Rams Draft Ty Simpson, Trade for Trent McDuffie

The Los Angeles Rams secured quarterback Ty Simpson with the thirteenth pick in the 2026 NFL draft, primarily to prevent him from joining their NFC West rival, the Arizona Cardinals. The Rams, aware of the Cardinals interest in Simpson at the thirty-fourth spot, acted swiftly to avoid facing him twice a year in division games. The Rams planned to develop Simpson as a backup, even if Jimmy Garoppolo returned. The team kept their interest quiet to deter other teams from trading up and claiming him first. The Rams coach, Sean McVay, mentioned that the pick alleviates the pressure to re-sign Garoppolo, though the door isnt entirely closed. Instead of waiting for top cornerbacks to fall to the thirteenth pick, the Rams traded a package including their twenty-ninth pick to acquire and extend veteran corner Trent McDuffie. The Cardinals, in response, selected Miamis Carson Beck in the third round, still seeking a starter with Jacoby Brissetts contract expiring. The Rams now rely on McDuffie for immediate wins while Simpson develops into a potential successor for Matthew Stafford in the future. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/d2a52f0994bb2a98