Me: according to Atkins, there was an offer to trade down from 13, but the Rams didn’t like it. I underline the passage where he says that.

***

How the Rams made the bold business decision to draft QB Ty Simpson

Nate Atkins

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7231192/2026/04/29/rams-ty-simpson-nfl-draft-matthew-stafford/?source=emp_shared_article&unlocked_article_code=1.elA.y07C.afQVGuEZZ3MB

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The story of the Los Angeles Rams’ 2026 draft class will run through Ty Simpson.

The choice to spend the No. 13 pick on a quarterback, with Matthew Stafford coming off his first MVP season, was a splash that created a ripple. The discourse inside and outside the Rams’ draft headquarters at Hollywood Park took on a life of its own in the phone calls, news conferences and days afterward.

A pick of this type, this year, held an underlying tension that was impossible to avoid.

Coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead felt two forces pulling them at once: an urge to push this team over the top for another Super Bowl it could host in SoFi Stadium in February, and staying power at the game’s most important position that defines whether they’re a contender going forward.

The competing messages, the body language and unfolding timelines left people outside the Rams’ facility, as well as some inside, wondering the same question: Who really is Ty Simpson, and why is he the quarterback the Rams felt they had to select in a Super Bowl-or-bust campaign?

How Simpson became the pick

This was always supposed to be the year the Rams drafted the heir to Stafford’s throne.

It’s why they traded out of the first round last year with the Atlanta Falcons to add an extra 2026 first-rounder. A Rams franchise that expects to be in the playoffs each year needed to forge a path to a pick in the top 20.

As this year’s quarterback class whittled in size and quality with Texas’ Arch Manning, Oregon’s Dante Moore and South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers returning to school, the concept of picking late in most drafts still drove the decision to take Simpson at No. 13.

The Rams took the second quarterback in this class behind Fernando Mendoza, who went No. 1 to the Las Vegas Raiders. Had they waited, they likely would have been left looking at the fifth or sixth quarterback available in the 2027 draft.

They weren’t sure where Simpson would go if they didn’t draft him. But they believed the Arizona Cardinals, who owned pick No. 34 in the second round, had heavy interest, a team source told The Athletic. They could either lock in Simpson as their future or risk facing him twice a year within the NFC West.

“Like I’ve mentioned here, the sea is going to shape the 13th pick,” Snead said shortly after the selection. “He had to fall.”

The risk of Simpson going before No. 13 was low, given league expectations and a profile that featured just 15 college starts and average measurables.

But the quote also showed how the Rams handled being on the clock. The available options looked much as expected, as the first 12 picks featured 11 players they projected to be gone before their selection, with the lone exception being Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor, who went to the Miami Dolphins one pick earlier.

The trade offers that came the Rams’ way at No. 13 were “soft,” a team source told The Athletic. The Dallas Cowboys traded up to take Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. The Detroit Lions had interest in moving up, a team source said, but the return didn’t excite in a draft that thinned out considerably by Day 3 due to so many college players returning for name, image and likeness compensation.

With a deep roster, the Rams weren’t looking to add late picks, as showcased by their later decision to turn three selections into one to move up 10 spots in the sixth round for Miami wide receiver CJ Daniels. And in the end, they came out with a five-player draft class.

“We’re fortunate that our roster’s in a place where we felt like we didn’t have a ton of glaring needs,” assistant general manager John McKay said. “We were able to take guys that we really felt confident in being contributors right away, but also be starters three, four years or two years down the line.”

The Rams did consider players at potential impact positions. They looked into USC’s Makai Lemon, who won the Biletnikoff Award as college football’s top wide receiver. They examined Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq, who posted the fastest 40 time of any tight end since at least 2003.

Had the Rams not taken Simpson, they would have gone with an offensive skill player, according to a team source. But it was difficult to see either rookie providing an immediate impact, given the Rams’ crowded tight end room and the limited volume remaining for a third receiver to play behind Davante Adams and Puka Nacua.

It was a risk, given that what they need is impact in big moments. In the NFC Championship Game against the Seattle Seahawks, the Rams had a third-and-goal where rookie Terrance Ferguson couldn’t get open and seventh-round rookie Konata Mumpfield couldn’t reel in the pass, and the Rams lost 31-27 to end their season.

