Ty Simpson Reportedly Given 3rd-Round Grade by Rams' Division Rival Before 2026 NFL Draft

While the Los Angeles Rams may have thought Ty Simpson was worth taking in the first round, that may not have been the consensus among other NFL teams.

ESPN's Brady Henderson reported on NFL Live on Wednesday that the Seattle Seahawks gave Simpson a third-round grade heading into the draft.

"They had a third-round grade on Ty Simpson, and as you know, sometimes teams will kind of squirm and get nervous when a team in their division drafts a player," Henderson said (1:00 mark). "I can tell you, this was not the case with the Seahawks and Ty Simpson."

Simpson had a strong season as Alabama's starting quarterback as he threw for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns and five interceptions, but it's fair to say that some were surprised to see him taken with the No. 13 pick.

That pick was especially surprising given that Los Angeles already has an established quarterback in Matthew Stafford.

The Rams might be playing the long game, drafting Stafford's replacement as they anticipate his eventual retirement. If that's the case, a few years playing behind Stafford could lead to Simpson being a great starting option one day.