What is Les Snead up to? With the 2026 NFL Draft nearly upon us, it’s anyone’s guess what the Los Angeles Rams will do at No. 13 overall. Will they trade up for a top prospect? Move back to add picks? Stay and take a wide receiver?
Todd McShay thinks Snead has bigger plans than sticking and taking a wideout at No. 13, which is why he went a different route for the Rams in his latest mock draft on Wednesday. He has Los Angeles taking Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson 13th overall, citing that he knows the Rams “think extremely highly of him.”
I’m not saying it’s going to happen, but I do believe Ty Simpson goes earlier than expected Thursday night, and I know the Rams think extremely highly of him.
Regardless, I think Les Snead is up to something bigger than sitting at 13 and taking a WR—I’m expecting some kind of fireworks.
Even though there have been numerous reports linking Simpson to the Rams, few have gone as far as predicting they will take the Alabama QB at No. 13. It would certainly be a surprise, especially considering how polarizing Simpson is as a prospect.
Some see him as QB2 behind Fernando Mendoza, while others have him falling all the way out of Round 1. ESPN’s Peter Schrager, for instance, has Simpson dropping to No. 32 in his mock draft from Wednesday.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano said it’s an “open secret” that the Rams like Simpson and as early as No. 13 would be for Simpson to go, Graziano isn’t ruling it out.
“If they truly believe Simpson has the potential to be Stafford’s successor, I don’t think it’s ridiculous to think they could go ahead and take him,” Graziano wrote.
Going back to McShay’s mock, there are a few other stunners in Round 1. He has Jordyn Tyson being the first wide receiver off the board at No. 9, which causes Carnell Tate to fall to the Jets at 16th overall. That seems highly, highly, highly unlikely. Makai Lemon also plummets to No. 24 in this mock.
It’s an outside-the-box mock draft that should be taken with a grain of salt, but as unpredictable as the draft is, anything can happen.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Todd McShay expects ‘fireworks’ from Rams, mocks QB at No. 13
Reporting by Cameron DaSilva, Rams Wire / Rams Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
