A key trade scuttled Alabama QB Ty Simpson's first-round NFL Draft hopes, shifting his potential landing spot and igniting a late-round scramble.
Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson is considered by most people not named Dan Orlovsky to be the second-best signal caller in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is expected to be the No. 1 player taken on Thursday night in the first round. Then it could be a while before another quarterback is taken.
Simpson was considered to be on the bubble of being a first-round pick. There are plenty of quarterback-needy teams in the NFL, but most executives are down on the 2026 class.
Simpson appeared to be making headway to be a first round pick in late March and early April. However, the former Alabama quarterback might have to wait until Friday to hear his name called.
Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Los Angeles Rams were considering taking Simpson late in the first round as a potential successor to Matthew Stafford.
That changed when the Rams sent the Kansas City Chiefs the No. 29 pick for cornerback Trent McDuffie.
"League sources say the Rams had been eyeing him, but more so with the No. 29 pick than No. 13, which they still hold," Schefter wrote.
"Had the Rams not traded for McDuffie and held onto No. 29, sources say that Simpson would have been square in the conversation to land in Los Angeles behind Matthew Stafford."
Los Ángeles has the No. 13 pick in the first round, but Simpson would not likely be taken with that pick. The Rams would likely take a pass catcher that high, or they could potentially trade back if Simpson were in their plans.
Los Ángeles has the No. 61 pick as well, but Simpson will likely be drafted by then.
Schefter is reporting that the New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals appear to have the most interest in drafting Simpson. New York has the No. 16 and No. 33 draft picks.
The Cardinals have the No. 34 pick, which could set up some potential fireworks near the end of Thursday night.
What could make Simpson a first-round pick is if the Cardinals want to make a trade to move up before the No. 33 pick to take the quarterback.