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.
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
-
C 30% (582)
-
D 25% (481)
-
F 22% (431)
-
B 16% (306)
-
A 7% (140)
Total votes: 1,940
Ty Simpson Fallout: Rams, McVay, Snead, Stafford, Lemon, Sadiq, Garoppolo, Ioane
While loosely connected to Ty Simpson entering the draft, the Rams were viewed as more likely to add a player that helped their strong 2026 roster compete for a Super Bowl title. In a move eerily similar to the Packers’ Jordan Love pick six years ago, the Rams came out of Round 1 with Simpson — who may well sit behind Matthew Stafford for multiple seasons.
Discussions about this pick pivoted from whether Simpson was a reach at No. 13 to whether Sean McVay was enthused about the selection. McVay’s post-draft presser left plenty to be desired on the latter front. For instance, McVay made this comment shortly after the choice:
“There were a lot of players that we liked, but when you do look at it, I think the thing you liked about the body of work is … let’s make one thing clear, this is Matthew’s team,” McVay said. “You get a chance to be able to address the backup quarterback.”
[RELATED: Rams Considered Joe Flacco In Free Agency]
This situation technically makes Simpson the backup quarterback — McVay went as far as to say Simpson will compete with disappointing holdover Stetson Bennett for the gig — but the Rams paid Jimmy Garoppolo barely $3MM to handle that role over the past two years. Dynamics in play here certainly separate this from merely staffing the QB2 job. With the exception of the Packers’ three-year Love developmental plan, QBs chosen in Round 1 play as rookies or, at the latest, by Year 2. Stafford is going into an age-38 season and is expected to sign an extension soon.
The Packers did add Love ahead of a Rodgers MVP season, but Stafford coming off an MVP campaign and seeing his team draft his successor is uncovered ground. No team rostering a reigning MVP quarterback has chosen another passer in the first or second round since the 1970 merger. But that is Stafford’s reality now. While this situation differs from the clunky Kirk Cousins–Michael Penix Jr. setup, as Stafford is unlikely to be benched anytime soon, a clock is almost certainly in place on his Rams tenure — rather than a Super Bowl frontrunner augmenting his current roster.
Makai Lemon was “definitely” in the mix to go to L.A. at 13, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, but this does not appear to have been a McVay-Les Snead power struggle. A personnel source informed Fowler that Simpson being there at 13 meant the Rams were taking him, going so far as to say the Alabama prospect compared favorably to No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza by some in the team’s building.
McVay “absolutely” was onboard with the pick, another source told Fowler, with a separate team source indicating the duo was in lockstep by “all indications.”
“I think Sean had a chat with Matthew before last night. And that’s one thing that Matthew’s definitely earned,” Snead said, via The Sedano and Cap Morning Show (h/t Pro Football Talk’s Myles Simmons) “It’s one of the things that we’re working together to go through it. Matthew is on his way to, I would say this, a Hall of Fame career, right? And he still has gas left in the tank. And big picture, our vision’s always been, ‘Hey, let’s make the most of this time with Matthew and his teammates — let’s chase special together, however long that may [last].’ There’s no timeline on this. The longer, the better. Matthew just came off an MVP season, so if he continues playing, it’s like, this is better for everyone involved.
“And I think at the end of the day, Sean and I are going to always work together in these types of decisions. … But there was a lot that was going on into maneuvering that draft. So, we’re in lockstep. We work together. We’re collaborative. It’s him and I partnering to try to do the best for the Rams.”
Snead played in the SEC (at Auburn) around the same time Simpson’s father (Jason) was at Mississippi State. Jason Simpson, the longtime HC at Tennessee-Martin, consulted with Snead on whether Ty should declare for the draft or stay in college. Snead said Ty was a first-round-level talent, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero notes. Simpson received $5MM and then $6.5MM offers from Miami to transfer there for the ’26 season, according to Pelissero. Snead had his eye on Simpson dating back to the fall, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones notes.
