The 2026 NFL Draft might not have had the juice that some other recent draft classes have had, but there were still several enticing storylines that developed around the league over the three-day event this weekend. No storyline had people around the league buzzing more than what the Los Angeles Rams did with the 13th overall pick, though.
After the Rams surprisingly took Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with their first-round pick, we asked several people around the NFL why the move could’ve made sense for Los Angeles. We also asked our sources across the league who they think won the draft, which pick was the biggest steal and what might come next this offseason.
So, here’s what we learned after speaking with executives, scouts and even a player.
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Why Ty Simpson pick makes sense for Rams
Eric D. Williams: Sean McVay was not his usual chipper self when addressing reporters after the Los Angeles Rams selected the heir apparent to MVP Matthew Stafford with the surprise pick of the draft.
In a much better mood on the second day of the draft, McVay acknowledged he was “grumpy.” And for good reason, having to tell Stafford the Rams were taking a quarterback in the opening round instead of an impact player that could help the Rams in their quest to win another Super Bowl as the current betting favorite to win the big game.
“Let’s make one thing clear, this is Matthew’s team,” a stoic McVay said on Thursday night.
While acknowledging that Stafford wasn’t necessarily thrilled by the selection, McVay said the No. 13 pick was essentially an extra pick achieved by trading down last year with the Atlanta Falcons so they could take edge rusher James Pearce Jr. in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Rams moved down to the second round and selected tight end Terrance Ferguson, who McVay said they would have taken in the first round had they stayed and picked.
“To move back and to still get the guy that we wanted, and then to basically be able to get an extra pick,” McVay said. “And then oh by the way, with your original one, go get a player like [cornerback] Trent McDuffie. … We’re all the time going to make choices that we predict are greatest for the brief and the long run. We will probably be excited to have the ability to get to work with him. That’s the place we’re at.”
Ty Simpson is the winner of 2026 NFL Draft with Rams drafting him at No. 13
League sources I spoke with agreed that the transfer was prudent for the Rams, deciding on a possible quarterback of the long run within the first spherical when contemplating Stafford’s age and damage historical past. Nonetheless, these sources additionally had considerations with how Stafford would react to the state of affairs, much like a prickly Aaron Rodgers coping with the Inexperienced Bay Packers deciding on Jordan Love within the first spherical, and the chance price misplaced by not deciding on an affect participant who might help the Rams chase a Tremendous Bowl now, like USC receiver Makai Lemon.
“They gave him a heads up it may occur,” an NFL personnel govt who has been in the same state of affairs instructed me. “It’s roster-building transfer when you might have a 38-year-old quarterback with an unpredictable again.”
The personnel govt additionally pointed to the Rams utilizing their unique first-round choice, together with third, fifth and sixth-round picks, to safe Kansas Metropolis Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie in a commerce earlier than the draft, an apparent want the place the Rams struggled within the NFC Championship loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
“They bought McDuffie,” the personnel govt stated. “He’ll assist far more proper now than a rookie at any place.”
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NFL participant wonders what Rams’ decide of Ty Simpson means for Sean McVay
Williams: An NFL participant I spoke with not solely questioned in regards to the affect the drafting of Simpson can have on Stafford, who nonetheless has one yr left on his contract at $40 million this yr and is at the moment in negotiations engaged on extending a brand new deal, but in addition for McVay.
“The McVay angle is fascinating, as a result of if he’s not planning on sticking round, that is basically a decide for the following head coach,” the participant stated. “However possibly it is a strategy to get him enthusiastic about staying and never using off into the sundown with Matthew.”
McVay, 40, has publicly flirted with retirement previously. There have been a number of offseasons following the Rams’ Tremendous Bowl-winning 2021 season wherein his future gave the impression to be unsure, however he and common supervisor Les Snead signed extensions in February.
As for the Rams’ long-term plan at quarterback, McVay stated the 38-year-old Stafford is his quarterback for so long as he needs to play. McVay wished Jimmy Garoppolo to return because the group’s backup, however he’s mulling retirement. McVay stated Simpson will compete with Stetson Bennett for the backup job.
Are Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford’s future connected to the hip? (Picture by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-Information by way of Getty Pictures)
Whereas the participant I spoke with believes Simpson was a first-round decide, evaluations have been blended on whether or not he may very well be a viable, long-term starter within the NFL. The participant I spoke with thought No. 13 was a bit wealthy for Simpson and questioned in regards to the affect the choice would have on Stafford’s long-term relationship with McVay and the remainder of the group.