The draft did feature a wide receiver the league saw as a true No. 1 option in Ohio State’s Carnell Tate. But the first big surprise of the event came when the Tennessee Titans drafted him No. 4 overall. The Cleveland Browns at No. 6 were looking to trade back, and they did so with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Without a player obtainable who screamed Year 1 impact, the Rams fell more in love with the idea of long-term fits.

One they took a liking to was Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane, who went one pick later to the Baltimore Ravens. But like Simpson, he would have been a backup this season with Kevin Dotson and Steve Avila playing out contract years.

The Rams were prepared enough to draft and stash Simpson that they planned to do so even if Jimmy Garoppolo re-signed as their backup, a team source said. They were building out a quarterback room for a rookie to learn in. The Rams wanted to keep that interest quiet, so they held a secret meeting with McVay and Simpson, which ran “hours and hours” on football, Simpson told ESPN Radio on Monday.

“We tried to keep this under wraps as long as we could,” Simpson said on ESPN Radio. “It was something where I knew they were interested, but they wanted to make it private and didn’t want people to know that they were interested. So, I had some secret meetings with Coach McVay, and I just was trying to be on script and do what everybody told me and not to tell anybody.”

Snead confirmed on “The Pat McAfee Show” Tuesday that he was also part of the meeting.

“I was in that meeting with him and Sean, for sure,” Snead said. “They talked football at a high level.”

Los Angeles viewed this year’s first round as a two-player haul. The first was Trent McDuffie, the All-Pro cornerback from the Chiefs whom they landed by trading the No. 29 overall pick, and then signed Jaylen Watson to complete their secondary.

Had the Rams sent out the No. 13 pick to the Chiefs for McDuffie and spent No. 29 on Simpson, it’s possible that the vision could have spoken more for itself.

When they didn’t, McVay and Snead held an 11-minute news conference without an opening statement, their usual humor or many details about Simpson the player. The vibe was one of “just trust us,” except they couldn’t find the trust to speak freely that night.

A deeper look at the process behind some of the more interesting moves and trends of this year’s NFL Draft.
They feared how a jubilant news conference would play with Stafford, who has been actively engaged in contract discussions with the team. Snead said two days before the draft to expect no drama with Stafford’s deal, and holding a muted presser about his backup was part of carrying that hope through.

It was a curious calculation, though, about a reigning MVP who should have no reason to fear a quarterback with 15 college starts coming to take his job. As the Rams weighed protecting the emotions and confidence of their quarterbacks, they sided with a 38-year-old in his 18th season over a 23-year-old rookie.

It all produced a tone that struggled to fit the biggest moment in their new quarterback’s football life. As Simpson broke into tears on the phone and said, “Let’s go make history, coach,” McVay struggled to match the energy. It was a rare slip for one of the sport’s most energetic forces.

When Simpson arrived at the draft headquarters for his own news conference and held up a freshly designed Rams jersey with his name on it, neither his coach nor his general manager was in attendance. By the time he arrived in Los Angeles the next day, he had only heard from one of his new teammates, captain and safety Quentin Lake.

Rams players have been expecting an all-in push for a Super Bowl, too. If they looked to the news conference for a reason for drafting Simpson in Round 1, the answers were difficult to find.

Snead described Simpson as “somebody who can execute a passing offense and has mobility.” McVay’s first comment on his new quarterback was to say he’ll compete with Stetson Bennett to be their No. 2.

Rams had alignment, despite the optics

McVay said he could feel the tension mid-news conference, and by the time he returned to his phone, he had scores of texts from friends asking about his mood.

“I couldn’t be more excited about being able to add him, but also understanding how much I love Matthew Stafford, how respectful you want to always be, and to the way things can be interpreted,” McVay said Friday night after Rounds 2 and 3.

Then he patted Snead on the back.

“The one thing that would never be doubted is we couldn’t be any more lockstep in every decision that we make,” McVay said. “This is my buddy right here.”

Snead was never going to draft a quarterback to develop who McVay wasn’t into. It would waste the infrastructure that justified a sit-and-wait approach, and McVay has long had broadcasting options for whenever Stafford is finished playing if he wasn’t on board.

But this was a new space for them all, having never drafted a passer to develop behind an incumbent.

