LOS ANGELES -- In June, Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead was at the Manning Passing Academy in Thibodaux, Louisiana, doing his "due diligence on quarterbacks."
While there -- and over the course of the next year -- the scouting staff identified Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson as "somebody who would work well with [head coach] Sean [McVay] and fit what we're looking for at that position," director of scouting Nicole Blake said.
In Simpson, the Rams noticed "his intelligence" and watched him play in the pro-style system that Alabama uses.
"He makes a lot of pro-style throws and it was very easy to see the translation," Blake said.
Although Simpson made only 15 college starts after sitting behind Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe, the Rams thought he was the right player to draft as the likely successor to Matthew Stafford. Los Angeles selected Simpson with the No. 13 pick in last weekend's NFL draft.
Those 15 career starts are the fourth fewest by any first-round quarterback over the past 25 years, according to ESPN Research. Only Anthony Richardson Sr. (13), Mitchell Trubisky (13) and Dwayne Haskins (14) had fewer.
Rams assistant general manager John McKay said the lack of games played wasn't something the staff was "overly concerned about."
"He had spent the time at Alabama learning," McKay said. "He was in a high-level program and then we were able to evaluate all the types of throws. He was in a lot of big moments so we felt like there was enough in that sample size where we didn't have any pause about the starts.
"... We felt confident based on what he had put on tape that he was the right guy."
Snead said though Simpson didn't start his first three seasons, the quarterback "played mature."