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znModeratorznModeratorUPDATED: receivers that are left:
1st rounders
Makai Lemon
Carnell Tatelow 1st? high 2nd?
Omar Cooper Jr
Denzel Boston
Jordan Tyson
Ted Hurst
K.C. Concepcion2nd through high 3rd?
Deion Burks
Antonio Williams
Chris Brazzell
Elijah Sarratt
Caleb Douglas
Bryce Lance
Germie Bernard
De’Zhaun Stribling
Chris BellznModeratorI think they missed on this one, and hope they prove me wrong. I’ll happily admit my error if he plays up to his pick, or anywhere close.
I get the pick.
He has the same good traits that Warner, Bulger, and Trent Green had (ie. quick to process, accurate. It’s the “what made Brady Brady” package, though of course I ain’t saying he’s Brady.)
Unlike them he wasn’t going to make it out of round 1.
Here’s from a posted report on him:
STRENGTHS
● Quick processor who eliminates things quickly, reads out entire field and finds backside dig/curl
● Repeatable mechanics with quarterback muscle memory
● Athletic enough that defenses must respect his ability to boot or keep on read plays
● Poised, instinctive pocket shuffles; climbs with elevated eyes and sound feet to maintain throwing base
● Delivers with touch, be it a bucket throw or when attacking hole shots
● Not shy giving his target a chance when he likes the look
● Communicates like a pro at the line, setting and resetting pass-pro adjustments
● Impressive mental capacity — you can tell he has been working at his craft for a long time
● Blocking and pass catchers let him down too often, including 30 drops in 2025 (second most among all Power 4 quarterbacks)
● Grew up around a Division I program — ideas of hard work and coachability instilled in him from a young age
● Described as “A-plus” person; voted a 2025 team captainznModerator49ers get a WR at the top of the second round, i see. 6’2. 207 Lbs. Dude runs a 4.36.
w
vStribling. He’s covered in the “WR” thread. Another possible WR, Denzel Boston, went to Cleveland.
znModeratorHope they at least tried to trade down and were just stymied, etc.
No. According to reporting posted in the thread, they had trade down offers and didn’t take them. They saw other teams as interested and didn’t believe he would make it to where they could have traded down. Simpson was their pick before the draft and they always intended to take him at 13.
znModeratorI heard somewhere – I think one of the Frisco talkers – somebody said that McVay was a HUGE admirer of Brock Purdy, and thinks Simpson is the same guy. Excellent at reading the defense, and talented enough physically, if not gifted. And, really, I guess the mental gift is what separates the greats. You would like the physical gifts, too, but how many talented guys who fit the physical profile ended up vaporizing? I dunno. I think we shall see.
There’s is where I’m at. I am hoping, since they already took him, that Simpson works out. What makes me think he can is that he fits the description of a certain type of qb. One who is not physically imposing but is accurate AND above all, processes quickly.
You want to know who else fits that exact description? A smart qb who processes action quickly in his head, makes quick decisions, and is accurate…but is not physically imposing?
Cause it’s a type.
It’s a type that includes–
Brady, Montana, Brees, Warner, Trent Green, Bulger, Romo, and (as mentioned) Purdy.
There are bigger, stronger armed qbs who also have those skills, including Mahomes, Marino, Stafford, and Manning.
But the type Simpson belongs to is the less physically imposing version I just listed.
It’s the one key set of skills Warner, Trent Green, and Bulger all had in common, in fact.
Now I ain’t saying he IS that already. But he does have those traits, and if he can develop as a pro he will be in that category of qb.
The difference is, Purdy went to Iowa State, and Simpson went to Alabama. Simpson was a bigger name on draft day. He was not going to make it to the 7th round, let alone the 2nd round.
…
….
znModeratorafter watching him speak i don’t see how mcvay doesn’t love this guy.
i think him acting the way he was on tv really was him not wanting to upset stafford. or at least trying to balance excitement with making sure stafford knew he was still wanted.
o. I’m hoping that McVay has not already told the Rams that when Stafford retires, McVay will leave. ….maybe Snead chose Ty Simpson because he knows HE is the one who has to take the long view, cause McVay wont be there to pick up the pieces.
I am with Invader on McVay wanting him, and not WV on the more dire possible futures.
I buy the Rams reasonining. They treated pick 13 as a luxury after using pick 29 to get what they really wanted for the season, a corner.