It’s a maneuver with precedent: the Chiefs drafted Patrick Mahomes behind Alex Smith in 2017; the Green Bay Packers drafted Aaron Rodgers behind Brett Favre in 2005 and then Jordan Love behind Rodgers in 2020; and the San Francisco 49ers drafted Trey Lance behind Garoppolo in 2021. But in three of those situations, the team wound up trading the incumbent in order to make the transition.

The Rams are promising the opposite.

“Whenever that time comes for him to get an opportunity to be Matthew’s successor will be on Matthew’s terms,” McVay said.

Simpson does bring traits that fit the Rams’ vision. He was college football’s top passer on play action last season, according to Pro Football Focus, and will now join a team that led the NFL in play-action passes to produce the league’s No. 1 scoring offense. His mobility can add a flavor to their play-action rollouts.

Other parts of the fit are not as clean. For one, they have no idea when he’ll get his chance, since Stafford has long held a year-by-year control over how long he’ll play. For another, Simpson is 6-foot-1, 211 pounds without a trademark playmaking trait. Just five years ago, the Rams traded Jared Goff and two first-round picks in order to chase the rare physical and playmaking traits of Stafford.

How Simpson can unlock more aggressive moves

Simpson arrives on a four-year rookie contract that averages $6.1 million per season, or $42 million less than Stafford made under the cap last year. A franchise currently struggling to retain all of its successful draft picks is seeking greater financial flexibility, even if it comes with a trade-off.

The Rams can now be more aggressive in trade talks with their 2027 draft picks, a factor that helped drive the decision to take a quarterback now rather than wait a year, a team source told The Athletic. The Rams see established NFL players as having a greater impact than rookies, which illustrates their trade for McDuffie.

That aggressiveness is not expected to target Philadelphia Eagles star wide receiver A.J. Brown despite earlier trade talks, a team source told The Athletic.

But others could be on the radar come October. Just last season, the New York Jets traded All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts at the deadline for two first-round picks.

The Rams needed secondary help, but they were protecting their prime 2026 and 2027 selections to find a future at quarterback.

Time will tell if Simpson can deliver on his draft stock. Some answers will likely come before he has to play, as the Rams know that anything short of a Super Bowl appearance this season will be seen as a disappointment.

They were willing to take that gamble.

“When you find somebody that you think fits that system and has the buy-in from everybody in the building that we found,” Rams director of scouting and analytics Nicole Blake said, “I don’t think it really matters when you take them.

“You just take them.”

Wyatt Miller@wymill07
Some personal news: My internship with the Rams is ending today. This wasn’t just a job to me, it marked the first step toward building the career I’ve always wanted. I have so many people to thank

To @StuJRams, @MarissaBDaly and @joryhirsh: Thank you for giving me this opportunity and supporting my unique reporting style. I’ve done work I’m incredibly proud of and improved my craft significantly during my time with the Rams. That wouldn’t have been possible without you 3.

To the Rams beat, especially @JourdanRodrigue, @LATimesklein, @AdamGrosbard, @sarahbarshop, @gregbeacham, &
@NateAtkins_: You welcomed a 22-year-old with open arms. I’ve learned so much from each of you and am grateful to have worked with such a supportive group.

JimEverett@Jimeverett
Man, everybody’s flipping bad draft grades at the Rams taking Ty Simpson at 13… but I’m here zagging hard.
Played 12 years in this league & this move feels smart as hell. Stafford dropped a MVP season, now you grab a young gun with legit arm talent with McVay smarts to sit behind him & learn? That’s how teams keep the window open long-term without forcing drama. And Simpson has that dog in him.

Then next year when others teams are drafting 1st rd QBs, better players drop to pick 32. Next level chess.

wv wrote:

Its gonna be tough to adjust to ‘any’ QB after watching Stafford and his no-look-darts and ridiculous-tight-window throws. Ah well.

If Simpson pans out, he will add a couple of dimensions Stafford doesn’t have. Simpson can actually move. He can run with the ball, and he can bail on a crowded pocket and throw on the move.

In case you didn’t know this, 😎 Stafford has a redhot strong arm. Simpson is more like Warner in terms of arms strength. He’s “good enough.”

