams not ended up with Simpson at 13, Atkins pegs the team as choosing a skill player and offers more connections to Makai Lemon and Kenyon Sadiq. The former lasted to No. 20, when the Eagles traded in front of an eager Steelers team, and the latter went 16th overall to the Jets. The Rams made Ohio State tight end Max Klare their second pick in this draft.
Adding Simpson now gives the Rams flexibility with their 2027 picks, with Atkins adding that factored into the decision to take him at 13. The 2027 draft has drawn immense intrigue a year out, with teams holding onto ’27 first-round picks thus far. Two 2027 first-round choices have been traded, but both were unloaded (by the Colts and Cowboys) in 2025. No team parted with a 2027 first-round pick during this draft.
The Rams have both been an active trader of first-round picks (as their Trent McDuffie trade most recently showed) and a team that has found tremendous value via Day 2 and Day 3 selections during the Snead-McVay partnership. It is possible a 2027 first-rounder will carry more value, and the Rams will not need their ’27 first for a QB following their Simpson decision.
Sean McVay, Ty Simpson Had ‘Secret Meetings’; McVay ‘High’ On QB
The win-now Rams shocked many observers when they spent the 13th overall pick in this year’s draft on a developmental quarterback, former Alabama signal-caller Ty Simpson. For his part, Simpson suggested afterward he had little pre-draft contact with the Rams, saying (via Sarah Barshop of ESPN): “I met with some scouts at (Alabama), and that was really it. They talked to my agent, but that was really not much.”
[Poll: Grading Rams’ Simpson Pick]
It turns out Simpson was being cagey, as he revealed Monday in an interview with Ian Fitzsimmons on ESPN Radio.
“We tried to keep this under wraps as long as we could,” Simpson told Fitzsimmons. “It was something to where I knew they were interested, but they wanted to make it private and didn’t want people to know that they were interested.”
Simpson added that he and head coach Sean McVay “had some secret meetings” and “talked for hours and hours” about football. Meeting with a prospect is atypical for Rams brass (McVay and general manager Les Snead), Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic notes. While McVay drew plenty of attention online when he looked less than thrilled in the aftermath of the Simpson pick, that was not the case. McVay has “significant say” over the Rams’ first selection every year, Rodrigue relays. Snead would not have pulled the trigger on Simpson had McVay been against it.
After making a mere 15 starts in college, there is no shortage of skepticism regarding Simpson’s chances of succeeding in the NFL. But both McVay and Snead are “very high on Simpson,” per Rodrigue. McVay, who has earned a reputation as an offensive guru, will play a key role in developing the 23-year-old as he breaks into the league as a backup.
It is unclear how long it will take for Simpson to get a look as a starter, as he is stuck behind one of the league’s premier signal-callers. Matthew Stafford will play his age-38 season in 2026, but he has shown no signs of slowing down. The 17-year veteran won his first MVP after throwing a career-high 46 touchdown passes last season. He came within a few points of reaching his second Super Bowl, but the Seahawks upended the Rams in a 31-27 NFC championship game. The Stafford-led Rams will aim to get over the hump and win their first title since 2021 next season, but in the meantime, he is likely to ink a lucrative extension.
The Rams may have just landed their QB of the future, but it does not appear Simpson will overtake Stafford any time soon. As was the case with past first-round QBs like Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love in Green Bay, it may be multiple years before Simpson takes the reins.
Rams Add 18 UDFAs
The Rams only selected five players during this past weekend’s draft, but they’re not being shy about adding undrafted free agents to their squad. The team announced the signing of 18 UDFAs:
- Nick Andersen, S (Wake Forest)
- Wesley Bailey, OLB (Louisville)
- Austin Blaske, OL (North Carolina)
- Matthew Caldwell, QB (Texas)
- Dean Connors, RB (Houston)
- Nyzier Fourqurean, CB (Wisconsin)
- Al’zillion Hamilton, CB (Fresno State)
- Bryce Henderson, OL (Vanderbilt)
- Nikhai Hill-Green, ILB (Alabama)
- Rohan Jones, TE (Arkansas)
- Chad Lindberg, OL (North Carolina)
- Jalen Logan-Redding, DL (Minnesota)
- Jaxson Moi, DL (Tennessee)
- Drey Norwood, CB (Missouri)
- Darryl Peterson III, OLB (Wisconsin)
- Dan Villari, TE (Syracuse)
- Eddie Walls III, OLB (Houston)
- Peyton Zdroik, DL (Air Force)
The Rams had one of the most notable selections of the draft when they selected Alabama QB Ty Simpson, but the team wasn’t done adding players at the position, as the organization has brought in Texas signal caller Matthew Caldwell. The quarterback bounced around during his collegiate career, taking snaps at Jacksonville State, Gardner-Webb, Troy, and Texas. He got his most extended look while playing for the Trojans, as he finished that 2024 campaign completing 63.2 percent of his passes for 1,608 yards, 13 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He only had 11 pass attempts during his lone season with the Longhorns.