So I am out of the “did McVay want him” debate. I don’t think there’s a real “there” there.
znModeratorChris Long reacts to the Rams drafting QB Ty Simpson pic.twitter.com/IC4vC5JJe0
— Green Light with Chris Long (@greenlight) April 24, 2026
znModeratorJeremy Fowler@JFowlerESPN
From story:-Rams quietly plotted as to not out McVay approval stamp that could increase interest
-McVay ‘absolutely’ backed pick. Sources make sense of press conference demeanor
-Makai Lemon ‘definitely’ considered
-Stafford happy with current weapons
-Garoppolo retirement a factor, team tried to sign Joe Flacco
-Simpson was confident he was going 1, wanted Rams over AZ
-LAR got trade calls on 13***
Inside Rams’ decision to draft QB Ty Simpson at No. 13
Jeremy Fowler
HOLLYWOOD PARK, Calif. — Draft night is an amalgam of mood shifts, which the Los Angeles Rams brain trust experienced in full scope Thursday night.
Shortly after 9 p.m. ET, head coach Sean McVay was on the phone with his new quarterback, Ty Simpson, who was hunched over in a puffy white chair from the green room of the NFL draft, fighting an avalanche of emotion.
“Let’s go make history, Coach,” Simpson told McVay, his voice cracking.
“Yeah … Hey, enjoy this night — you earned it,” McVay responded.
Minutes later, McVay — normally a walking espresso shot in terms of energy — appeared subdued, almost frustrated at a news conference discussing the decision to take Simpson at No. 13 overall. The decision was a weighty one, considering the Rams’ championship aspirations and reigning MVP Matthew Stafford leading the team under center.
When asked whether Simpson was the team’s first target at No. 13, McVay, alongside general manager Les Snead, eventually pivoted to Stafford.
“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.”
While only McVay can explain his disposition in that moment, he was not projecting the customary excitement for one of the biggest nights on the NFL calendar.
Multiple team sources said they believe McVay might have felt the need to downplay the pick in order to accentuate his confidence in Stafford.
“He will be cautious and protective of Matt, and rightfully so,” a team source said. “I think Sean is excited for the pick. The appreciation for the tape was the biggest thing.”
A source with direct knowledge of the situation put it more bluntly: McVay “absolutely” was on board with the pick, noting that Snead and McVay attack all decisions together,
“All indications to me were they were in lockstep,” a separate team source said.
Regardless, the ripple effects of this pick will be larger than the waves at the nearby Malibu shore, a succession plan resting in the sand.
THE RAMS’ DRAFT methodology is stripped down in the name of efficiency. They don’t host players for predraft visits (teams are allowed up to 30), relying more on virtual scouting and data. They don’t attend the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. If the team visits a player on campus, it might send a lower-level scout to interview the player, if they do at all.
Neither Snead nor McVay formally talked with Simpson throughout the process, Simpson confirmed Thursday night after the selection. “I met with some scouts in Alabama and that was really it,” Simpson said.
But in this case, the Rams were highly motivated to keep their intentions quiet — largely because of the presence of McVay, one of the game’s great offensive minds. The franchise picked Jared Goff first overall the year before McVay arrived, but in nine years, he hadn’t drafted a quarterback higher than 128th overall (current backup Stetson Bennett, a 2023 pick).
“[The Rams brass] knew that if it got out that McVay stamped this guy, that could have created more interest ahead of them,” a team source said.
The Rams were very aware of this dynamic, as multiple sources pointed out, one of whom compared it to a two-star recruit getting an offer from Alabama or Ohio State, effectively making him a five-star.
While the Rams always try to mute their plans, they found that process magnified when it came to the quarterback position over the past two months.
Still, a few whispers trickled through the scouting community in recent weeks. Scouts were aware of Snead’s connection with Simpson’s father, Jason, the head coach at University of Tennessee-Martin. Snead referenced Thursday night that he and Jason Simpson played SEC football around the same time and “don’t have a real relationship” other than through football connections. But Snead confirmed the Simpson family consulted him for advice about whether to enter the draft after the 2025 season, citing the Rams’ role in the College Advisory Committee to help players with the decision-making process. In those talks, Snead relayed to the family that Simpson is a first-round-caliber player, per NFL Network national insider Ian Rapoport.
Scouts were aware of this but still didn’t believe the Rams would pick a quarterback at No. 13. In fact, multiple high-ranking NFL personnel evaluators with rival teams, as of Wednesday night, thought Simpson might slide to the second round due to a supply-and-demand issue. In their minds, Arizona, which picked third and 34th in the first two rounds, was the logical home for Simpson.
“They are on the door of a championship,” an AFC scout of the Rams said. “I can’t imagine they aren’t going to help Stafford when he still has good years left.”
