Peter Schrager explains 3 reasons why the Rams drafted Ty Simpson
TL;DR
The Los Angeles Rams drafted Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the No. 13 pick due to their strong interest in him, concerns about the Arizona Cardinals potentially selecting him, and the belief they won't land a top quarterback in 2027.
Key points
- Rams drafted Ty Simpson with the No. 13 overall pick
- Concerned Cardinals would take him if they traded back
- Rams believe they won't get a top quarterback in 2027
The Los Angeles Rams' reasons behind taking Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the No. 13 overall pick are starting to get a little clearer.
While it was still a shocking selection, ESPN NFL insider Peter Schrager, who has been pretty plugged in to what the Rams feel, summed up the Rams' three reasons for taking Simpson so early: They love Simpson, knew they'd never be able to draft a top quarterback in 2027, and were worried the Arizona Cardinals would move back to take him.
The Rams have no intention to even be in the consideration to getting one of the quarterbacks in next year's draft. But they really like Ty Simpson in this year's draft, where apparently no other teams were in the market for a quarterback.
So at the 13th pick, they were very concerned that the Arizona Cardinals were going to trade back from three, a few spots, and jump them and take Ty Simpson in the top 12. It turns out the Cardinals were all-in on Jeremiyah Love, weren't concerned about even thinking about getting that high for Ty Simpson.
But the Rams said: 'We already have a first-round pick—that's Trent McDuffie.' We traded the 29th overall pick for one of the best corners in football; we have that in our back pocket. So we can now go and get Ty Simpson, which they did. Which is basically: put him on a layaway plan. You won't even see him this year. Let him learn, put him on the redshirt.
The rationale is understandable, but it might not be enough to win over fans (or head coach Sean McVay). The Rams are basically doing what the Kansas City Chiefs did with Patrick Mahomes in 2017 and what the Green Bay Packers did with Jordan Love in 2021.
The hope, though, is that this situation unfolds in the same way those did and not what happened to the New England Patriots when they drafted Jimmy Garoppolo and the New England Patriots in 2024: Garoppolo never turned into the Patriots' franchise quarterback because Brady played longer than anticipated, so New England traded Garoppolo away.
Matthew Stafford is only expected to play for another one or two seasons, so the runway to get Simpson ready to go is around the same as Mahomes and Love. We'll see which scenario unfolds for L.A.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Peter Schrager explains 3 reasons why the Rams drafted Ty Simpson
Q&A
Why did the Rams draft Ty Simpson with the 13th pick?
The Rams drafted Ty Simpson because they believe in his potential, were worried the Cardinals would take him, and don't expect to find a top quarterback in the next draft.
What concerns did the Rams have about the Arizona Cardinals during the draft?
The Rams were concerned that the Cardinals would trade back and select Ty Simpson before them, prompting the Rams to act quickly.
How does Ty Simpson's drafting compare to Patrick Mahomes and Jordan Love?
The Rams' strategy with Ty Simpson mirrors the Chiefs' approach with Mahomes and the Packers' with Love, as they plan to let him learn before taking the field.
