Rams given head-scratching NFL Draft grade for shocking Ty Simpson pick

Rams given head-scratching NFL Draft grade for shocking Ty Simpson pick originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

>The Los Angeles Rams really did it.

>There was at least a bit of speculation that they may take a QB at some point during the 2026 NFL Draft. Matthew Stafford isn't getting younger, and Jimmy Garoppolo is contemplating retirement.

>But at the 13th overall pick?

>Their decision to use that spot on Ty Simpson was the shocker of Thursday night's first round.

>It also wasn't a highly regarded selection by The Sporting News' senior NFL writer Vinnie Iyer, who gave the pick a 'D' grade.

>"The Rams make the biggest early head-scratcher, going for a luxury QB stash pick behind reigning NFL MVP QB Matthew Stafford playing at the highest level of his career in Sean McVay's offense," Iyer writes. "Simpson has a lot of smarts and accuracy but he is a long way away from being a reliable and effective winning starter with his limited college starting experience. Even if Stafford would retire next year, it's a huge reach for a Super Bowl favorite that needed more immediate impact at several other positions."

>It might be good that Simpson gets to sit and learn behind Stafford, but the larger point is fair: The Rams have a good team and didn't make it immediately better with this pick.

>The Rams' point of view makes some sense, though, too.

>This was a bit of a bonus pick that they got from the Atlanta Falcons. They had already traded their own first-rounder, No. 29, to the Chiefs to get Trent McDuffie.

>Essentially, they used the 29th pick on a player who could help now, and then this pick from the Falcons on a player for the future.

>Will it work? Only time will tell.