BUT THE PLAN was already in motion. While multiple sources confirm USC receiver Makai Lemon was “definitely” in the mix for the Rams at 13, not much drama followed the decision. “There wasn’t much debate — if Simpson was there, they were taking him,” said a personnel source, going so far as to say Simpson compared favorably to No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza in parts of the building. “Not a lot of separation,” the source said. To be sure, the Rams knew Mendoza was going No. 1 to the Las Vegas Raiders, so they didn’t need to study him aggressively. Either way, Simpson was definitely their lead guy among the rest of the quarterback class.
The Rams received trade calls on the 13th pick, a source confirmed. Teams coveted Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane, who went 14th to Baltimore, and a trade with Los Angeles would have helped a team jump Baltimore for the top guard. But Los Angeles stood pat.
Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq was also believed to be part of the Rams’ first-round conversation at some point, along with Ohio State safety Caleb Downs if he slid that far. Lemon went to the Eagles at No. 20, Saadiq to the Jets at No. 16 and Downs to the Cowboys at No. 11.
Snead and his scouts value what they call a “central nervous system” in a quarterback — the ability to process information and run an NFL offense as intended. The Rams noticed that early in the process with Simpson. Around late February or early March is when McVay and the team’s coaches dove deep into studying prospects.
The Rams looked at the Simpson selection as a “bonus pick,” per a team source — they had already secured star corner Trent McDuffie by trading the 29th pick to Kansas City, thus solidifying the defensive backfield, and the 13th pick came from a trade with Atlanta a year ago. Los Angeles figured it wouldn’t be picking this high very often, putting quarterback into focus.
The uncertainty around Jimmy Garoppolo’s future played a role, too. The team knew in March that retirement was a possibility for Garoppolo, a free agent, effectively leaving Los Angeles without its steady backup. During free agency, a source says the Rams made overtures to sign free agent quarterback Joe Flacco, who ultimately returned to Cincinnati on a one-year deal.
All of this set the stage for the Rams to take their big swing, even if virtually none of the high-profile mock drafts pegged Simpson to Los Angeles.
Simpson remained hopeful, if not confident. As one source close to the quarterback put it, Simpson wouldn’t have attended the draft in Pittsburgh if he thought there was a decent chance he would slip out of the first round. Simpson didn’t truly know what the Rams would do but felt good about their presence, along with Arizona’s. His working range all along was Nos. 11 to 30 in Round 1.
WHERE DID THIS leave Stafford, who is 38 but playing his best football? The Rams called Stafford the day of the draft to inform him they were selecting Simpson, according to ESPN senior NFL insider Adam Schefter. McVay said Stafford handled the news “great” because he’s a “stud” and “always first-class in every sense of the word.”
Last month at the league meetings, McVay said Stafford had earned the right to decide how long he wants to play year-to-year, an important backdrop for the team’s current negotiations with him on a new deal. Stafford is owed $40 million this year and is slated to be a free agent in 2027.
Drafting a quarterback behind a star passer isn’t always easy. Aaron Rodgers publicly expressed discomfort with the Green Bay Packers’ decision to select Jordan Love in 2020, setting the stage for Rodgers’ exit from the franchise three years later, though he got along well with Love personally.
What helps assuage the transition in the short term: Stafford’s evaluation of the Rams’ offense. Stafford is, by all accounts, happy with his skill players on offense, per a team source, which can alleviate the pressure of taking a big swing on a quarterback who won’t help the team now.
Stafford was throwing with his receivers just last week. Puka Nacua and Davante Adams are one of the league’s best receiving tandems, and the team has big plans for 2025 second-round tight end Terrance Ferguson alongside veterans Colby Parkinson and Tyler Higbee. Kyren Williams is one of the league’s best all-around running backs, and Blake Corum is an emerging talent. The team is very high on former late-round receiver Konata Mumpfield.
“He’s not going into the season wondering whether we have enough weapons to move the ball,” said a source about Stafford.
All of those players were Day 2 and 3 picks, suggesting the Rams can identify more help in the next two days of the draft.
For at least one year and maybe much longer, Simpson must wait to join the fold.
“I don’t know if you can ever take someone in the draft and say they’re going to come in and play, especially on a team like ours,” Snead said. “You have to come in. You have to earn equity. You have to earn trust before you’re going to get a jersey and help us on game day.”
Simpson doesn’t seem to mind that at all.
While Simpson would have been glad to go to Arizona, he wanted to be a Ram if all things were equal, a source close to him said, citing the winning culture and the presence of McVay and Stafford.
“He’s a coach’s kid who could care less when he plays,” the source said. “He’s always been a huge Stafford fan and can learn from the best [in McVay].”
