How Rams' trade for Trent McDuffie had negative impact on Ty Simpson in NFL Draft

How Rams' trade for Trent McDuffie had negative impact on Ty Simpson in NFL Draft originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Los Angeles Rams are going all-in for the 2026 NFL season, as they're trying to capitalize on what might end up being the final year of the Hall of Fame career of Matthew Stafford.

At the start of the offseason, the Rams owned two first-rounders at No. 13 and 29 overall. They sent that 29th pick and some other ammo to the Kansas City Chiefs for Trent McDuffie, an All-Pro cornerback, in a smart move for the Rams.

But, as ESPN's Adam Schefter revealed, that trade has some negative unintended consequences for Alabama quarterback prospect Ty Simpson's chances to be a first-rounder.

How Rams trade for Trent McDuffie hurt Ty Simpson

"When the Rams sent the No. 19 pick to the Chiefs in a deal for cornerback Trent McDuffie, it had one unintended consequence that some might not have realized: It hurt the chances that quarterback Ty Simpson would be a first-round pick," Schefter writes.

With the Chiefs now picking at No. 29 overall, the odds Simpson goes in the back-end of the first round have dropped a bit. Patrick Mahomes isn't going anywhere anytime soon, unlike Stafford, who might retire after 2026.