But as I said already, he’s more mobile than any good starting qb I’ve seen with the Rams. That adds a dimension.

So, yes, it gets down to alternate dimensions (see, everything is physics).

Though the truth is, I don’t yet feel an emotional bond to a “Simpson Rams.” I need to see him win some games, which is of course a while off.

from One thing to know about each of the Rams’ 18 undrafted rookies
Get to know the Rams’ 18 undrafted rookies this year with one interesting fact about each player

Cameron DaSilva

https://theramswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/rams/2026/04/29/rams-undrafted-rookies-free-agents-things-to-know-facts/89854764007/

A handful of UDFAs have a real chance to secure a spot on the roster this year and will be worth keeping an eye on. Get to know all 18 of them with one interesting stat or fact about each one.

Vanderbilt OT Bryce Henderson
Was highest-graded run-blocking lineman in FCS in 2024

According to PFF, Henderson had a 94.1 run-blocking grade in 2024 at South Dakota, which was the highest of any offensive lineman in the FCS.

Syracuse TE Dan Villari
Played TE, QB and RB at Syracuse

Villari was primarily a tight end at Syracuse, but he also took snaps at quarterback. He rushed 84 times for 410 yards and four touchdowns, completed 23 of 33 passes for 177 yards with one touchdown and two picks, and also caught 66 passes for 671 yards and three touchdowns in four years.

Louisville OLB Wesley Bailey
He has an RAS of 9.83

Bailey is a terrific athlete at 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds, running a 4.69 in the 40 with an outstanding 10-yard split of 1.53 seconds. He’s one of the most athletic edge rushers in this class.

Arkansas TE Rohan Jones
Earned highest receiving grade of any FBS TE last season

According to Pro Football Focus, Jones’ receiving grade of 92.7 was the best of any tight end in the FBS last season.

Alabama LB Nikhai Hill-Green
Allowed 2nd-lowest completion rate (55%) among qualified LBs last season

Among all linebackers with at least 188 coverage snaps last season, Hill-Green ranked second with a completion rate of only 55% allowed. He gave up just 11 catches on 20 targets for 110 yards, per PFF.

Texas QB Matthew Caldwell
Threw game-winning touchdown pass vs. Mississippi State last season

While Arch Manning was in the medical tent, Caldwell came in and threw the game-winning touchdown pass in overtime to beat the Bulldogs.

Tennessee DL Jaxson Moi
Models his game after Aaron Donald

In his bio at Tennessee, Moi says he models his game after Donald, the Rams’ legendary defensive tackle. Moi is slightly undersized like Donald, coming in at 6-2 and 292 pounds. Donald was around 6-1, 280 during his career.

Air Force DT Payton Zdroik
90.4 defensive grade led all D-linemen in FBS last season

No interior defensive lineman earned a higher grade last season than Zdroik, who PFF gave a 90.4 overall score for 2025. His 92.2 pass-rush grade was also No. 1 at the position.

Wake Forest DB Nick Andersen
12th-best coverage grade among all safeties last season

PFF gave Andersen an 88.3 coverage grade in 2025, which was the 12th-best among all safeties. His overall defensive grade of 87.3 was the eighth-best among FBS safeties.

Fresno State CB Al’zillion Hamilton
Allowed a 52.2 passer rating in coverage last year

Hamilton was great in coverage, allowing a passer rating of only 52.2 – which ranked 34th among qualified cornerbacks in the FBS. He gave up just 23 catches on 47 targets for 265 yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions.

Wisconsin OLB Darryl Peterson
Tied for 16th-most sacks among 2026 draft-eligible edge rushers

Pro Football Focus credited Peterson with eight sacks last season, which was tied for 16th among all draft-eligible edge rushers. His 82.3 pass-rush grade was 28th at the position.

Missouri CB Drey Norwood
Only allowed a completion rate of 50% in coverage

Norwood was targeted 34 times last season, allowing just 17 receptions for a completion rate of 50%.

Wisconsin CB Nyzier Fourqurean
Missed 2025 season due to ineligibility ruling from NCAA

Fourqurean was forced to sit out the 2025 season after the NCAA ruled he didn’t have an extra year of eligibility. He attempted to get an added year of eligibility at Wisconsin but was overruled and could not play. He played 12 games for the Badgers in 2024.