Simpson has experience in waiting, as he pointed out post-draft. He sat for three years at Alabama behind Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe before getting his chance, learning from both over the years.
“It’s very similar to what Matthew has and brings to the table, it’s just on a bigger stage and he’s one of the greatest of all time to do it,” Simpson said. I’m super blessed and I can’t wait to get started.”
The chance to develop behind the scenes with the right coaches is a dream scenario for most young quarterbacks.
While Stafford might not play into his 40s, one team source used the possibility to prove a larger point.
“If [Simpson] never starts a game for the Rams before his rookie contract runs out, that’s a win for the Rams,” the source said.
znModeratorInside the Rams’ selection of QB Ty Simpson at No. 13 overall — a pick months in the making. @gmfb @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/72L3edbtSj
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 24, 2026
znModeratorVincent Bonsignore@VinnyBonsignore
I believed it was the right thing to do when I mocked him to them and I still do. You have to look at it in the totality of the Trent McDuffie move. If you look at Simpson, independent of that, it changes the entire picture.znModerator.@PSchrags breaks down WHY the Rams drafted QB Ty Simpson ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/azKdP0hpOs
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) April 24, 2026
znModeratorGreg Beacham@gregbeacham
Ty Simpson’s dad, Jason, is the coach at UT Martin, where he spent 6 seasons coaching QB Dresser Winn, who has gone through the past 3 training camps with the LA Rams.znModeratorJourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
[McVay] hasn’t met a prospect before drafting him since 2020. Doesn’t go to combine or other all star events (nor does Snead) and Rams don’t do 30 visits. Just context, not making an argument either way.znModeratorTy Simpson Breaking Down His Own Film With Me
Just shows what people don’t understand about QB play—recall, preparation, and winning pre-snap.
He’s diagnosing everything before it unfolds….You can tell he’s a coach’s son.
Full Breakdown Out Now On YouTube pic.twitter.com/GzxzcZ0slM
— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) April 13, 2026
…
znModeratorIn drafting Ty Simpson, Rams miss chance to further strengthen a win-now roster
Nate Atkins
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — After a decade of waiting and trading draft picks, of going all in on a Super Bowl and paying the credit later, the Los Angeles Rams finally had a top-15 pick again Thursday night.
And when it came time to turn in the card for the No. 13 selection in the NFL Draft, Los Angeles threw out a curveball by taking a backup quarterback. The Rams drafted Alabama’s Ty Simpson as their bridge to a future beyond Matthew Stafford, even though they aren’t sure how much longer their MVP passer will play.
The willingness to go with this pick, rather than waiting for next year’s loaded quarterback class, offered a window into who the Rams really are under this regime: They are not all in on a Super Bowl. They are all in on the quarterback position.
Rather than let the bottom fall out of the most important position and enter quarterback wilderness whenever Stafford decides to hang up the cleats, the Rams locked in a path of some sort, though they aren’t sure what it will look like. They can’t know that because Stafford doesn’t know that yet, either.
“Let’s make one thing clear: This is Matthew’s team,” coach Sean McVay said Thursday night.
Can Ty Simpson take ‘Brock Purdy path’ with Los Angeles Rams?
This is a unique roster and a unique time and space for the Rams, who are fresh off a narrow loss in the NFC Championship Game, hoping to break through for another Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium — and also looking at a world beyond that window.
Whereas the Rams of a half-decade ago traded these draft picks for star players in order to maximize the limited years left for All-Pros like Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey, this version of the team is hedging somewhere in the middle. The Rams did trade a first-round pick this offseason for All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie, to address the biggest weakness on the roster.
Though many expected them to double down on the Super Bowl push with their highest selection since 2016, the Rams instead appeared to treat it as a bonus, justifying a pick for depth and the future.
It still produced a bizarre scene at the Rams’ draft headquarters Thursday at Hollywood Park. McVay and general manager Les Snead held an 11-minute news conference that featured no opening statement, none of their usual jokes and zingers, and few smiles.
“We’ll see,” McVay said when asked if Simpson would be his No. 2 quarterback this season. “He’s going to compete with Stetson (Bennett).”
That was the first statement he made about the 13th pick in the draft.
Across beats covering the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts and now the Rams, this was the first time I’ve covered a first-round draft pick news conference where the regime showed so little excitement about the player selected. By contrast, when the Colts selected Anthony Richardson at No. 4 in 2023, their regime came into the news conference shouting, laughing and releasing pent-up excitement that was palpable with every breath.
