What We Know: Simpson's Path to Los Angeles

The 2026 NFL Draft concluded on Saturday, but the conversations surrounding new Rams QB Ty Simpson are continuing to ramp up. Rams HC Sean McVay and GM Les Snead shocked the NFL world when they selected the Alabama signal-caller at thirteenth overall Thursday night.

Many viewed the selection as a reach, and rumors quickly picked up when Sean McVay appeared less than pleased in his post-Day One presser.

Social media blew up, with many asking whether or not McVay wanted Simpson, and if Les Snead 'went rogue' with his selection. Journalists close to the Rams organization debunked this, and many pointed out that the two always worked in lockstep, and would never pick a player without agreeing, especially not on a first round quarterback.

Now, nearly a week later, the details are beginning to come out and the full story is starting to come together. This is what I have gathered so far...

October-November 2025

During the first half of the college football season, Alabama QB Ty Simpson was lighting it up. At one point having a 20-2 TD/INT ratio. He was one of the projected Heisman finalists during this period and was arguably the best quarterback in the country.

Les Snead and Sean McVay took notice. They fell in love with his tape, and kept tabs on him and his stock from this point onward.

December 2025-January 2026

Towards the end of the college football regular season, Simpson's play fell off. He was battered from a full season of football behind a mediocre at best offensive line. He was also struggling with gastritis that caused him to lose nearly 30-lbs.

Despite this, against the Oklahoma Sooners in the first round of the college football playoffs, Simpson led his Crimson Tide team to a miraculous 17-point comeback. 

The next weekend however, it all came to a head and Simpson and his team was eliminated by the Indiana Hoosiers 38-3. Simpson broke a rib during the second quarter and was unable to finish the game.

Following the loss, Simpson and his family debated whether or not he should return to college football for one more season or declare for the 2026 NFL Draft. Simpson had an option for $6.5 million dollars from the Miami Hurricanes should he choose to return.

They elected to consult several analysts and other people in the industry. One of the people they spoke with, was Los Angeles Rams GM Les Snead. Simply put, Snead told Simpson's group that he was a guaranteed first round pick, because he would draft him at pick thirteen.

This, among other factors, convinced Ty Simpson to declare for the Draft.

February-April 2026

During the lead up to the NFL Draft, Sean McVay and Les Snead personally met with Ty Simpson in a closed meeting, lasting four hours. During this, McVay and Simpson talked pure football. In Les Snead's terms, "They spoke way above my knowledge... three levels above what I know."

The exact details around the timeframe of this meeting are unknown, but I assume you could project it would be after the NFL Combine which took place during the last weekend of February.

The Rams organization wanted to keep their liking of Simpson under wraps, hopeful to not alert any QB-needy teams that they were interested. They relayed this to Simpson, who agreed with their terms and followed his part of the script.

Clearly it worked, as practically nobody saw the pick coming before draft day, where some analysts picked up the smoke of the story.

Following the pick, Sean McVay appeared heavily upset in his press availability. This stirred up the already growing rumors, many fueled by his unenergetic draft call to Simpson. 

McVay addressed these rumors during Day 3 of the Draft on Saturday and stated that he was upset by something else, and that he wanted to ensure to the press that Matthew Stafford's seat was safe. 

Obviously, we don't know all the details of this story, and we probably never will. However, I think it's safe to say that the conspiracies stating that McVay didn't want Simpson, or that Snead went rogue are completely false.