“I’m not shocked he was a first-rounder, however I’m shocked they took him at 13,” the participant stated. “May they’ve traded down and picked him later? The factor that’s clear is that this: It’s the very best factor that would’ve ever occurred to Ty Simpson. He will get to have at the very least one season with Matthew Stafford and be coached by Sean.
“I’ve to consider Matthew Stafford isn’t that enthusiastic about it, although. Nothing towards Ty, but it surely certain could be good to get a first-rounder that may show you how to go win a Tremendous Bowl. It jogs my memory just a little little bit of how Steve Younger most likely felt when the 49ers drafted Jim Druckenmiller.”
Added one other league supply: “I believe he will probably be backup or low-end starter. Loads like Drew Lock or Jacoby Brissett.”
The Rams additionally profit from Stafford’s willingness to take much less cash than he’s price. Stafford’s $40 million annual wage is 14th amongst quarterbacks. A part of the rationale Stafford takes much less is to permit the Rams so as to add extra expertise of their Tremendous Bowl window.
However how does Stafford really feel nice in regards to the franchise utilizing his monetary flexibility in including a backup quarterback within the first spherical as an alternative of a receiver that may assist him transfer the soccer on recreation days, notably as he negotiates a brand new deal?
“Given his expertise on this league, he is aware of the way it works and I believe that’s actually cool,” stated Tony Pastoors, the Rams COO and chief contract negotiator, after I requested in regards to the flexibility that Stafford’s contract gives on the annual NFL homeowners conferences final month. “It does permit us to do some issues – add Trent McDuffie and a few of these issues – as a result of Matthew understands the mechanisms. He’s prepared to work with you to assist create that flexibility as a result of Matthew needs to win. His aim isn’t any totally different than ours, and that’s to deliver one other Lombardi again to L.A.”
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Usual Jets? Or can one other ‘nice’ draft lastly result in some wins?
Ralph Vacchiano: The Jets had a powerful draft that bought good opinions, particularly within the first spherical, the place they doubtless landed three starters and sure affect gamers. Possibly that’s sufficient to lastly jump-start their rebuilding mission and make them aggressive.
Then once more, haven’t we heard all this earlier than?
“The issue with the Jets is we are saying the identical factor each few years,” one rival NFL govt instructed me. “They’ve a transformative draft. They get some severe gamers. Then, just a few years later, they blow all of it up and begin over once more.”
Working example: The 2022 Jets draft, which netted them cornerback Sauce Gardner, large receiver Garrett Wilson and edge rusher Jermaine Johnson in Spherical 1 and operating again Breece Corridor in Spherical 2. That was alleged to be their core of the long run. However they’ve gone 22-46 since then, and a brand new common supervisor and coach traded Gardner and Johnson away.
Will David Bailey be the one to assist the Jets get out of purgatory and make the playoffs after the group took him with the No. 2 general decide? (Picture by Emilee Chinn/Getty Pictures)
Will or not it’s any totally different with the Jets’ Class of 2026, which included three first-rounders — edge David Bailey (at No. 2), tight finish Kenyon Sadiq (No. 16) and large receiver Omar Cooper (No. 31), plus cornerback D’Angelo Ponds within the second spherical?
“It’s exhausting to not do effectively when you might have excessive picks, and while you commerce away loads of gamers for extra picks,” one scout instructed me. “However I do like that group. With these 4 and all of the adjustments they made on protection in free company, they’ve the items to be aggressive.
“However additionally they have the identical downside they all the time have: No quarterback. Till they clear up that place, they gained’t get anyplace.
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How a lot did the Giants love Jeremiyah Love? Possibly sufficient to take him at 5
Vacchiano: The Giants have been shocked that edge rusher Arvell Reese was out there for them to take with the No. 5 decide within the draft. They anticipated him to go within the prime 4, partially as a result of, as GM Joe Schoen revealed, he was the top-rated non-quarterback on their draft board.
However not by a lot. Working again Jeremiyah Love, who was taken by the Cardinals at No. 3, had “mainly the identical grade” as Reese, a group supply instructed me.
So what would’ve occurred if each Reese and Love had been out there at 5?
We might by no means know, however the inside debate within the run-up to the draft had been fascinating. Love clearly had some robust assist within the Giants group, and Harbaugh was believed to be one among his greatest boosters. The coach had a strong dashing assault in Baltimore behind Derrick Henry, and he needs to rebuild that sort of offense in New York.