Minnesota DL Jalen Logan-Redding
Was a 5-time Academic All-Big Ten selection

Logan-Redding was a standout in the classroom at Minnesota, earning five straight Academic All-Big Ten selections from 2021-2025. According to LinkedIn, he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Marketing Education and a Master’s in Human Resource Development.

North Carolina OL Austin Blaske
Allowed just 1 sack in his college career

Blaske played 843 pass-blocking snaps in his career at North Carolina and Georgia, and he allowed just one total sack across five seasons, which came against Clemson last year.

North Carolina C Chad Lindberg
Played every position on the offensive line

Lindberg is as versatile as they come. He played all five positions on the O-line in his career.

Houston RB Dean Connors
Led his team in rushing 3 years in a row

Connors was productive in college, leading his team in rushing three years in a row. He led Rice in 2023 and 2024 with 771 yards and 780 yards, respectively, before transferring to Houston in 2025 and leading the Cougars with 977 yards on the ground. He totaled 22 rushing touchdowns and nine touchdown receptions in his career.

Houston OLB Eddie Walls
Had top-30 pass-rush grade in 2024 at FIU

Walls was a force during the 2024 season while at FIU, earning an 88.7 pass-rush grade, which ranked 27th among all edge rushers in the FBS. He was credited with five sacks and 40 total pressures that year.

He does the Rams at about 10:40 in.

I mean, you can't break it down better than Schrags did here. Worth listening to.https://t.co/9WN5SH4c5v

— Sosa Kremenjas (@QBsMVP) April 29, 2026

zn wrote:

18. Matthew Caldwell, QB, Texas
Caldwell backed up Archie Manning last year.

from https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/2026-nfl-draft-profile-texas-185800133.html

As a prospect, Caldwell has good size — he’s 6’4 and listed above 210 pounds. He also possesses sneaky athleticism, posting a 4.62 40 and a 34-inch vertical.

wv wrote:

1 Ty simpson

2 Reuben Bain, Edge, Miami
3 M.Lemon, WR, USC
4 Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
5 KC Concecion, WR, Texas AM
6 Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
7 Omar Cooper, wR, Indiana

No way they would have gotten Omar Cooper in the 7th round.

Ranking the Rams’ 2026 Undrafted Free Agents and Their Chances to Make the Roster

Blaine Grisak

https://www.si.com/nfl/rams/onsi/rams-2026-undrafted-free-agent-rankings

That group will have a difficult time making the roster, but players like Omar Speights, Alaric Jackson, and Jaylen McCollough have carved out roles as former undrafted free agents. Some of these players may make the practice squad while one or two sneak onto the final 53. Let’s rank the undrafted free agents and how likely they are to make the roster.

1. Dean Connors, RB, Houston
If Connors works out, it’s possible that he could be the Rex Burkhead in the offense as the Rams look to recreate the mid-2010s New England Patriots. Connors dropped in the draft due to his lack of elusiveness, history of fumbles, and size concerns. Said The Athletic’s Dane Brugler. “Connors is at his best in the screen game or when he finds an outside track to show off his short-area quickness and open-field acceleration.” Connors could compete with Jarquez Hunter for a roster spot.

2. Al’Zillion Hamilton, CB, Fresno State
Last season, Hamilton earned Second-team All-Mountain West as he tied for second in the conference with four interceptions. He lacks some size and explosiveness, but is active on the ball. Hamilton allowed just 23 receptions on 44 targets and a passer rating of 55.6 when targeted, which ranked inside the top 25 in college football.

3. Wesley Bailey, EDGE, Louisville
The top RAS comparison for Bailey is Brian Burns. While Bailey isn’t Burns, he is a versatile pass rusher with limited bend and can struggle against the run. It will be hard to make it at edge rusher, but Bailey’s versatility should keep him on the practice squad.

4. Austin Blaske, OL, UNC
Blaske has experience as a center and left tackle, proving versatility. He allowed five pressures all season and excels in the run game. Blaske lacks some strength, but brings a lot of upside. It will be tough for him to make the roster, but he’ll be a good developmental option on the practice squad. He ranked inside the top 15 in pass protection via PFF in 2024.

