After acquiring a first-round pick from the Falcons finally yr’s draft, the Rams entered this offseason with two No. 1s. They were scheduled to pick thirteenth and twenty ninth until general manager Les Snead made one more 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 probabilities next season.
Once the Rams lost the twenty ninth pick, their odds of using a first-rounder on a developmental quarterback reportedly decreased. Expectations were they’d search 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 one other weapon for quarterback Matthew Stafford. Nonetheless, as a substitute of drafting Lemon, Sadiq or one other 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 because the Rams’ only other quarterback, it is just 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 primary 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 within the immediate aftermath, he and Snead “were on the identical 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 wouldn’t have taken Simpson without McVay’s blessing.
If Simpson stayed in class 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, in accordance with Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Had he fallen out of the primary round, Simpson would have made more cash playing for the Hurricanes in 2026. Because the thirteenth overall pick, though, he’ll sign a four-year deal price a totally guaranteed $25.41MM.
Not less than from a financial standpoint, Simpson made the proper move leaving college for the professionals. The query is: Did the Rams make the proper move after they picked him? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in together with your thoughts within the comments section.
Grade the Ty Simpson pick