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Rams Appear “All In”
The first, and perhaps most shocking surprise of the 2026 NFL Draft was the Los Angeles Rams drafting Ty Simpson 13th overall. After trading their 29th overall pick to the Chiefs for Trent McDuffie and signing big-ticket free agent Jaylen Watson, it appeared Sean McVay and Les Snead were “all in” on a Super Bowl run in 2026.
A full push towards a Super Bowl would be well within character, after all, the term “F*** them picks” came from somewhere, right? The Rams have made just one first-round selection since 2017, that being Jared Verse in 2024. Their first-round picks have been traded for the likes of Brandin Cooks, Jalen Ramsey, and, of course, Matthew Stafford.
That aggressive philosophy, though clowned by many, worked out. The Rams won Super Bowl LVI after the 2021 season, right in their home city of Los Angeles. Their aggressive 20206 offseason moves and unapologetic, aggressive nature led us to believe they were “all in” once again and would use the 13th overall selection to bolster their immediate Super Bowl run.
Immediate impact players such as Makai Lemon, Jordyn Tyson, and Kenyon Sadiq were heavily mocked to the Rams, especially with them reportedly being in on the A.J. Brown market; adding weapons just made sense. When it came time to turn the card in, 2026 was the furthest thing from the Rams’ mind.
Building for the Future
The Rams played it perfectly by keeping their interest in Simpson close to the chest. Not only did the millions watching the draft on TV not have a clue, but the rest of the league didn’t either. Sean McVay and Ty Simpson had a formal meeting, which was kept secret, at the request of the Rams, to cover up their interest in the Alabama QB.
A wisely executed plan, with good awareness of the respect the rest of the league has for McVay and his ability to scout the QB position. If the NFL knew McVay was highly interested in Ty Simpson, it would naturally garner deeper looks from other personnel departments, potentially making Ty Simpson unavailable with the 13th overall pick. The ultimate show of respect for McVay and the Rams.
The Perfect Fit
There was simply no better fit for Simpson. When listing fits for Ty Simpson on our Blitz Big Board, I married scheme fit with need and established the Cardinals as the best fit. Early possibilities of Simpson to the Rams were eliminated when they got uber aggressive early in the offseason. Don’t feel bad, NFL; the Rams got over on me, too.
The aforementioned scheme fit is the same, as the Cardinals’ new head coach, Mike LaFleur, comes directly from the Sean McVay coaching tree, having served as the Rams’ offensive coordinator since 2023. My pre-draft evaluation of Ty Simpson:
– At 6’1” and 211 pounds, Ty Simpson comes in a bit undersized for NFL standards, but it doesn’t hinder his ability to command an offense. He’s strong at the line of scrimmage and after the snap, recognizing coverages and weaknesses in defense. He uses good anticipation and a heavy dose of play-action passing to find throwing lanes and layer passes, often resulting in chunk YAC plays. He has adequate arm talent with the ability to throw off platform. Having started only 15 games in CFB, the lack of high-level flashes in his game could hinder his draft stock. Simpson would benefit greatly from a Shanahan/McVay under-center, QB-friendly offense in the NFL.
Having started only 15 games in college football is a problem for some, but it won’t be for Ty Simpson. Not in this situation. He’ll back up Matthew Stafford, obviously, for as long as Stafford wants to play, and that experience will be invaluable. Simpson will be in the building with an MVP, Hall of Fame QB in Stafford, and one of the best QB coaches to ever be a part of the game, Sean McVay. A season or two, surrounded by some of the best offensive minds in the game, albeit on the bench on Sundays, is a better NFL experience than another season starting at Alabama.
The transition will be seamless and genius. The Rams set the whole NFL world up for the ultimate “gotcha” moment, and in one turn of the card, set themselves up for success for another decade plus. I look forward to the success of the Rams and of Ty Simpson, of whom I am now a major believer.