These discussions commenced before Alabama’s Rose Bowl game. Miami’s second offer would have compared to a second-round guarantee, but Simpson’s No. 13 overall pact will be worth $25.77MM fully guaranteed (per OverTheCap). When Ty’s parents discussed the QB’s future with Snead before his draft declaration, Pelissero indicates the longtime Rams GM conveyed a real possibility the Rams would draft him in the first round. (While the Rams’ draft slot was not known at that point, L.A. knew where its Atlanta-obtained pick would land since the Falcons’ season had ended.)
Simpson declared for the draft Jan. 7 — three days after the Falcons’ season wrapped — and the Rams carried a rare opportunity to find a Stafford heir apparent. The team’s draft slot regularly comes outside the top 20; it landed at No. 29 this year. The Rams traded their own pick to the Chiefs for Trent McDuffie, and the draft community had viewed that swap as a decision that would likely send Simpson elsewhere. The Rams were viewed as high on Simpson but were considered more likely to draft him at 29 than at 13 (or via a trade-down from 13).
Even if this was a Snead-based pick, McVay has held tremendous input since arriving in L.A. nine years ago. A source familiar with the organization’s inner workings told FanSided’s Jason La Canfora that McVay “pulls all the triggers, and especially on a quarterback.” It would be highly unlikely a coach with McVay’s track record would be overruled by his GM, leading some in the league to view McVay’s lack of post-draft enthrallment for the pick as performative for Stafford’s benefit.
McVay indeed called Stafford on Thursday, per Jones. This differed from the Falcons’ approach, as they famously did not call Cousins before the Penix pick. Stafford is on a different QB tier than Cousins, and while it will be interesting to hear the veteran passer’s thoughts on the move, Simpson will be expected to sit for a while. The move also came partially due to Garoppolo uncertainty, per Fowler, though that assuredly played a small part in this. Garoppolo, whom the Rams had wanted back, is considering retirement.
McVay said (via Jones) he does not believe this pick will affect Stafford extension talks. The Rams have reached revised deals with their five-year starter in each of the past two offseasons, but with the QB unsigned for 2027, a true extension is on the docket this year.
Stafford pursued a $50MM-plus-AAV deal last year, being allowed to explore a trade, but backed down — after aggressive Raiders and Giants pushes — and signed a reworked Rams pact that brought a $40MM early guarantee. Simpson’s status aside, Stafford will still carry considerable leverage in Rams talks. Though, it is worth wondering if Simpson’s arrival will affect how much in future guarantees the Rams will want to offer.
Tied closely to the Rams coming into the draft, Lemon fell to 20th (via an Eagles trade-up in front of the Steelers). The Rams also considered tight end Kenyon Sadiq, per Fowler, who adds Caleb Downs — had he fallen to 13 — was on the team’s radar. Dallas traded up one spot to ensure it landed Downs at No. 11. The Rams have pursued a young weapon in each of the previous two first rounds. They sought Brock Bowers in 2024 and made an offer for No. 8 overall — believed to be a Tetairoa McMillan aim — in 2025. They also were linked to Emeka Egbuka in last year’s first round.
That makes the Simpson-over-Lemon call interesting, but if the Rams are right on the passer (and they certainly have an optimal setup to develop one given McVay’s success), that will end up being the right play long term.
The Rams also received calls from teams eager to move ahead of the Ravens (at No. 14) for guard Vega Ioane, and while it would have made sense to explore sliding down and picking up assets, the team stood pat. That certainly furthers the belief McVay was firmly in Camp Simpson, despite the Crimson Tide signal-caller being a one-year college starter. Simpson, who was linked to the Cardinals and Jets (among other teams) in this draft, preferred to end up in L.A., Fowler adds.
Green Bay has seen its Love investment pay dividends, though its 2020 squad — despite a Rodgers MVP effort — fell just short of Super Bowl LV. The Packers have not been that close since, with a non-QB first-round pick potentially enough to make the difference in that Buccaneers matchup five Januarys ago. But the Packers have since extended Love, who has become an upper-crust QB. The Rams had not brought in a starter-level draft prospect under McVay, though the HC developed Snead draftee Jared Goff upon arrival.
