Rams Snag Ty Simpson at 13 After Secret Talks

The Los Angeles Rams used the 13th overall pick in the NFL draft on Thursday, April 25, to select quarterback Ty Simpson, a move the team had worked to keep off other clubs’ radar.

Officials involved in the process deliberately kept the Rams’ pre-draft contact with Simpson out of view, aiming to avoid signaling their intentions in a highly competitive selection environment.

Simpson confirms extensive private talks with Sean McVay

Simpson said on Monday, April 29, that he had held extensive private meetings with Rams coach Sean McVay, despite publicly minimizing those interactions before the draft.

According to Simpson, the conversations with McVay were long and centered on football, reflecting a level of mutual interest that both sides chose not to disclose ahead of time.

The approach, Simpson indicated, was designed to preserve an edge in the draft by limiting what other teams could infer about the Rams’ plans.

Rams frame Simpson as Stafford successor while keeping status quo

McVay has said the Rams view Simpson as a potential successor to current starting quarterback Matthew Stafford.

At the same time, McVay emphasized that Stafford will remain the starter for as long as he wants to continue playing, signaling continuity at the position in the near term.

The Rams’ selection of Simpson therefore sets up a dual-track plan: developing a future option at quarterback while maintaining Stafford as the immediate leader of the offense.

Draft secrecy underscores competitive team-building tactics

The concealed nature of the Rams’ pre-draft engagement with Simpson highlights how teams manage information to protect strategy, particularly when targeting a premium position such as quarterback.

In this case, the Rams and Simpson both participated in downplaying their level of contact, then later acknowledged the depth of their discussions after the pick was made.

With Simpson now in the organization, the Rams have positioned him as a longer-term prospect while publicly reinforcing that Stafford’s role is unchanged in the short run.