It’s possible the Rams didn’t want to appear as if they were ready to move off of Stafford, who is in negotiations on a new contract. But there were ways for the Rams to talk up both quarterbacks in their abilities and upside and the long-term valuation of the role they play. After all, they aren’t the first contender to spend a first-round pick on a quarterback of the future, as the Green Bay Packers did with Jordan Love behind Aaron Rodgers, the Kansas City Chiefs did with Patrick Mahomes behind Alex Smith, and the San Francisco 49ers tried with Trey Lance behind Jimmy Garoppolo.
On its face, the Simpson selection was an attempt to chase that model used by other premier franchises. The messaging, however, presented it more as an afterthought than the driving motivation.
Perhaps it was a pick about needs more than wants. McVay has said previously that he struggled with the loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game as much as any in his career, knowing they were just a few yards away from facing the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. But he is also renowned for his work with quarterbacks, and now the Rams were selecting one for him to mentor and mold for years to come, first while sitting and learning behind an MVP.
Although Snead and McVay didn’t display much emotion about the pick, Simpson appeared overjoyed and a bit shocked. The only time he met with anyone from the Rams in the pre-draft process was when a handful of their scouts attended a practice at Alabama.
“The fact that Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams took a chance on me — and he’s a quarterback genius,” Simpson said. “(Stafford) is one of the greatest of all time, quarterback-wise. We watched his film all the time when I was at Bama. … How cool, calm and collected he always is. He’s so smart. He can manipulate the defense, and he’s a gunslinger. He has no fear.
“As a quarterback, you have to have no fear when you’re in the huddle. He slings that ball all around, and he makes people better around him.”
Part of the strangeness of Thursday was hearing as much about Stafford as the quarterback the Rams selected. If the Rams had reasons for seeing Simpson as elite enough to spend the No. 13 pick on and wait at least a year to see on the field, it was difficult to find in the news conference.
“At the end of the day, processing the football,” Snead said of the pick. “It’s somebody who can execute a passing offense and has mobility. There’s a lot more variables that go into it, but that’s the macro.”
Snead was also impressed by Simpson’s resolve in a limited sample of just 15 starts last season, when he threw 28 touchdowns to five interceptions to lead Alabama to an 11-4 record and an appearance in the second round of the College Football Playoff.
“This was Ty’s first year starting, and then they go through what they did at Florida State — the world is ending,” Snead said. “… Even though they didn’t win their final game, they had a good run in the SEC and in the playoffs.”
The Rams had other options in the draft. They could have taken USC wide receiver Makai Lemon, who won the Biletnikoff Award as college football’s top wide receiver last season with 1,156 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. They could have opted for Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq, who caught eight touchdown passes last season and, at 241 pounds, posted a 40-yard dash time of 4.39 seconds, the fastest of any tight end at the NFL Scouting Combine since at least 2003.
It’s unclear whether the Rams had an option to trade back.
“Like I’ve mentioned in here, the sea’s going to shape the 13th pick,” Snead said. “He had to fall.”
It’s hard to find any projection that had Simpson going in the top 20, however. But if the Rams felt sold on a quarterback of the future, it also stands to reason why they wouldn’t risk trading back to land that player.
It’s just difficult to rationalize this pick with the current build of the roster, which has given signs all offseason of entering another all-in push for a Super Bowl. In addition to trading for McDuffie and making him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history at four years, $124 million, they also signed his running mate at cornerback from the Chiefs, Jaylen Watson.
So many expected the Rams to take a swing at an offensive skill player, as they’ve toyed with the idea of trading up for one in recent drafts.
It’s always possible, of course, that Simpson will see the field this year. Stafford is 38 and managing a degenerative back issue. He’s had four seasons derailed by serious injuries.
But short of an injury, the Rams chose to take the one position least likely to create that impact in a season with Super Bowl goals.
“I would say sitting up here, the vision has always been to chase special with Matthew Stafford. That’s the vision,” Snead said. “I hate sitting here and going, ‘You’re a player away in the draft from the Super Bowl.’
“At the end of the day, what we want to accomplish in the draft and (with) any acquisitions that we have is to try to engineer as competent of a team as possible, and then let’s go to work. Let’s get through May, let’s get through June, let’s come back in August, let’s then go to Australia and play Game 1 and try to be the best team and evolve and try to play our best football at the end.
“I don’t want to sit here in April and say, ‘OK, we draft one player, and now we go to the Super Bowl.’ There is a lot, a lot of hard work between this night and whoever is playing in that game in February.”
znModeratorJimEverett@Jimeverett
Les Snead was locked on Ty Simpson early & even advised his dad he was a 1st rounder. Most fans took the bait & called it a Lemon. But Ram’s 🧠 kept secrets & landed a high IQ/fast processor QB plus a legit All Pro corner. Letting Snead cook with two 1st should be outlawed.JimEverett
@Jimeverett
Let Les cook. Rams took Simpson at 13, classic Snead long game. Stafford runs the show, Ty sits, & learns from McVay & Matthew. Win-now panic? Nah…Secondary is way better!