The Simpson project will be scrutinized, but this will remain Stafford’s show for a while. The extension talks will be the next chapter to follow here, and it will be fascinating how long the Rams truly commit to their likely Hall of Fame-bound starter — and, perhaps, how long he now wants to commit to the team — now that they have his likely replacement rostered.
Rams Draft QB Ty Simpson At No. 13
The Rams regularly see their own draft pick fall late in the first round, 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. The Falcons traded up 20 spots to add James Pearce Jr. last year. The Rams will use that 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. Sitting as a true freshman behind future No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young, then sitting 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 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 do 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 an 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.
Cardinals See Arvell Reese As EDGE; Unlikely To Trade Up For Ty Simpson
The first pick of the 2026 NFL draft is essentially set. The Raiders will selected quarterback Fernando Mendoza shortly after proceedings start on Thursday night, with the Jets deciding between Texas Tech’s David Bailey and Ohio State’s Arvell Reese at No. 2.
The Cardinals will then be in the driver’s seat with plenty of options. They could take whichever of the Jets’ targets is still available, or pivot to a trade back for a team looking to come up, likely for an edge rusher or Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. With a new, offensive-minded head coach in Mike LaFleur, Arizona could also take Love themselves.
Their decision will likely still depend on what the Jets do. New York seems to have settled on Reese, a hybrid linebacker/edge defender with a ton of NFL potential. But deciding to draft Bailey would not be a surprise, and the Cardinals would then have a shot at Reese.
Arizona has drafted hybrid linebackers in the first round of past drafts, including Isaiah Simmons in 2020 and Zaven Collins in 2021. Those picks did not quite work out, as both players struggled to find a role in the Cardinals defense.
But Reese may be a different beast. The Cardinals do see him as an edge rusher, per Howard Balzer of CardsWire, and may not move him around the defense as they did with Simmons and Collins. That would allow him to focus on harnessing his notable athleticism into pass rushing production rather than taking on a more diverse, complicated set of roles.
Arizona has also been increasingly linked with Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson over the past month. They currently lack a long-term starter with Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew tapped as stopgap options in 2026. However, the Cardinals are not expected to be aggressive pursuing Simpson, despite some chatter of a trade back up into the first round. Though the team likes him, per Balzer, they will only take him if he falls to one of their picks – likely No. 34 overall, the first pick in the second round. They may even see if he falls to their third-rounder (No. 65) with many teams seemingly targeting the 2027 quarterback class instead.
The Cardinals will draft a quarterback this weekend, Balzer adds, but they have explored the depth of the class. They have shown interest in NDSU’s Cole Payton, and several other passers coming out of Power 5 schools could also be on their radar. But it will all depend on how far those players fall. Arizona’s roster is full of holes, likely inspiring them to prioritize talent and value at each selection rather than honing in on individual positions.
Rams Still Fond Of Ty Simpson; QB Expected To Go In Round 1
Recent reporting indicated the Rams were viewed as in play for Ty Simpson, but such a pick was only believed to be a consideration when the team held two first-round picks. Los Angeles has since sent the second of those selections (No. 29) to Kansas City for Trent McDuffie, and Simpson-L.A. speculation has cooled since.
That said, the Rams mostly find themselves picking outside the top 20. The team prying the Falcons’ first-rounder (No. 13) on Day 1 of last year’s draft would give a franchise pondering a Matthew Stafford heir apparent addition for a while a window. Even after the McDuffie trade, ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano views the Rams as fond of Simpson as a prospect.
[RELATED: Which Team Will Pass On 2027 QB Crop In Choosing Simpson?]
It still seems unlikely the Rams choose Simpson 13th overall. A one-year starter who would not contribute (in an ideal scenario) to the Rams’ Super Bowl LXI chase would be a risky move with a mid-first-round pick, but Graziano posits a trade down from No. 13 to better align with Simpson value could make sense.