5. DB Nick Anderson, Wake Forest
It’s possible that Anderson ends up as a special teams contributor at some point. At Wake Forest, Anderson finished his career with 27 pass breakups, which was the most in program history. Last season, he led the team with 106 total tackles, seven pass breakups, and had a blocked kick.

6. Nikhai Hill-Green, LB, Alabama
After transferring to Alabama from Colorado, Hill-Green’s numbers dipped. Hill-Green talked about his journey in an exclusive interview with Sports Illustrated. “I had a lot of great experiences at every program,” said Hill-Green. “I played with some great players. I was coached by some great coaches. I ultimately feel like the journey was worth the destination. I maximized my opportunity.”

7. Nyzier Fourqurean, CB, Wisconsin
After the 2025 season, Fourqurean was meant to go back to school, but the NCAA stripped him of his eligibility and it was too late to enter the 2025 NFL Draft. He’s 6’1 with good length and plays very physical.

8. Chad Lindberg, OL, UNC
Lindberg also brings valuable versatility with center, left guard, and left tackle experience. With that said, he can get caught reaching in pass protection. He has good size, but is a developmental project.

9. Drey Norwood, CB, Missouri
Norwood lacks agility and is slightly undersized. He also lacks long speed. Over four years with Missouri, Norwood recorded 93 total tackles, 14 pass deflections, and three interceptions. Norwood was the 24th ranked cornerback via PFF last season.

10. Darryl Peterson, EDGE, Wisconsin
Peterson led Wisconsin in sacks and tackles for loss last year. However, he lacks explosiveness. He’s a bit of a Swiss army knife on the defensive line and has done a little bit of everything. Peterson said in an interview with Sports Illustrated, “I played some three-tech, as well as playing along the edge. I think showing that versatility really elevated my game to another level.”

11. Eddie Walls, EDGE, Houston
Walls had seven sacks last year at Houston where he was named All-Big 12 second team. His 30 stops via PFF ranked 36th nationally and third in the Big 12. Walls is among the project pass rushers that the Rams brought in.

12. Jaxson Moi, DL, Tennessee
The Rams will like Moi’s intangibles and that will probably earn him a spot on the practice squad. He’s a strong, experienced interior defensive lineman and developed into a leader on the defense after transferring from Stanford.

13. Payton Zdroik, DL, Air Force
What if I told you that Zdroik’s top RAS comparison was Aaron Donald? Zdroik is a very good athlete, but the Rams are very deep on the defensive line which makes it tough. At best, he’ll fight for a spot on the practice squad.

14. Dan Villari, TE, Syracuse
It’s going to be difficult for a tight end to make the roster, but Villari is a fun player. He got a chance last season and took advantage of it as one of the few positives of the Syracuse offense. However, what makes him intriguing is his past experience as a quarterback. In 2023 with Syracuse, Villari took over at quarterback and ran the wildcat. He rushed for 326 yards on 55 carries.

15. Jalen Logan-Redding, DL, Minnesota
Logan-Redding is just 285 pounds, but was an All-Big Ten honorable mention in 2024. He’s a technique-first player, but will have a long way to go to make the roster.

16. Rohan Jones, TE, Arkansas
Unfortunately, it’s just going to be very difficult for a tight end to make the roster as the Rams have to keep five as it is. Jones was just the fourth Arkansas tight end to register 500+ yards in a season. After transferring from Montana State, Jones showed he could play with tougher competition.

17. Bryce Henderson, OT, Vanderbilt
Henderson jumped from South Dakota at the FCS level to Vanderbilt last season and struggled. His 21.5 pass-blocking grade via PFF was the second-worst in college football last season. It was the opposite from his time in South Dakota. He was the second-best OT behind Spencer Fano via PFF in 2024.

18. Matthew Caldwell, QB, Texas
Caldwell backed up Archie Manning last year. He will likely just be a camp arm with a name that’s not as cool as Dresser Winn.

"The things [the Rams] did defensively, I think are the things that are going to put them over the hump." @LRiddickESPN shares his thoughts on the Los Angeles Rams draft class, and what it could mean for their Super Bowl aspirations 🏆 pic.twitter.com/n6wBW3XOYr

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) April 28, 2026

Why Rams, Ty Simpson lied about meetings before NFL draft: ‘Stayed on script’

Vincent Bonsignore

https://nypost.com/2026/04/28/sports/why-la-rams-ty-simpson-stayed-silent-on-predraft-meetings/

The Rams‘ interest in Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson was always much deeper than they let on.

