National Football League

[Nomad]

Rams decided not to wait for the next draft to get their QB. Was it a reach ?

No....not when ownership wants to move on from Stafford this year. Lol.

 

[movingtarget]

No....not when ownership wants to move on from Stafford this year. Lol.

Judging by the reaction from McVay at the presser. he didn't want Simpson. The GM did. No wonder Shanahan and Lynch were smiling when asked about it !

 

[Nomad]

I saw a report today where the GM (Les Snead) talked to Simpson earlier in the year about coming out for the draft (convincing him he's 1st rd talent). Supposedly, Simpson was apprehensive about coming out because he would get about $6.5M in NIL money if he stayed another year at Bama. I also heard Kroenke was pissed that the team failed to get the SB last year (imagine that - an owner mad that his team didn't meet expectations. Lol).

 

[SHAD0W93]

I wonder if Mcvay is on his way out or they’re trying to keep him by showing Stafford has a replacement.

Chiefs going all in on defense. Then Dolphins unsurprising per usual.

 

[Nomad]

Another shocker -- Steelers take Drew Allar at 76 passing on All-American safety A.J. Haulcy! (Colts @ 78). Allar was the 4th QB off the board (Beck to Cardinals @ 65) & was projected as only a day 3 pick. This is Rodgers' replacement & future franchise QB (they're definitely not sold on Howard with this move). Of note, Allar has the strongest arm in this class (often compared to Allen) & elite size (6'5", 230). If Rodgers comes back, it'll be interesting to see how motivated he is in mentoring to Allar. Lol.

What does the Drew Allar pick mean for the Steelers and Aaron Rodgers?

As Steelers fans wait for a certain 42-year-old quarterback to decide whether he wants to be a Steeler again, the Steelers have added another quarterback.

www.nbcsports.com

 

[Nomad]

Another surprise with the Jets trading up 18 spots in the 4th rd drafting Cade Klubnik as the 5th QB taken (this is the 10th QB drafted by the Jets since 2010). He'll be competing against Cook & Zappe for the backup job.

 https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/48591133/jets-move-4th-round-take-clemson-qb-cade-klubnik

Cole Payton of NDSU is the first dual-threat drafted going to the Eagles in the 5th. He's built like Hurts & plays a similar style (he'll be challenging Dalton & McKee for backup).

What's with Cleveland drafting another QB? (Taylon Green/5th rd).

Broncos first pick wasn't until the 3rd rd drafting Tyler Onyedim - a good size DT that should make the team & play in the rotation. They had a few other picks in the later rounds (TE, RB & OT) and got this year's "Mr. Irrelevant" pick (Red Murdock/LB).

Some interesting facts:

- 27 WRs were drafted in rounds 1-5 (most since 1967).

- 17 TEs were drafted in rounds 1-5 (also most since 1967).

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

I can't get my head around Simpson going to the Rams early either. Except maybe GM Sneed and owner Stan Kroenke see the end of Stafford. If not week 1, but if he doesn't have another elite season, and Simpson looks good and picks things up by mid-season, the Rams move on sooner rather than later. But Simpson is yet another one of these players who didn't have a lot of snaps or starts in college.

Allar has real accuracy and decision making issues. But that doesn't mean he isn't better than Howard. I think Aaron Rodgers is done at this point. I see no reason for the Steelers waiting for him, or calling him. And if he does come back, I'd let him know straight up the starting job isn't guaranteed his, and he needs to get ready for a supporting role like is Cousins is happy to do in Vegas (and Stafford expected to do in LA?)

Jets are one team who completely loaded up. I'm not saying every pick was a winner, but they went with a lot of BPA, which worked as they needed a lot of players.

Diego Pavia not drafted. I think the fact he didn't hire an agent may big the biggest reason. He also has some personality so an agent could have focus that on the positive, not make it seem like he has a huge ego. And it could have helped get him some small sponsorship deals, that now may be gone as well. I mean, the Commanders drafted some guy named Athan Kaliakmanis, but not Pavia.

Jermod McCoy was once considered a sure 1st round pick, but a complex ACL surgery pushed him all the way to the Raiders drafting him in the top of the 4th round. Could be a huge steal, or may never make it in the NFL. Raiders also sent former 1st round pick Tyree Wilson to the Saints (Wilson hasn't busted, but been sub average, quite disappointing).

 

[movingtarget]

Interesting to see the Chiefs pick up the QB Garrett Nussmeier in the 7th round. Lots of people seemed to be baffled by the Rams picking Simpson so early while ignoring a lot of other talent still on the board. Sounds like the Rams may have got some intell that another team was targeting Simpson and they couldn't wait until their next pick. It's not as if Stafford has dropped off much and he's been pretty healthy the past few seasons.. Think they might have wasted a 1st round pick and might have to pick another QB next draft The Bigger problem for them might be Nacua who they rely on a lot at WR. He seems to have gone off the rails lately and is currently in rehab.

