Dan Graziano, on Rams (Simpson)
Let's skip a few picks and go with the Rams, who hold the No. 13 pick as a result of last year's trade with Atlanta. They traded their own first-rounder, No. 29, to the Chiefs for cornerback Trent McDuffie. So, No. 13 is the Rams' only pick in the top 60 selections. They haven't made a pick that high since 2016, when they traded up to take quarterback Jared Goff at No. 1, so there isn't a lot on which to base a prediction of what they'll do with this pick. They appear to have a loaded roster and not a ton of immediate needs.
Most mock drafts seem to have the Rams taking a wide receiver, but the last wideout they took in the first round was Tavon Austin in 2013. In the meantime, they've established a good track record of finding wide receivers in later rounds -- Cooper Kupp in the third, Josh Reynolds in the fourth, Puka Nacua in the fifth. You get the idea.
So, if the Rams think they can find the impact receiver in the second round or later, what do they do in the first? Could be anything. Some people are even watching to see if they make a big move up for Love, who would be a very exciting cherry on top of their offensive sundae. There's always the chance they trade down the way they did last year.
And then there's the Ty Simpson factor. The Rams have been connected to the Alabama quarterback in league circles for a while now. It's an open secret that they like him. When they still had the No. 29 pick, they seemed like the team to watch for Simpson. But since No. 13 feels too soon to take him, that talk has quieted down. Now, many wonder if Simpson could tumble out of the first round entirely.
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But as I said, the Rams don't appear to have any crying needs for which the 13th pick could help them in their effort to win the Super Bowl at home. So, could they trade down from No. 13 and still take Simpson later in the round? Possibly. Could they just bite the bullet and take Simpson at No. 13 if they like him that much? Unlikely, but again, this is a tough team to predict.
If the Rams take Simpson in the first round, they're likely to face criticism for not finding immediate help for a win-now team with 38-year-old reigning MVP Matthew Stafford at quarterback. But would they care? This is the "F--- them picks" franchise, remember? If Los Angeles truly believes Simpson has the potential to be Stafford's successor, I don't think it's ridiculous to think it could go ahead and take him.
Add in that division-rival Arizona -- which many believe is the real team to watch for Simpson -- holds the 34th pick and would be a candidate to either draft him there or trade back into the first round to land him and it makes the Rams/Simpson theories a little bit spicier.
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