But the signs of their infatuation were always there. Like when they sent their southeast area scout as their lone representative to Simpson’s pro day in Tuscaloosa last month.

Nothing against Billy Johnson at all. He’s very good at what he does. That’s evidenced by the talent the Rams keep pumping into their building every year.

But in contrast to the Raiders, who sent an army of executives and coaches to Fernando Mendoza’s pro day in Indiana, the Rams went as minimally as possible for Simpson.

It was a classic head fake to downplay their intentions with the Crimson Tide quarterback. Not so much to their fans, but to the handful of teams across the NFL that needed a quarterback.

The esteem the NFL holds for Rams general manager Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay is so high that when they see potential in a prospect, especially a quarterback, other teams will want that prospect too.

The Jets and Cardinals come to mind. Both passed on Simpson with the picks they held at No. 2 and No. 3, with the idea of potentially selecting him later in the first round or early in the second.

Concerned that those teams might learn of their interest in Simpson, and perhaps trade up in the draft to snag him before their first pick at No. 13, the Rams kept their courtship of Simpson decidedly low-key.

That included the clandestine meeting Simpson recently revealed he had with Rams head coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead in the days leading up to the draft. In that meeting, McVay and Simpson conversed for multiple hours.

“They talked football at a high level,” Snead said during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show.

Remember, Simpson completely downplayed his pre-draft interactions with the Rams shortly after they selected him in the first round last Thursday.

“It was really brief, to be honest with you,” Simpson said at the time. “I met with some scouts in Alabama, and that was really it. They talked to my agent, but that really wasn’t much.”

Simpson completely reversed course this week during an appearance on ESPN’s “Amber and Ian” show, finally admitting that he and the Rams not only had a far deeper connection than many assumed, but that they wanted to keep those feelings as confidential as possible.

“We tried to keep this under wraps as long as we could,” Simpson said during his radio hit. “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.

“So, I had some secret meetings with Coach McVay, and I just was trying to be on script and do what everybody told me and not to tell anybody.”

“He stayed on script,” Snead said.

The interactions with McVay are of particular importance, given his stoic demeanor during his post-first-round media availability on Thursday. To some pundits, it gave the impression that McVay did not support the Rams’ decision to use such a high draft pick on a player that might not see the field until 2028.

Nothing could be further from the truth, of course. Anyone who knows the relationship between McVay and Snead, and the collaborative manner in which they make personnel decisions, knows Snead would have never selected Simpson or anyone else at that point in the draft unless McVay was completely on board.

Turns out, McVay and Simpson had been building a relationship for a while now. No surprise that the son of a college football coach would vibe as well as he did with McVay during their private meeting.

“It was just straight football. And it was like a kid in a candy store,” Simpson said. “Me and him are sitting there, and we’re just going back and forth. You can tell the obsession he has for the game, and you can tell the love he has for quarterback play.

“It’s something that I appreciate, and it’s something that I enjoy because I really enjoy playing the position and value the position. So, being with him and then getting to know him and then just seeing a little bit of how I would get coached if I was fortunate enough to go there was something that I couldn’t have asked for a better situation.”

wv wrote:

I certainly dont understand how drafting ‘players who should contribute two or three years’ later equals ‘stockpiling additional cheap contracts.’

It just means rookie contracts are cheaper.

But you’re right, it’s not all that illuminating since–as the Rams are about to demonstrate (after this season)–then, you have to pay them.

Peter Schrager@PSchrags
One big talking point from this Draft is the teams that took their guys and trusted “their” boards vs “consensus”.

Bears, Rams, Jags, and most notably — 49ers — had the largest Deltas between their picks and where the Consensus Big Boards listed.

All playoff teams in ’25

Ty Simpson pick explained

Jourdan Rodrigue

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7235565/2026/04/28/nfl-draft-ty-simpson-strategies-favorite-classes-tight-ends/?source=emp_shared_article&unlocked_article_code=1.eVA.d9MP.HoU0uf4HKnOc

If there is one thing I’ve learned about the NFL Draft, it’s that everyone is going to argue about it for weeks afterward.