Then again, a Rams trade-down move could arouse suspicion around the league re: Simpson. Teams eyeing a trade-up for the Crimson Tide prospect in the back half of Round 1 could be leery of the Rams, even if mock drafts (including Ely Allen’s PFR effort) are regularly sending receivers L.A.’s way. The Rams also look to have conducted a smokescreen operation related to Jaxson Dart last year, with post-draft reporting indicating pre-draft connections were overblown.
Some around the NFL are wondering if the Rams would make an aggressive move to trade up for Jeremiyah Love, per Graziano. That would require a major trade-up, especially with the Cardinals being connected to the Notre Dame running back at No. 3. Arizona has expressed persistent interest in trading down, however, and a 10-spot move up the board may not cost what it would in years in which that kind of jump is for a quarterback. Still, the Rams would need to pay a hefty price to climb that high; they may need to vault to No. 3 considering the Titans and Giants’ Love connections.
The Rams extended Kyren Williams last year, giving their regular starter a three-year, $33MM deal. Williams already secured nearly $5MM of his 2027 base salary guaranteed earlier this offseason, and the Rams used Blake Corum regularly as an RB2 last year. Love would provide much more support in the passing game, however, and the team has enjoyed success plucking receivers from later rounds — as the Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua picks illustrate — during Sean McVay‘s tenure. Williams is due another $550K roster bonus on Day 5 of the 2027 league year.
With Jordyn Tyson now viewed as a likely top-10 pick, the Rams may need to determine if USC’s Makai Lemon is worth the No. 13 overall selection. The team has Nacua signed for one more season, and before some concerning headlines this offseason, the Rams viewed the former fifth-rounder as a top extension priority. If nothing else, Nacua would be a franchise tag candidate in 2027. Davante Adams, however, will turn 34 before season’s end and is unsigned for 2027. A receiver investment makes sense for L.A., which would be loaded at the position if a first-round investment complements Nacua and Adams.
Circling back to Simpson in Round 2 probably will not be an option for teams, with FOX’s Jay Glazer expecting him to land in the first round. Some around the NFL are wondering — as other league personnel have — if Simpson will slip to Day 2, per Graziano, but it appears likelier (perhaps via trade-up) Alabama’s Jalen Milroe successor hears his name called Thursday. Will the Rams use their rare mid-first-round choice as the tool to find Stafford’s heir apparent, or will the team be content to wait another year on this front?
Jimmy Garoppolo Considering Retirement; Rams’ Ty Simpson Connections Slowed After Trent McDuffie Trade
The Rams are interested in re-signing Jimmy Garoppolo to be their backup quarterback for a third straight season, and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport indicates he is the team’s top choice to serve as QB2. But Garoppolo has not committed to playing a 13th NFL season.
Beginning his career as a backup before spending a chunk of seasons on the starter tier, Garoppolo has backed up Matthew Stafford in Los Angeles for the past two seasons. Garoppolo is considering retirement, per Rapoport. This is notable through a Cardinals lens as well, with the team being closely linked to having Garoppolo follow Mike LaFleur to Arizona. Talks hit a snag, leading the Cards to pivot to Gardner Minshew.
[RELATED: Rams, Stafford Progressing On Extension]
It is worth wondering if Garoppolo’s retirement consideration was a factor in the Arizona talks, though it is certainly possible the former Super Bowl starter’s asking price was out of step with where the Cardinals valued him. Arizona ended up with Minshew on a one-year, $5.75MM pact. A report earlier this month indicated Garoppolo was weighing multiple FA options; the Rams represent one of them.
Sean McVay said he is interested in assembling a third Stafford-Garoppolo QB room. The Rams have not needed to turn to Garoppolo in a meaningful game yet. This is somewhat surprising given Stafford’s health struggles in 2022; the L.A. starter’s back injury had Garoppolo spending training camp running with the first team. But Stafford returned and played 17 games before three playoff tilts. Garoppolo, 34, did not attempt a pass last season.