Houston’s Dean Connors could compete for a roster spot behind Kyren Williams and Blake Corum on the RBs depth chart. Connors scored 21 touchdowns at Rice between 2023 and 2024 before transferring to Houston in 2025. He finished this past season with a career-high 977 rushing yards to go along with 254 receiving yards. He ultimately found the end zone nine times. He’ll be competing with the likes of Ronnie Rivers and Jarquez Hunter for a roster spot.
Nick Andersen is coming off back-to-back standout seasons at Wake Forest. The safety finished the 2024 campaign with 122 tackles, and he followed that up with 106 stops in 2025. Notably, he took his pass-rush and run-stopping ability to another level this past year, finishing with 6.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He also finished with seven passes defended. Andersen will likely have to show some special teams prowess to make the initial 53, but he could get some run on defense should any veterans suffer injuries.
Poll: Grading Rams’ Ty Simpson Pick
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
Rams Not Closing Door On Jimmy Garoppolo
Free agent quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is weighing retirement at the age of 34. Garoppolo spent the past two seasons with the Rams, who seemingly replaced him this week with the surprising selection of No. 13 overall pick Ty Simpson. However, if Garoppolo decides to play in 2026, head coach Sean McVay is not ruling out re-signing the 12-year veteran.
On whether the Rams have closed the door on Garoppolo, McVay said (via Mike Florio of PFT): “I wouldn’t say that. I don’t want to say completely closed, but I would say this. You guys know how much I appreciate Jimmy and what he could really do. I always viewed him as a starting-caliber quarterback.”
McVay added that Simpson’s presence “probably lessens the level of urgency” to address the position. The Rams have an MVP-winning signal-caller in Matthew Stafford, who is nearing an extension ahead of his age-38 season. Unless the Rams re-sign Garoppolo or add another passer, the untested Stetson Bennett is expected to compete with Simpson for the No. 2 job. Bennett joined the Rams as a fourth-rounder in 2023. Three years later, the former Georgia starter and two-time national champion has yet to take a regular-season snap in the NFL.
It goes without saying that Stafford and Simpson are locks for roster spots. It may be preferable to have Garoppolo or another experienced third option over Bennett, though the Rams have rarely needed a Stafford sub in recent seasons. Concussions and a neck injury limited Stafford to nine games in 2022, but he has missed just three since then.
The 2025 campaign was the second 17-game season of Stafford’s superb five-year Rams tenure. That left just 18 snaps for Garoppolo, who went a year without attempting a pass for the first time. While Garoppolo is now one of the most established QBs left on the open market, whether he will re-sign with the Rams or go to another team is up in the air.
2026 NFL Draft Results: Team By Team
Here is every team’s haul from the 2026 NFL Draft:
Arizona Cardinals
- Round 1, No. 3: Jeremiyah Love (RB, Notre Dame)
- Round 2, No. 34: Chase Bisontis (G, Texas A&M)
- Round 3, No. 65: Carson Beck (QB, Miami)
- Round 4, No. 104: Kaleb Proctor (DT, Southeastern Louisiana)
- Round 5, No. 143: Reggie Virgil (WR, Texas Tech) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 183: Karson Sharar (LB, Iowa) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 217: Jayden Williams (T, Ole Miss) (signed)
Atlanta Falcons
- Round 2, No. 48: Avieon Terrell (CB, Clemson)
- Round 3, No. 79: Zachariah Branch (WR, Georgia) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 134 (from Raiders)*: Kendal Daniels (LB, Oklahoma) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 208 (from Bills via Jets and Raiders): Anterio Thompson (DT, Washington)
- Round 6, No. 215) (from Eagles)*: Harold Perkins (LB, LSU) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 231: Ethan Onianwa (T, Ohio State) (signed)
Baltimore Ravens
- Round 1, No. 14: Vega Ioane (G, Penn State) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 45: Zion Young (EDGE, Missouri)