 

[Potomac]

Another shocker -- Steelers take Drew Allar at 76 passing on All-American safety A.J. Haulcy! (Colts @ 78). Allar was the 4th QB off the board (Beck to Cardinals @ 65) & was projected as only a day 3 pick. This is Rodgers' replacement & future franchise QB (they're definitely not sold on Howard with this move). Of note, Allar has the strongest arm in this class (often compared to Allen) & elite size (6'5", 230). If Rodgers comes back, it'll be interesting to see how motivated he is in mentoring to Allar. Lol.

What does the Drew Allar pick mean for the Steelers and Aaron Rodgers?

As Steelers fans wait for a certain 42-year-old quarterback to decide whether he wants to be a Steeler again, the Steelers have added another quarterback.

www.nbcsports.com

Pittsburgh think are getting another Big Ben.
And taking a Penn State player is never a terrible idea for steelers or eagles.
But they could have probably got him the next round.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

That's a Steeler dream. Amusing to think Allar could be on the same level of Big Ben, who had a borderline HOF career. Ben was fantastic staying alive in a pocket as it broke down, buying receivers valuable time. Ben won 2 SBs (granted, the first one Seattle was robbed, the second by the skin of their teeth over AZ), he was at times absolutely clutch in some big games, with other big games where he collapsed. However, one could level that same specific criticism at Peyton Manning. But Ben racked up plenty of wins and very solid seasons as their absolute starter. It would be miraculous if Allar had a career like Ben. Just saying Allar probably going to be better than Will Howard isn't exactly saying much.

I can only assume two things about the Rams: They think Stafford is about done, and Simpson is a potentially legit starter who will win them games, if not this year, in 2027 and beyond. And they had intel other teams felt similar (Jets likely, maybe Steelers) and were going to snag him. This is the only answer.

 

[Nomad]

Pittsburgh think are getting another Big Ben.
And taking a Penn State player is never a terrible idea for steelers or eagles.
But they could have probably got him the next round.

Definitely Allar is very similar to Big Ben in size & arm strength, though Allar is a little more athletic & mobile (he's considered to have high-end strength/mobility for a pocket passer).

If the Steelers wanted to wait & try to take him in the 4th rd, they would have had to work out some kind of a deal with the Jets to trade up. The Jets had pick 110 vs 121 for the Steelers and they certainly would have taken Allar over Klubnik.

 

[Nomad]

Diego Pavia not drafted. I think the fact he didn't hire an agent may big the biggest reason. He also has some personality so an agent could have focus that on the positive, not make it seem like he has a huge ego. And it could have helped get him some small sponsorship deals, that now may be gone as well. I mean, the Commanders drafted some guy named Athan Kaliakmanis, but not Pavia.

I think it's because he's just too short & doesn't have any elite traits. Look at Murry: He has not one but two elite traits; elite arm strength & athleticism, and he's struggling to make it as a franchise QB. Ultra-short QBs (< 5'11") need to have an elite trait - preferably arm strength - to have any kind of a chance to make a roster let alone start. As I said before, a short, undersized QB can be successful at the collegiate level but it's a whole different ballgame in the NFL.

And Pavia isn't getting signed as an UDFA either. Every QB except Pavia at the combine that wasn't drafted has already been signed as an UDFA (King, Aguilar, Daniels, Robertson, Fagnano & Altmeyer).

And it's so bad for Pavia that the Rams just signed Mathew Caldwell - the BACKUP QB - from Texas who threw just 11 total passes last year! LOL

Rams signing former Texas QB Matthew Caldwell as undrafted free agent

The Rams are adding another quarterback, signing Texas signal caller Matthew Caldwell as an undrafted rookie

theramswire.usatoday.com

 

[Nomad]

I can only assume two things about the Rams: They think Stafford is about done, and Simpson is a potentially legit starter who will win them games, if not this year, in 2027 and beyond. And they had intel other teams felt similar (Jets likely, maybe Steelers) and were going to snag him. This is the only answer.

Stafford has to be done or GM Les Snead wouldn't have been talking to Simpson & his dad last December enticing him to come out for the draft? (the Rams already had the 13th pick acquired from the Atlanta trade last year - maybe Snead promised to draft Simpson with that pick if he came out?).

And I agree 100%, if it's not this year it's definitely 2027. No way Simpson sits for 2 or 3 yrs under Stafford - not being that high of a 1st rd pick. And who knows, Snead might let him compete for the starting job this year anyway. And they just sign Caldwell (the backup QB from Texas) to compete against Stetson Bennett for either backup or QB3.