Famously part of the Bill Belichick-Robert Kraft relationship’s dissolution, Garoppolo was abruptly traded to the 49ers at the 2017 deadline. he spent the next five-plus seasons as San Francisco’s starter. This included a host of injury issues, however. ACL, ankle and foot injuries represented the headline health concerns for Garoppolo, who also missed two starts during his brief Raiders tenure. The Raiders gave Garoppolo a three-year, $72.75MM contract but ultimately benched him following Josh McDaniels‘ firing. Garoppolo played for barely $3MM on both his Rams contracts.
It would stand to reason the former Patriots, 49ers and Raiders passer would be amenable to a similar contract to return to the Rams, but he has earned nearly $158MM over the course of his career. The former Tom Brady backup has made 64 regular-season starts and six more in the playoffs. The Rams still have Stetson Bennett rostered, but the two-time national champion has not progressed to the QB2 level. If Garoppolo retires, the Rams will need a new backup.
Ty Simpson would have been in play for L.A. had the team not traded its No. 29 overall pick to the Chiefs for Trent McDuffie. The Rams were indeed eyeing the one-year Alabama starter when they still held No. 29, ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes. While the Rams still hold No. 13 overall, that is seen as too rich for Simpson, who is not viewed as a lock to go in Round 1. Though, the Cardinals have been closely tied to this draft’s consensus No. 2 QB prospect — with trade-up buzz circulating.
I discussed a Rams-Simpson fit in a recent Trade Rumors Front Office post, as McVay’s team is a perennial contender unlikely to land a high draft pick as long as Stafford stays healthy. Taking Simpson 13th overall (or trading down and selecting him) would represent a way for the Rams to find an heir apparent, but with the team gunning for a Super Bowl title, using such a valuable asset on a player unlikely to help that cause is risky. It appears the Rams concur. Simpson is highly unlikely to be available when the Rams’ No. 61 pick goes on the clock, per Schefter.
Latest On Alabama QB Ty Simpson; No First-Round Grade From Steelers?
Former Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart was not a surefire first-round pick entering last year’s draft, though he ultimately came off the board in Round 1. The Giants, who had previously selected Abdul Carter third overall, traded back into the first round to grab Dart at No. 25. A team could do something similar this year with Alabama QB Ty Simpson, but he has less momentum going into this draft than Dart had in 2025, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN hears.
[RELATED: PFR’s 2026 NFL Mock Draft]
While the Jets, Cardinals and Steelers have been connected to Simpson more than anyone else, it would be a surprise to see any of them use their initial pick on him. New York has Nos. 2 and 16, both of which are likely too high to take Simpson. The team may just wait until what could be a deeper 2027 class to draft a signal-caller, though perhaps the Jets will strongly consider Simpson if he is still available when they are on the clock again at No. 33.
There is indeed a possibility Simpson will fall out of the top 32, though the Cardinals may trade back into the round for him. They would mimic last year’s Giants in that regard. Otherwise, unless the Cardinals reach for Simpson with the third overall choice, their next opportunity to bring him in will come at 34. That happens to be where the Giants sat last year before going for Dart. Along with surrendering that pick, the Giants dealt a 2025 and ’26 third-rounder to move up nine spots.
The Cardinals’ Monti Ossenfort has only picked one QB – fifth-rounder Clayton Tune in 2023 – in three drafts as their general manager. But as PFR’s Sam Robinson noted, there may be more urgency to gamble on the position this year if Ossenfort is on the hot seat. The Cardinals have gone 15-36 with Ossenfort at the controls. If the team is a bottom feeder again next season, Ossenfort may be out of a job when the 2027 draft rolls around. Picking Simpson could be his last chance for a bold QB move in Arizona.
One of the main concerns regarding Simpson is a lack of experience. He made just 15 starts in college, which is reportedly a deterrent for the Steelers. As the reigning AFC North champions await a decision on 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers‘ future, they are down to career backup Mason Rudolph and untested 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard as their top options at the game’s most important position. It does not appear they are going to tab Simpson at No. 21 overall, though. They have not even given Simpson a first-round grade, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. In the Steelers’ opinion, Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza is the lone member of this class with franchise QB potential, per Dulac.