- Round 3, No. 80: Ja’Kobi Lane (WR, USC) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 115: Elijah Sarratt (WR, Indiana) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 133 (from 49ers)*: Matthew Hibner (TE, SMU) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 162 (from Chargers): Chandler Rivers (CB, Duke) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 173*: Josh Cuevas (TE, Alabama) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 174*: Adam Randall (RB, Clemson) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 211 (from Broncos via Jets, Vikings and Eagles): Ryan Eckley (P, Michigan State) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 250: Rayshaun Benny (DT, Michigan) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 253: Evan Beerntsen (G, Northwestern) (signed)
Buffalo Bills
- Round 2, No. 35 (from Titans): T.J. Parker (EDGE, Clemson) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 62: Davison Igbinosun (CB, Ohio State)
- Round 4, No. 102 (from Raiders): Jude Bowry (T, Boston College)
- Round 4, No. 125 (from Bears via Chiefs and Patriots): Skylar Bell (WR, UConn)
- Round 4, No. 126: Kaleb Elarms-Orr (LB, TCU)
- Round 5, No. 167 (from Texans): Jalon Kilgore (S, South Carolina) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 181 (from Lions)*: Zane Durant (DT, Penn State) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 220 (from Jets): Toriano Pride Jr. (CB, Missouri) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 239 (from Eagles via Jaguars, Browns and Bears): Tommy Doman (P, Florida) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 241 (from Bears): Ar’maj Reed-Adams (G, Texas A&M) (signed)
Carolina Panthers
- Round 1, No. 19: Monroe Freeling (T, Georgia) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 49 (from Vikings): Lee Hunter (DT, Texas Tech)
- Round 3, No. 83: Chris Brazzell II (WR, Tennessee) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 129 (from Bears): Will Lee III (CB, Texas A&M) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 144 (from Titans via Panthers): Sam Hecht (C, Kansas State) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 151 (from Dolphins): Zakee Wheatley (S, Penn State) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 227 (from Dolphins): Jackson Kuwatch (LB, Miami (OH)) (signed)
Chicago Bears
- Round 1, No. 25: Dillon Thieneman (S, Oregon)
- Round 2, No. 57: Logan Jones (C, Iowa)
- Round 3, No. 69 (from Giants via Texans, Bills and Titans): Sam Roush (TE, Stanford)
- Round 3, No. 89: Zavion Thomas (WR, LSU)
- Round 4, No. 124 (from Jaguars via Panthers): Malik Muhammad (CB, Texas)
- Round 5, No. 166 (from 49ers via Eagles and Panthers): Keyshaun Elliott (LB, Arizona State)
- Round 6, No. 213 (from Seahawks via Jaguars, Lions and Bills): Jordan Van Den Berg (DT, Georgia Tech)
Cincinnati Bengals
- Round 2, No. 41: Cashius Howell (DE, Texas A&M)
- Round 3, No. 72: Tacario Davis (CB, Washington)
- Round 4, No. 128 (from Texans via Lions and Bengals): Connor Lew (C, Auburn)
- Round 4, No. 140 (from Bengals): Colbie Young (WR, Georgia)
- Round 6, No. 189: Brian Parker II (C, Duke)
- Round 7, No. 221 (from Giants via Cowboys): Jack Endries (TE, Texas)
- Round 7, No. 226: Landon Robinson (DT, Navy)
Cleveland Browns
- Round 1, No. 9 (from Chiefs): Spencer Fano (T, Utah)
- Round 1, No. 24 (from Jaguars): KC Concepcion (WR, Texas A&M)
- Round 2, No. 39: Denzel Boston (WR, Washington)
- Round 2, No. 58 (from 49ers): Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (S, Toledo)
- Round 3, No. 86 (from Chargers): Austin Barber (T, Florida)
- Round 5, No. 146: Parker Brailsford (C, Alabama)
- Round 5, No. 149 (from Bengals): Justin Jefferson (LB, Alabama)
- Round 5, No. 170 (from Broncos): Joe Royer (TE, Cincinnati)
- Round 6, No. 182 (from Jets via Browns, Jaguars, Raiders, Bills and Broncos): Taylen Green (QB, Arkansas)
- Round 7, No. 248 (from Seahawks): Carsen Ryan (TE, BYU)
Dallas Cowboys
- Round 1, No. 11 (from Dolphins): Caleb Downs (S, Ohio State) (signed)
- Round 1, No. 23 (from Eagles): Malachi Lawrence (EDGE, Central Florida)
- Round 3, No. 92 (from 49ers): Jaishawn Barham (EDGE, Michigan) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 112: Drew Shelton (T, Penn State) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 114 (from Falcons via Eagles): Devin Moore (CB, Florida) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 137 (from Eagles)*: LT Overton (EDGE, Alabama) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 218 (from Titans): Anthony Smith (WR, East Carolina) (signed)