Jeremiyah Love was chosen by the Cardinals with the third decide. Would he have ended up with the Giants if he fell to No. 5? (Picture by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Pictures)
However there are others within the group who consider strongly in “positional worth” — notably Schoen, who was assumed by most to favor Reese. The fifth decide within the draft will get a contract price a assured $47.8 million. That’s $11.8 million extra assured than any operating again has ever gotten earlier than.
“It’s a horrible use of belongings,” one common supervisor instructed me. “Clearly, you will discover 1,000-yard rushers for a lot much less. You need to actually consider [Love] is a Corridor of Fame expertise and may remodel your group instantly. As a result of financially, you’re saying he’s 33% higher than [Saquon] Barkley. And he’s not.”
“I don’t know what the Giants would have executed,” a scout instructed me. “However typically you simply must take the expertise and ignore the fee. He’s a particular operating again. Neglect the funds. It’s about: What can he do for you?”
That’s most likely the controversy the Giants have been having for weeks. The Cardinals prevented the world from discovering out how it might have turned out.
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Cowboys might need gotten the ‘steal’ of the draft
Vacchiano: Jerry Jones referred to as security Caleb Downs a “prize” that they couldn’t go up once they noticed him falling within the first spherical. That’s why he traded two fifth-round picks to the Dolphins to maneuver up from 12 to 11 to get him.
That was a small value to pay for a participant that a number of NFL sources told me was a “steal.”
“I do know he was the highest [non-quarterback] on just a few boards across the league,” one scout instructed me. “I get that no one needs to draft a security excessive, however this dude is greater than a security. He’s a weapon again there. He’s Kyle Hamilton (the Ravens’ three-time All-Professional), solely possibly extra explosive.”
“They bought some severe worth that far down,” a common supervisor instructed me. “I do know you needed to take the sting rushers first, however he’s extra of a distinction maker than Sonny Types (the linebacker that went to Washington at 7). He can cowl, he can blitz, he can play the run. You may deploy him like a nook or a linebacker. He can do all of it.
“I’m certain the Commanders and Giants are pleased with who they bought,” an NFL defensive coordinator instructed me. “However they’re going to hate having to play towards this man twice a yr.”
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Bye-bye A.J. Brown: Eagles draft made it clear they’ll be buying and selling their No. 1 receiver
Vacchiano: The A.J. Brown commerce to the New England Patriots has been rumored for months, even because the Philadelphia Eagles have tried to downplay the chance. They have been dismissive of it once they signed veteran large receiver Hollywood Brown. And so they brushed it off once they traded for large receiver Dontayvion Wicks.
However after they traded up within the first spherical to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers to USC large receiver Makai Lemon, there’s virtually no level in denying it now.
“I suppose the one query is what they’ll get,” an NFL assistant common supervisor instructed me. “And possibly whether or not another person, just like the Rams, swoops in on the final minute and presents a greater deal.
“However I inform you what: It certain could be fascinating in the event that they don’t commerce him. We all know they will run. I’m certain the road will probably be higher than final yr. It’s the passing recreation that they haven’t actually been capable of work persistently the previous few years. A few of that’s as a result of they’ve by no means had a dependable third receiver. It’s been all Brown and [DeVonta] Smith.
“Nicely, now they’ve bought Wicks, Lemon, possibly Hollywood to stretch the sector. That’s greater than sufficient with out Brown. However they certain could be harmful in the event that they saved him.”
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Garrett Nussmeier’s lengthy wait might need an enormous payoff
Vacchiano: Heading into the draft, it seemed like LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier could be the third or fourth quarterback taken. Some thought he had an opportunity to go as early because the third spherical. As a substitute, 9 quarterbacks have been taken earlier than him, together with Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis. He wasn’t picked till the seventh spherical and with the 249th general decide.
However he might have landed within the excellent spot. He was taken by the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, giving him an opportunity to study from Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes.
“If he has any capability to play on this league, that’s the place for him,” one scout instructed me. “No one’s higher than [Reid.] That child will sit for 4 years, however he’s going to study a ton.”
Nussmeier dropped within the draft principally as a result of medical assessments on the mix reportedly revealed a cyst on his backbone, which prompted the indirect ache he performed by most of final season. He may have a medical process, which is able to hold him out two-to-three weeks, however he’s anticipated to be able to go for the beginning of camp.
“I believe the medical factor simply put it excessive for lots of groups,” one common supervisor instructed me. “He had some mechanical points and I heard a few of his interviews weren’t nice. Put that along with his play final season after which the [cyst] and it gave groups a cause to go.”
