Rams Snag Simpson, Cardinals Grab Love

0:00On April 24th, the Arizona Cardinals had their eyes locked on Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, heading into the draft, but it was divisional rival, Los A. Angela's Rams, who snagged him at the 13th overall pick. Everyone figured Simpson might land in the desert as a long-term fix for Kyler Murray, with GM Matti Austin Ford digging his game since late in the 2025 season. New head coach Michael Flore's system seemed like a perfect fit, especially since his mentor, Sean McVeigh, runs the show in LA. Reports say league folks thought Arizona could grab Simpson later in the first round, or at their 34th pick in Round 2. Turns out, Simpson himself preferred the Rams for their winning vibe, McVeigh's brain trust, and Matthew Stafford holding down the fort. Fans and scouts are split on Simpson. He flashes big throws and mobility. But his size just under 6 foot 2 and 211 pounds raises. Flags, echoing Kyler Murray debates. More than that, his tiny sample of just 15 college starts as folks nervous, putting him in shaky company with guys like Anthony Richardson, Mitchell Tribisky, and Duane Haskins.

1:09The Rams gives Simpson a soft landing, letting him learn behind Stafford in a proven setup, while Arizona is still figuring out their offense with. Jacobi presets starting and no real bridge. Forcing a raw rookie into the fire, there could have been messy, especially with no established system yet. Cardinals pivoted smart by grabbing star running back Jeremiah Love instead, dodging a rush QB gamble in buying time to hunt the right franchise. Arm down the line. That's your update from NFL News Today, powered by AI.