As Roger Goodell stepped to the podium to announce the 13th overall pick, the Los Angeles Rams had a few positions to consider for their first-round pick.
Several mock drafts predicted the Rams would select USC wide receiver Makai Lemon or an offensive lineman. Since the first round was dominated by offensive linemen, the Rams’ direction seemed apparent and their options narrowed. Instead, general manager Les Snead and the front office decided to draft for the future, selecting Alabama’s quarterback, Ty Simpson.
Simpson’s selection wasn’t a complete surprise. He was projected to be an early pick after the college football season but his draft stock fell over time. Simpson has been on the Rams’ radar since the season ended, but there was a sense that he could fall out of the first round.
Rams Roll the Dice: Drafting for the Future?
Both Good and Bad?
The selection does and doesn’t make sense. It makes sense because Simpson is a ready-made quarterback who can be a difference-maker. He’s going to sit behind Matthew Stafford for a year or two, learn the Rams playbook before becoming the starter. The Rams felt that the eventual retirement of Stafford could leave them in quarterback purgatory – a place where teams go to die. Planning for the future is better than not having a good option at quarterback.
Where the selection doesn’t make sense is using the 13th pick on a player who doesn’t immediately strengthen the Super Bowl roster. Building on the last season, the Rams are the current 2027 Super Bowl favorites. The team could have used the pick to strengthen the wide receiver or offensive line unit. While the Rams don’t need to address a specific position, strengthening a unit would help their quest to raise the Lombardi trophy.
McVay’s Reaction
Head coach Sean McVay seemed unenthusiastic following the pick during the first-round press conference with Snead. He met reporters with short responses and was quick to say that Simpson is going to compete with Stetson Bennett for the backup position.
“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.”
Snead assured that the pick was based on who the Rams wanted and not on any timeline. Simpson will still have to work to be the Rams’ future starter even after Stafford has retired.
“You could draft someone you think is going to be immediate and could have an injury and miss time. You could draft someone for the future and there could be an injury and that was for the future,” Snead said. “So, 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 you have to come in and earn equity, you have to earn trust before you’re going to get a jersey and help us on gameday.”
The fact remains that Simpson is a talented quarterback who can develop over the next few years and become the Rams starting quarterback. At 6-foot-1, 211 pounds, he may not have the prototypical quarterback build, but he can read defenses and make throws that will translate to the NFL. He started only 15 games at Alabama, but his skill and talent are visible. The combination of McVay and Stafford’s experience will undoubtedly get the most out of him and make Simpson a starting quarterback.