That’s where I come in: I’m not here to change your opinions, but to talk to you about the process behind some of the more interesting moves and trends you watched throughout this year’s draft, and to highlight a few of my favorite classes.

Let’s get right into it and start with the draft’s biggest surprise:

In case you aren’t tired of reading about what I’m calling “Grumpy Gate” — Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay’s sour body language in a news conference after the team selected Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson at pick No. 13 on Thursday night — allow me to make a few notes as someone who once spent a season and an offseason inside the team’s scouting department:

• The Rams do not pick players McVay does not emphatically want, especially in early rounds. He always has a significant say over the first pick they make, after dialogue with and ultimate agreement from general manager Les Snead. McVay may get impatient during the process, and so may Snead — but neither unilaterally makes picks. Both coach and GM would have had to be completely on board for this to happen.

• I do believe McVay was attempting to downplay the pick in general, with reigning MVP Matthew Stafford in mind. McVay wants to be respectful to Stafford, which he has since said publicly, and to avoid the impression that he has put a timer on the rest of Stafford’s career. Unsaid: The two sides have not yet fully agreed on Stafford’s adjusted contract, although a league source said progress has been made.

No, McVay didn’t have to go that far with his mannerisms to show Stafford that respect. Yes, he came off poorly. I have to think that McVay also could have been projecting some defensiveness about the pick in light of the instant reaction to it, and/or something personal could have happened behind the scenes (he alluded to this in a couple of interviews during the coverage of the second and third days of the draft).

I am certain, based on conversations with league and team sources plus a recent conversation with McVay, that he is very high on Simpson. So is Snead. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport also reported before the draft began that Snead has a relationship with Simpson’s father, who is a college coach, and even was among the voices who told Simpson he could go as early as the first round of this year’s draft.

Ty Simpson told ESPN Radio on Monday that he secretly met with McVay before the draft. That is significant because neither Snead nor McVay typically meets with any prospects, and they don’t attend the scouting combine or other pre-draft events.

Picking him at No. 13 was still a surprise to me, however. The Rams could have addressed upcoming tackle and receiver needs, or they could have traded back for more picks.

• Simpson is a developmental prospect with traits the Rams like but who needs plenty of reps and time behind Stafford. In a best-case scenario for Stafford, Simpson and the Rams, the young quarterback will get that time. McVay stressed that Stafford, 38, will play for L.A. as long as he wants to.

• The rest of the Rams’ team-building, combined with the Simpson pick and the rest of this year’s draft class, tells a story:

After a sprint-rebuild in 2023 and postseason runs in 2024 and 2025, the Rams turned back to the picks-for-players model that helped them win Super Bowl LVI as this offseason began. They recently swapped their other first-round pick in this class for top cornerback Trent McDuffie and then extended him with a four-year, $124 million contract. That already told me that they weren’t stockpiling ammunition for the 2027 quarterback class, like many believed. They also signed free agent cornerback Jaylen Watson to a three-year, $51 million deal and could soon extend priority players out of a strong 2023 draft class.

They will be all-in this season to aim again for a Super Bowl, and if I’m studying their previous pattern in this mode, that could mean more moves may come, and more future picks would be in play, just as they were before the trade deadline in 2021. The Rams previously traded all of their first-round picks up to 2024, all between 2019 and 2021, to help win their last championship.

If that happens, they had better be cost-controlled at quarterback after going all-in this year, and/or on the other side of Stafford’s window — whenever that may be. (I wouldn’t bet that window closes quickly as he seems to hit a new level of play each time he’s challenged by some outside force, which makes this draft pick even more of a risk.) This and last year’s draft classes both hint at a team identifying players who should contribute two or three years into their career, not immediately — therefore stockpiling additional cheap contracts.

Enter Simpson, who shouldn’t play this season. But if he does within the four seasons following 2026, he will help keep the rest of the roster financially competitive because he’ll be on his rookie contract (he’ll have a fifth-year option available as a first-round pick). If the Rams can develop him like they say they can, the team has a higher floor in a post-Stafford era.

That’s a lot … a lot … of “ifs” for a top-15 pick, and a quarterback no less.