Simpson was worried that if declared for the draft he'd miss out on the $6.5m NIL dough promised to him if he stayed at Bama. Well his contract from the Rams waiting for him to sign is 4 yrs/$25m with a $14.9m signing bonus - more than double his NIL dough.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

A few people online are bringing up Jordan Love to compare to Simpson. Implying Ty will sit 3 years until Stafford is done. Except Love was drafted 26th overall, not 13th. Love was also the 4th QB taken that year (Burrow, Tagovailoa, Herbert). Rodgers also won back to back MVP seasons.

As to Puka, I'm not even sure what to think about that guy. Something not good behind the smiles and heroic catches. Their other top WR is Adams, who is a career diva, and will turn 34 during the season.

Pavia could fill some seats in the UFL. Could even get signed right now.

 

[movingtarget]

Monte Coleman, three-time Super Bowl champion with Washington, dies at 68

Monte Coleman, the hard-nosed linebacker who won three Super Bowls with Washington and later coached Arkansas-Pine Bluff to a conference championship, died at age 68.

www.nfl.com

Ravens' Eric DeCosta: RB Adam Randall was first draft pick owner Steve Bisciotti has ever made

The Baltimore Ravens had a slew of picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, so general manager Eric DeCosta figured he might as well let team owner Steve Bisciotti make one. With the opportunity, he took Clemson running back Adam Randall in the fifth round.

www.nfl.com

 

[Nomad]

A few people online are bringing up Jordan Love to compare to Simpson. Implying Ty will sit 3 years until Stafford is done. Except Love was drafted 26th overall, not 13th. Love was also the 4th QB taken that year (Burrow, Tagovailoa, Herbert). Rodgers also won back to back MVP seasons.

As to Puka, I'm not even sure what to think about that guy. Something not good behind the smiles and heroic catches. Their other top WR is Adams, who is a career diva, and will turn 34 during the season.

Pavia could fill some seats in the UFL. Could even get signed right now.

I think the comparison of Simpson-Stafford to Love-Rodgers isn't realistic. Like you said, Love was 26th vs 13th for Simpson....big difference. I heard a veteran scout say that a QB drafted within the top 15 picks is usually from a team that needs a QB ready to play sooner rather than later (recall that Mac Jones was drafted 15th & ended up starting week #1 supplanting Cam Newton the incumbent starter).

What's really strange about this whole deal is the way the Rams went about it. It sounds like McVay & Stafford were left in the dark when Snead was cutting a deal with Simpson way back in December. Lol. I believe McVay said the first he was made aware that Snead was going to draft Simpson was on the morning of the draft (cutting it close? Lol). McVay said he then immediately notified Stafford so he wouldn't be blindsiding about this. This doesn't sound good with the lack of communication between Snead & McVay - and could only create friction between the two.

Definitely agree Pavia should play in the UFL & get some experience.

Your Raiders signed another young gun; Sawyer Robetson. Saw him play a couple of times at Baylor. Tall, strong, good arm, mobile & fast. 2nd Team All-Big 12. He's a slinger - why he wasn't drafted is beyond me (he's also the cousin of Jared Stidham). This is amazing - Kubiak has brought in two young guns into the QB room. If Sawyer has a good preseason & makes the team, doesn't sound good for O'Connell?

Sawyer Robertson Is the Raiders' Most Intriguing UDFA QB

The Las Vegas Raiders' 2026 NFL Draft class is complete. Featuring a potential franchise quarterback and several potential starters, including what may be the s

www.si.com

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

O'Connell is trade bait. In fact, I'm surprised he wasn't dealt during the draft. Aiden would also get plucked off almost any scout team quickly. Robertson could sit there for a while.

I also think it's Spytek doing almost all the heavy lifting, not Kubiak. Though that deep in the draft, actually, off the slag heap, it may indeed have been a guy Kubiak wants. From what I can tell, Mark Davis had nothing to do with the draft at all. Zero input. Certainly some input from scouts, Brady, probably a little from Kubiak of course. But Spytek is running the entire football side of things.

 

[movingtarget]

Report: Ravens signing undrafted Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia to three-year deal

Baltimore didn’t wait for a tryout to sign undrafted quarterback Diego Pavia. The Ravens inked the Vanderbilt product to a three-year undrafted free-agent deal, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Tuesday.

www.nfl.com

 

[Nomad]

Well, Pavia finally gets his shot that he's been asking for. We'll see what happens when preseason camp rolls around.

Hilarious:

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/zfTeoQ-_5Ew?si=klnFL95XyVmBrg9k

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Simpson now saying he and McVey talked at length before the draft in a secret meeting.