Rams select QB Ty Simpson with No. 13 pick in NFL draft

Los Angeles Rams selected quarterback ty simpson With the 13th pick in the NFL Draft Thursday night.

Simpson, 23, has become a potential successor in L.A. Matthew StaffordWhich is entering its 18th season. The 38-year-old Stafford, who will win the NFL’s MVP award in 2025, has not said how long he intends to play.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Rams coach Sean McVay told Stafford on Thursday about the team’s plan to take Simpson at No. 13, which they acquired from Simpson. Falcon During the 2025 NFL Draft.

At the NFL’s annual league meeting in March, McVay joked that he “never” thinks about life after Stafford, before saying that the Rams think about it in the “short and long term.”

“Two of the greatest minds in the offense, especially Coach McVay and the quarterback from an offensive standpoint,” Simpson told ESPN after being selected by the Rams. “And then Matthews is one of the greatest players of all time. So, I’m looking forward to it.”

The Rams are the first team to have a quarterback win MVP, then draft a quarterback in the first round of the next NFL Draft. green Bay Packers In 1967; Bart Starr won MVP in 1966 and Green Bay drafted Don Horn 25th overall the following year.

The Rams have not selected a quarterback in the first round since trading up to draft Jared Goff in 2016. According to ESPN Research, Simpson is the third quarterback taken by the Rams in the first round in the regular draft era, joining No. 1 overall pick Goff and Sam Bradford (2010).

last season alabamaSimpson completed 64.5% of his passes for 3,567 yards and 28 touchdowns. He was widely considered the second-best quarterback in the draft. of indiana Fernando Mendozawhich was drafted las vegas raiders With the No. 1 pick.

But Simpson lacks experience; His 15 career college starts are the fourth fewest by any first-round QB in the last 25 years.

Schefter reported earlier this week that the Rams were “looking” at Simpson with the 29th pick before trading that pick in early March. kansas city chiefs As part of a package to acquire the cornerback. Trent McDuffie.

With Stafford, the Rams have a quarterback Stetson Bennett IV On their roster. Bennett, who served as Los Angeles’ third-string quarterback the past two seasons, was a fourth-round pick in 2023.