Mendoza going to the Raiders at No. 1 overall is a lock, but this could end up a one-QB first round. Simpson’s odds of coming off the board in Round 1 remain iffy as the draft draws closer.
Cardinals’ Jacoby Brissett Seeking Starter-Level Extension
The Cardinals signed Gardner Minshew last month, adding a second bridge quarterback after signing Jacoby Brissett in 2025. Brissett worked as Arizona’s primary starter last season, with Kyler Murray shut down with a foot injury. Murray’s release clears the way for a Brissett-Minshew competition.
Monti Ossenfort declined to name a starter when asked this week, and the fourth-year GM cautioned (via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport) the team would “see how the room looks in August” when addressing the situation. Soon after, Brissett is staying away from Cardinals voluntary workouts for contract reasons. The veteran is seeking an extension that pays him as the Cards’ starter, Rapoport adds.
Arizona gave Brissett a two-year, $12.5MM deal in 2025. That contract reunited Brissett with then-Cardinals OC Drew Petzing, who coached the QB in Cleveland. Petzing is now the Lions’ OC, leaving after Jonathan Gannon‘s firing, though Ossenfort was onboard when the Cards added Brissett. Arizona was closely linked to reuniting new HC Mike LaFleur with Jimmy Garoppolo, but negotiations broke down. That led to Minshew signing a one-year, $5.75MM deal.
Minshew’s contract comes nearly fully guaranteed, while only $1.5MM in guarantees remain on Brissett’s pact. The latter wants an update, and Rapoport adds the Cardinals seem amenable to making some sort of adjustment.
Brissett, 33, started 12 games last season; the Cardinals went 1-11 in those contests during a 3-14 season. Brissett did have the offense in better form than Murray did during his brief 2025 work, throwing 23 touchdown passes compared to eight interceptions and completing 64.9% of his throws. Averaging 7.1 yards per attempt, Brissett ranked 24th in QBR. That was fifth-worst among qualified passers last season.
This is team No. 6 for Brissett, a Patriots draftee who later suited up for the Colts, Dolphins, Browns and Commanders. New England brought Brissett back as a bridge to Drake Maye in 2024. Brissett has not been tied to a contract worth more than $8MM per year since the Colts extended him in 2019. That deal brought a $20MM guarantee at signing, as Indianapolis needed Brissett to (again) assume the controls after Andrew Luck news changed the equation. Brissett started most of the 2017 season in Indianapolis — as Luck missed all of that campaign because of a shoulder injury — and took over again after the franchise QB’s shocking 2019 retirement. The Colts, however, signed Philip Rivers in 2020; that set Brissett on a nomadic course through the QB2 ranks.
The 2022 and ’25 seasons, though, did give Brissett extended starter looks. Prior to Murray’s injury, Deshaun Watson‘s 11-game suspension gave Brissett a lengthy run as the Browns’ starter. It will be interesting to see if the Cardinals accommodate the older of their two stopgap options, but increased buzz about Ty Simpson is emerging. After a report earlier today indicated an Arizona trade-up back into Round 1 — presumably from its No. 34 spot — is in play, NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah noted a Simpson-to-Arizona path “feels inevitable.”
It would seem either Brissett or Minshew would be a trade candidate if the Cardinals are the Simpson team. I’ve predicted Simpson to Arizona in recent PFR chats, as Ossenfort going four drafts without identifying his own signal-caller may be risky. The Cardinals are 15-36 in the GM’s three seasons on the job, and while the team waiting on a more promising 2027 QB crop may be appealing, its current GM may be on a hot seat after last year’s 3-14 stumble.
A one-year starter at Alabama, Simpson would seemingly be in need of some grooming. Would the Cardinals need both Brissett and Minshew in the event they draft the polarizing prospect? The Giants kept both Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston after drafting Jaxson Dart, so recent precedent does exist for the two-mentor approach. Brissett receiving a raise on an extension, however, would leave Minshew in a strange position weeks after signing with the team. Brissett’s status will be a storyline to monitor, and a Simpson investment could change the organization’s plans here.