Day 2/3 they’ll add trenches/skill.
Rams felt the 🔥. LaFleur (ex 🐏 OC) now runs the rival Cards. Birds go Love at 3 but word has it, want back into Rd 1 for their guy. Jets at 16 also QB hungry. Boom: 🐏 strike at 13 for Ty Simpson, Stafford’s heir. Smart board reading. NFC West is personal.
Ty will learn quick but still it’s on his own timeline but really up to how long Stafford continues & desires to play (at a high level).
Johnny Lirette@ramsfan2800
I’m one ok with the Simpson pick. 2 years ago I was cool if they took Bo Nix, now last year I was jumping up & down for the Rams to take Jaxson Dart. I have Simpson behind Dart but ahead of Nix. I’m Talking about them coming out of college.JimEverett@Jimeverett
Good reads. Dart was a bit more RPO dominant so O coordinators couldn’t read his ability as well. Nix was mix, love or hate. Ty is different. Not the physical specimen as much as the processor & football IQ that McVay demands from the position.ryan anderson@RLAndersonLAFB
Ty needs development. No Doubt. The Rams built a great offensive coaching staff in 2026 to help with that. Kliff Kingsbury, Nate Scheelhaase, and Dave Ragone will give them support to do so.znModeratorPre Draft Party with @RamsNFL Center Doug Smith! 🐏 ⬆️ pic.twitter.com/XK1oZrepEp
— JimEverett (@Jimeverett) April 23, 2026
znModeratorDoug Farrar@NFL_DougFarrar
This reminds me a lot of when Kevin O’Connell twisted himself into pretzels talking himself into J.J. McCarthy.zn@znramsfan
McCarthy never had the profile Simpson does. Which qb got this pre-draft report: “fails to stand out in many of the areas that tend to be predictive of top-level success.” Which 1 got this: “He’s above average as a processor and decision-maker.”znModeratorJimEverett@Jimeverett
Love the pick. Y’all complaining now, will change your tune later. Time stamp.2024 Penix #8, 2026 Simpson #13, both under Kalen DeBoer. Coach producing first-round QBs like clockwork.
znModeratorPersevering. Learning. Developing. Getting better. pic.twitter.com/FFT8OWWIHd
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) April 24, 2026
znModeratorJourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
Rams HC Sean McVay always has a big say over the first pick the team makes every year.…
ryan anderson@RLAndersonLAFB
Ty Simpson wasn’t the flashiest QB in this class—but you can see what L.A. fell for 👇• Full-field processor 🧩
• Elite command at the line (sets protections like a vet) 🎯
• Clean, repeatable mechanics 🔁
• Tough, poised, battle-tested 💪
• 30 TDs + SEC title in lone year starting 🏆
Grew up in a coach’s locker room 🏈, waited behind Bryce Young & Jalen Milroe, then delivered when it was his turn. That wiring matters to Sean McVay
Yeah—limited starts, average arm, some hesitation late in ‘25…but if you believe you can speed up the processing + clean up the decisions ⏩
You might see a QB who runs your offense exactly how it’s drawn up 📋
High floor ⬆️
Scheme fit 🤝
Culture fit 🧬znModerator— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) April 24, 2026
znModeratorNate Atkins, from https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/live-blogs/nfl-draft-2026-live-updates-picks-trades-grades-round-1/EXBZeXIHs9zS/4ysoDoEJuALA/
·
Rams make bet on ability to find WRs after first roundThe Rams have been in limbo on the future of the quarterback position for a few years, but now they’ve found their answer. They are going to sit on Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson until whenever Matthew Stafford decides to hang it up, which could be after next season or multiple years down the line.
It’s a very curious selection for a team in a Super Bowl contention window and with its highest draft pick in a decade. If the Rams can remain as strong at drafting wide receivers after the first round as they have been, it can work out to still hit both goals. But the Rams are risking a lot in the NFC West by spending the No. 13 overall pick on a backup.
Simpson will get to spend a year behind the scenes learning from Stafford as well as coach Sean McVay and assistant head coach Kliff Kingsbury, who have long track records with quarterbacks. It might be the best outcome for him, as he started just one season in college. But when he sees the field is a mystery nobody has the answer to right now.
znModeratordidn’t know it was going to be the Rams until he saw the area code on his phone when the Rams were in the clock.
So that tells us one thing.
