Even at 38, Matthew Stafford remains one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks. In fact, he added another trophy to his collection in February, winning his first league MVP award.

Stafford edged New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye after throwing a career-best 46 touchdowns. The 2026 season will be his 18th, and with nearly two decades in the league, the Rams appear to be looking toward the future following Thursday night’s first round.

The Rams selected former Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the No. 13 overall pick, potentially positioning him as Stafford’s successor. The decision sparked strong reactions and drew a response from Kelly Stafford, the veteran quarterback’s wife.

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Simpson said Kelly Stafford welcomed him to the team with a message on social media.

“Kelly has actually texted me on Instagram and welcomed me and told me to hit her up if we need anything,” Simpson said during his introductory press conference. “But I can’t wait to talk to Matthew. I’m super ecstatic because I just want to pick his brain.”

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Simpson was the full-time starter at Alabama, throwing for 3,567 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2025.

Rams coach Sean McVay shut down any speculation that Simpson was joining the team to compete with Stafford for the starting job.

“There were a lot of players that we liked, but when you do look at it, I think the thing you liked about the body of work is … let’s make one thing clear, this is Matthew’s team,” McVay said Thursday. “You get a chance to be able to address the backup quarterback.”

Simpson’s parents visited with Rams general manager Les Snead during Alabama’s trip to the Los Angeles area for the Rose Bowl in January, the NFL Network reported. Simpson’s father, Jason Simpson, is the head football coach at UT Martin.

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The NFL Draft isn’t official unless Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman is wheeling and dealing to make his team better, even at the expense of others.

Roseman was definitely doing all of that during Friday’s second round when he added veteran edge rusher Jonathan Greenard to bolster the team’s defense, which had lost Jaelan Phillips to the Carolina Panthers in free agency.

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The Vikings traded Greenard and the 244th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to the Eagles in exchange for the 98th overall pick in this draft and a third-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.

Immediately upon making the trade, OutKick confirmed that Greenard and the Eagles reached an agreement on a four-year contract extension worth $100 million. ESPN reported the extension includes $50 million fully guaranteed.

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So why did the Eagles do this?

Well, they just added a player who collected 27.5 sacks the past three seasons in Minnesota and Houston.

So they’re filling the void left by the departure of Phillips, who has 28 sacks in his entire five-year career.

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And the Eagles did it at a cost savings because while they’re spending $100 million on Greenard, the Panthers signed Phillips for $120 million over four years with $80 million guaranteed.

The Vikings, it should be noted, aren’t typically in the business of trading away talent. But they were in a pickle because Greenard was demanding a raise on a contract that had two years remaining at an average of $19 million per season.

Greenard’s contract demands came despite the fact his sack total dipped to only three last season.

The Vikings weren’t comfortable giving a player with multiple years left on his contract a raise after a subpar season. They also didn’t love the idea of enduring a possible contract holdout the entire offseason and possibly into training camp.

So when Roseman called, they picked up the phone and avoided all that distraction. But it helped make the Eagles better.

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Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza claimed his new team has the “most Hispanic fan base” after going No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft. Mendoza made the statement during his introductory press conference for the team on Friday.

“The history of the Raiders, especially the Hispanic history, is like no other. I believe it’s probably the most Hispanic fan base and legends like Mr. [Jim] Plunkett, like Mr. [Tom] Flores. I mean, all those legendary Hispanic idols and cornerstones of the franchise. It means a lot as a Cuban American to come to this franchise and help try to carry the torch. But again, I’ve got to prove it, and I’m really looking forward to connecting with the Hispanic community here,” Mendoza said.

Mendoza himself is Cuban, as the descendant of Cuban refugees.

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After Fidel Castro seized control of Cuba and installed a communist regime, all four of Mendoza’s grandparents fled the country and came to America.

“We all thought it was temporary,” Mendoza’s maternal grandfather, Alberto Espino, previously told The Washington Post. “There was no way the United States would allow a communist regime 90 miles away.”

But Castro’s reign endured, so Espino and the Mendozas remained in the U.S. and built their lives as Americans.

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Mendoza is coming into the NFL after one of the best seasons by a quarterback in college football history for Indiana.

Now, as the quarterback of the Raiders, he will be under pressure to carry one of the league’s historic franchises back to prominence after decades of underachieving.

“It’s a huge responsibility, but it’s also a huge honor to honor the legacy. The Raiders are a core historic franchise and one of the faces of the NFL, and I feel like, again, I need to prove it and earn it every single day,” Mendoza said.

“Especially as a rookie, nothing’s given, and my belief in that everything is earned. So, I’m going to come in humble, try to establish myself with my work ethic and lead by example, but at the end of the day, it’s all great saying these words, but I’ve got to do it.”

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