Latest NFL Rumors on Ty Simpson, Rams Amid Landing Spot Buzz Ahead of 2026 Draft

Ahead of the first round of the 2026 NFL draft on Thursday, the Los Angeles Rams are being linked to a potential successor for the reigning NFL MVP in quarterback Matthew Stafford.

According to ESPN's Dan Graziano, it is "an open secret" in league circles that the Rams covet Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, although talk of the Rams taking him have quieted ever since they traded the No. 29 overall pick to the Kansas City Chiefs in a deal for cornerback Trent McDuffie.

The Rams still own the No. 13 overall pick in the draft, though, giving them the ammo to land Simpson if they so choose.

Graziano noted that although it seems "unlikely" that the Rams will take Simpson 13th overall, they could opt to trade down in order to take him while also adding more picks.

It was also pointed out by Graziano that the Rams' NFC South rivals, the Arizona Cardinals, are widely viewed as a strong candidate to take Simpson since they own the No. 34 overall pick and possess the ammo needed to trade back up into the end of the first round in order to take him.

Ty Simpson highlights

00:57

Simpson to Arizona has been a popular pick in recent mock drafts, as ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. has the Cards trading up to No. 30 to take him, and ESPN's Peter Schrager projected an Arizona trade up to No. 32 to land Simpson.

The BR NFL Scouting Department projected the Cardinals to stand pat and secure Simpson at No. 34 in the second round in its latest mock as well.

Todd McShay of The Ringer is standing out from the crowd, as his newest mock boldly projected the Rams to take Simpson 13th overall.

Echoing Graziano's report, McShay wrote that the Rams "think extremely highly" of Simpson.

While taking a quarterback 13th overall would be somewhat controversial since Stafford won NFL MVP and led the Rams to the NFC Championship Game last season, he is 38 years of age.

The Rams may not have another opportunity to take the second-best quarterback in a draft class in the near future, which perhaps makes the idea of selecting Simpson and allowing him to learn behind a future Hall of Famer an enticing one.