It’s mock draft season! We are roughly two months out from the event of the offseason.
Anticipation will be high for the Los Angeles Rams. They hold two first round picks. After LA fell just short of reaching the Super Bowl, they could be in place to contend again with a few right moves.
One popular pick that is picking up steam for the Rams at #13 overall—the selection received from the Atlanta Falcons in last year’s draft day trade—is quarterback Ty Simpson of Alabama.
Todd McShay most recently pointed out the match in his first round mock version 2.0:
13. Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta): QB Ty Simpson, Alabama
Wait for it. If the draft were today, I wouldn’t put Simpson in this spot. But history tells me that he will rise. Simpson’s smart, he stayed for four years at Alabama, and he’s the son of lifelong football coach Jason Simpson, who’s been the HC at UT Martin for the past 20 years. Much has been made of his lack of starting experience, but this guy grew up around ball and knows the game better than most quarterbacks at this career stage. On the field, I love Simpson’s pocket manipulation, anticipation as a passer, toughness, smarts, fast eyes, and competitiveness. He also has a stronger arm and is more mobile than people give him credit for. Plus, his tape through nine games was the best of any QB in the country—and I’ll debate that with anyone. I’ll be honest: I want this for Simpson. Sean McVay is a proven quarterback developer, and Simpson would have time—with at least a season to sit behind Matthew Stafford—to watch and learn. Maybe it will be later in the first round at pick 29. Maybe it won’t happen at all. But I love this fit.
The NFL Stock Exchange podcast from Trevor Sikkema and Connor Rogers also pointed out that the pairing of the Rams and Simpson make sense. You watch see the full mock here:
It shouldn’t be surprising that draft analysts are matching the Rams and Simpson. Even when LA acquired the additional first round pick last year it seemed like the intent was to accumulate draft capital to one day move up for the heir to Matthew Stafford. Did Les Snead expect the Falcons’ pick to land at #13 overall? Probably not, but it was more likely than Atlanta probably wanted to believe.
Now the Rams’ future quarterback may fall into their lap without requiring a trade up. It’s a worthwhile gamble if the team does believe that Simpson has a worthwhile NFL future.
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