He has a mind that can immediately identify at least 32 different area codes.
znModeratorfrom https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/interactive/the-beast-2026/player/ty-simpson-alabama-quarterback/
STRENGTHS
● Quick processor who eliminates things quickly, reads out entire field and finds backside dig/curl
● Repeatable mechanics with quarterback muscle memory
● Athletic enough that defenses must respect his ability to boot or keep on read plays
● Poised, instinctive pocket shuffles; climbs with elevated eyes and sound feet to maintain throwing base
● Delivers with touch, be it a bucket throw or when attacking hole shots
● Not shy giving his target a chance when he likes the look
● Communicates like a pro at the line, setting and resetting pass-pro adjustments
● Impressive mental capacity — you can tell he has been working at his craft for a long time
● Blocking and pass catchers let him down too often, including 30 drops in 2025 (second most among all Power 4 quarterbacks)
● Grew up around a Division I program — ideas of hard work and coachability instilled in him from a young age
● Described as “A-plus” person; voted a 2025 team captainWEAKNESSES
● Mediocre height and build — looks small at times in the pocket
● Arm strength is more average than above average
● Defenses didn’t always respect his ability to hit certain downfield routes
● Passing accuracy is good but ball placement needs to be better
● Always locates checkdown — too quickly at times and needs to improve read efficiency
● Needs to develop better sense of what is open and what isn’t
● Appeared to second-guess himself over second half of ‘25 season and lost some aggressiveness
● Indecision leads to unnecessary sacks (also fumbled seven times in 2025)
● Toughness won’t be questioned but played banged up in 2025 and was knocked out of Rose Bowl with a fractured rib (Jan. 2026)
● Only one season as a starter — lack of experience shows in different waysSUMMARY
A one-year starter at Alabama, Simpson operated in the modern-day spread scheme of offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb (Simpson’s third offensive coordinator in four years in Tuscaloosa). He bided his time as an underclassman behind Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe, and he’d earned his degree before throwing his first collegiate touchdown (1,365 days passed between his final high school TD and his first in college). He accounted for 30 touchdowns in 2025 and led the Tide to the SEC championship, although the first half of the season (20 big-time throws, five turnover-worthy plays) was much more consistent than the second (10 and 12, respectively). With his background as the son of a longtime college coach, Simpson received a quarterback education from a young age, and it shows in his mechanics and operation. He doesn’t have any top-tier physical traits but displays a good-enough arm and the mobility to move the launch point (left or right) on naked keepers/boots. He is generally an accurate passer who can digest defensive concepts and read out the entire field. However, he made just 15 career starts, and that lack of experience manifests in his decision-making and precision. He eliminates things quickly — but often too quickly and turns down throws about to come open. Overall, Simpson has the command and process of an NFL quarterback, but he needs valuable experience to be more efficient in his reads, and to better understand what is open and what isn’t. He projects as a low-level NFL starter, with the ceiling of a mid-level starter and floor of a backup (reminiscent of Daniel Jones with lesser physical traits).
znModeratorCollege: Alabama
Height: 6’1 1/8″
Weight: 211 lbs
Arm: 30 7/8″
Hand: 9 3/8″from https://www.nfl.com/prospects/ty-simpson/32005349-4d63-9376-c6de-c1666dcadc47
Overview
Former five-star prospect who waited his turn at Alabama and raised his profile in a single season as the Tide’s starter. Simpson is mechanically sound from a footwork and release perspective, providing a favorable foundation to work from. He’s above average as a processor and decision-maker, but timing and anticipation remain works in progress. Arm talent and velocity are average, which limits his success. His repeatable process should help iron out ball placement inconsistencies the more he plays. Simpson is unfazed by shell coverages and is decisive when attacking intermediate zone pockets for chunk gains. He can break contain and move the sticks with his legs, too. Learning to cut bait and avoid sacks needs to be prioritized. One-year starters rarely “boom” so he’ll need a patient staff and a clear developmental roadmap to fill in the missing pieces.
Strengths
Strong four-game stretch against Georgia, Vanderbilt, Missouri and Tennessee
Had freedom to set and adjust protections at the line.
Recognizes coverage quickly and moves through progressions with pace.
Risk management is generally good.
Exceptional footwork, with feet tied to eyes.
Climbs, slides and resets the launch point when edge pressure closes in.
Decisive in probing and attacking intermediate pockets of the zone.
Throws with repeatable mechanics from snap to snap.
Rarely misses basic throws to open receivers between the numbers.
Receiver drops distort his accuracy numbers.
Able to create on second reaction when the play breaks down.
