Mel Kiper Jr. flames Rams draft, says Ty Simpson pick 'makes little sense' originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Rams, with Matthew Stafford coming back and the team looking poised for an all-in season with a very real chance at the Super Bowl, had the No. 13 pick in the NFL Draft to select an instant-impact player.
Instead, they shocked the world by taking Ty Simpson, the Alabama quarterback, at the 13th pick. It wasn't just a shocker; it was a move that drew heavy criticism from fans and media alike.
After their 2026 NFL Draft was over, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. flamed Les Snead and Sean McVay over this selection of Simpson, saying it "makes little sense" and handing the team a C+ grade for their 2026 NFL Draft class.
"This still makes little sense," Kiper writes. "When Los Angeles got on the clock at No. 13, Monroe Freeling and Blake Miller were there. Makai Lemon, whom I projected to the Rams in my final mock draft, was still there. It was all lining up for coach Sean McVay and the Rams. But then Los Angeles shocked everyone and took Ty Simpson."
The Rams taking Simpson is a massive blow for their draft grade, and is a move that Kiper still cannot wrap his head around. And it's a move that's hard to comprehend in general, especially with wide receiver Makai Lemon on the board still.
Having a succession plan for Stafford makes sense. There were far better ways to go about it than taking Simpson in the first round.
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If they went Drew Allar in Round 3, or Garrett Nussmeier on Day 3, there wouldn't be much consternation over their quarterback plan. But, using a premium pick at No. 13 overall is baffling.
Even if tight end Max Klare, offensive tackle Keagan Trost, WR CJ Daniels, and defensive tackle Tim Keenan III play well, this draft will be looked at as a huge missed opportunity if Simpson doesn't turn into a star, or if the Rams don't win the Super Bowl.
This decision from the Rams made Kiper only able to give them a C+ at best, and yet, it's still somehow a higher grade than what the NFC West rival San Francisco 49ers, got with their C grade.
But the Rams' 2026 NFL Draft could be looked back on as an all-time blunder, one that could come back to haunt the franchise for many years to come.
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