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SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JANUARY 25: Head coach Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams looks on during the second quarter against the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship game at Lumen Field on January 25, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Rams are in a unique position in the upcoming NFL draft. Following free agency, the Rams don’t really have any weaknesses on their roster, yet they still have the No. 13 overall pick thanks to a draft-day trade with the Falcons last year. Los Angeles attacked the cornerback position aggressively and made sure to bring back their in-house safeties — before, the Rams’ secondary was the team’s obvious weakness. Now, not so much.
Because the Rams don’t have any obvious holes to address, the long-term situation at quarterback has come up. Reigning MVP Matthew Stafford is back for another year, but this one might be his last. He could return for another year or even two after the 2026 season, but at some point Los Angeles will need to address the future of the position.
Armed with the No. 13 pick, one much higher than the Rams are expected to be picking again anytime soon, it presents them with an interesting opportunity.
The Los Angeles Rams May Not Be a Fit for a Top Quarterback Prospect After All
GettyPASADENA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 01: Ty Simpson #15 of the Alabama Crimson Tide calls out instructions in the second quarter against the Indiana Hoosiers in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at Rose Bowl Stadium on January 01, 2026 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
This isn’t the strongest quarterback class. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza is an elite talent and will go No. 1 overall to the Raiders. Beyond him, however, there aren’t any passer expected to go in the top 10.
The wild card in the class is Alabama’s Ty Simpson. Due to positional demand, he’s almost certain to go in the first round, but most evaluators don’t have him with a first-round grade (myself included). Reports consistently come in that he’s expected to go on Day 1, and he’s undeniably talented (if still somewhat raw). Finding a landing spot for him can be tricky, and the Rams are often connected to him.
On the surface, that makes sense. Los Angeles needs a starter after Stafford retires, and Simpson could sit behind him for a season or two to continue developing and learning. But one analyst pushed back on that connection.
“Of all the potential Ty Simpson landing spots, the one I just can’t get my head around is the Rams,” Ben Solak wrote on Friday. “No doubt he’s a ‘scheme fit.’ But the whole lesson of flipping [Jared] Goff for Stafford was what superior traits unlocks for [Rams HC Sean] McVay’s offense. Simpson would be a U-turn [in my opinion].”
When one commenter pointed out that Simpson has superior traits to Stetson Bennett and Jimmy Garoppolo, two quarterbacks McVay signed in recent seasons to back up Stafford, Solak responded, “What you look for in a QB2 is dramatically different than what you look for in a QB1 in my opinion.”
So What Will the Los Angeles Rams Do at No. 13?
That’s the big question. The Rams can go true best player available, and they could even look to trade up into the top 10 if a prospect like Miami ED Rueben Bain Jr. or Ohio State LB Sonny Styles were to take a small fall.
At No. 13, Los Angeles could look to draft someone like Oregon S Dillon Thieneman, Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson, or Utah OT Spencer Fano. Any of those prospects, among others, would be incredible additions to this roster.
Ethan Woodie is an accomplished sports writer specializing in the NFL and college football for Heavy.com. He’s written for Heavy since 2025 and has years of experience writing for NFL Trade Rumors and Pro Football Focus (PFF). Woodie is an expert in draft scouting and his final 2025 Big Board was included in Arif Hasan’s media consensus board for Wide Left. More about Ethan Woodie
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