The Los Angeles Rams had their eyes on Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson late in the first round, but the trade for Trent McDuffie changed all that.
The Los Angeles Rams were reportedly set to bolster their quarterback room in the draft by possibly selecting Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson late in the first round.
However, the trade for All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie in early March changed all that. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Rams were reportedly eyeing Simpson with their No. 29 pick in this year's draft. However, Los Angeles sent that pick to the Kansas City Chiefs in order acquire 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. Had the Rams not traded for McDuffie and held onto No. 29, sources say thatSimpson would have been square in the conversation to land in Los Angeles behind Matthew Stafford ."
Schefter added that if the Rams had kept their No. 29 pick, then Simpson could have been a real possibility to back up Matthew Stafford.
The Rams had two first-round picks entering the month of March, the No. 13 and No. 29 picks. The 13th pick was acquired from the Atlanta Falcons in last year's draft, while the 29th pick is their own pick from this past season.
In total, the Rams have seven draft picks, but there is a real chance that number changes. Los Angeles appears to always have some sort of move up their sleeve, and while they have a chance to select a game-changer at 13, they may do something fans may not expect them to do.
As for Simpson, where he will land remains a mystery. He's widely regarded as the second-best quarterback in this year's draft behind Indiana's Heisman Trophy winner, Fernando Mendoza.
The 23-year-old led the Crimson Tide to the College Football Playoff in his first season as a full-time starter. Prior to the 2025 season, Simpson played in a total of 12 games. His first season was solid, as he was named to the Second-team All-SEC.
Simpson was also a finalist for the Manning Award (nation's top QB, including postseason). In the season, the Tennessee native was seventh in the FBS with 305 completions (473 attempts, 64.5 percent), 10th with 3,567 passing yards (28 touchdowns, five interceptions). Simpson started in all 15 games and was named the team captain.
According to NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein, Simpson draws comparisons to former Crimson Tide quarterback Mac Jones. Simpson has some strong intangibles that could translate well at the next level, including clean, repeatable mechanics, a compact and timely release, and advanced pre-snap command, allowing him to handle protections and adjustments at an NFL level.
Although he showed some promise in his first full-time season under center, Simpson is still a risk, especially as a starter right out of the gate.