Escapes pocket with enough speed to move the chains.Weaknesses
Only one season of starting experience.
Carries a below-average build and dealt with nagging injuries in 2025.
Posted a 57% completion rate over his final four games.
Safeties took advantage of lazy eye discipline late in the season.
Base can get jittery when under duress, leading to inconsistent ball placement.
Average arm talent, with throws on the menu that should be ordered sparingly.
Inconsistent timing on deep throws.
Struggles layering the ball over linebackers and beating tight man with precision.
Needs better judgement on when to extend versus when to take a profit.
Held the ball for too long, leading to unnecessary sacks.znModeratorznModerator“The Athletic Football Show” is live right now with draft analyst Dane Brugler and national college football insider Bruce Feldman. This crew will be live for about five hours, reacting to every pick. Warning: Watching will make you a smarter football fan. If you’d prefer people yelling, there are plenty of other options. Link: https://www.youtube.com/live/b4zZYz5UNVk
Tabs to keep open:
Our Round 1 live blog, including analysis, trades and fantasy fallout. Link: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/live-blogs/nfl-draft-2026-live-updates-picks-trades-grades-round-1/EXBZeXIHs9zS/?source=athletic_scoopcity_newsletter&campaign=17750713&userId=603890
Live pick-by-pick tracker. Link: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/interactive/nfl-draft-2026-live-pick-tracker-results/?source=athletic_scoopcity_newsletter&campaign=17750713&userId=603890
Best available players. Link: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/interactive/nfl-draft-2026-best-available-players/?source=athletic_scoopcity_newsletter&campaign=17750713&userId=603890
April 23, 2026 at 7:36 pm in reply to: the “healthcare” industry (thread includes entire film “Sicko” for free) #163371znModeratorfrom Facebook:
Those viral photos of AOC and RFK Jr. “arguing” weren’t about gossip — they were about him shoveling $13 BILLION to insurance giants he admits are fleecing sick people.
Here is what actually happened.
The photos are stunning.
Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez leaning in, hands out, eyebrows raised.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. half‑smiling, half‑cornered in a Capitol hallway after a long hearing.
It looks like a fight.
But the story started inside the committee room.
At a House Energy and Commerce hearing, AOC used her time to grill RFK Jr. on one decision buried in Trump’s health budget: a move to give private insurance companies an extra $13 billion through Medicare Advantage reimbursement rates, on top of the $80 billion a year watchdogs say they are already pulling out of the system.
She didn’t tiptoe.
“UnitedHealthcare, CVS, Aetna — they’re defrauding the American public to the tune of $80 billion a year,” she said.
“Can we agree on that?”
“Yes,” Kennedy replied.
“Absolutely.”
And then she sprung the trap.
If these companies are fleecing seniors and taxpayers for $80 billion, why did he just decide to give them $13 billion more?
Why was Trump’s health secretary sending even more public money into a program he has previously called corrupt?
That’s what the hearing was really about.
Not vaccines.
Not the culture‑war clips RFK Jr. uses on right‑wing podcasts.
But the basic math of who gets our money when we are sick.
After the cameras in the hearing room clicked off, the cameras in the hallway turned on.
A Wall Street Journal photographer caught AOC and RFK Jr. in an animated conversation outside the committee. LGBTQ Nation reports that they were still talking about the same thing: his defense of the payment boost to insurers, his attempt to frame it as necessary for “patients,” and her refusal to let that framing stand.
The internet did what it always does.
The images went viral with a thousand captions.
People projected every kind of drama onto AOC’s face.
Were they fighting about Gaza?
About vaccines?
About conspiracy theories?
The answer is simpler and more damning.
A progressive congresswoman had just forced Trump’s health chief to admit, on the record, that private insurers are robbing sick people — and then confronted him for rewarding them anyway.
That’s why the body language looks the way it does.
Because for RFK Jr., this is the contradiction he cannot smooth over with word salad.
He built a brand railing against “corrupt” pharma and “captured” agencies.
Now he is sitting in the Cabinet, defending a decision to shovel billions to the very insurance giants he once condemned.
And for AOC, this is exactly what she came to Congress to expose.
She is not arguing for some abstract theory.
She is talking about seniors who skip medicine because their copays tripled.
About disabled people trapped in networks that deny claims.
About taxpayers whose money is being used to jack up stock prices instead of pay nurses.
Those hallway photos are what it looks like when someone refuses to pretend this is normal.
So the next time those images of AOC and RFK Jr. fly across your feed, remember what they were actually talking about.
Not gossip.
Not vibes.
But this question:
Why is Trump’s health secretary giving $13 billion more to companies he agrees are already robbing the public blind? -
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