The Los Angeles Rams selected Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, a move that surprised nearly everyone involved, including Simpson himself.
Simpson said he had minimal contact with the Rams before the draft, meeting only a few scouts at Alabama’s Pro Day and never speaking with head coach Sean McVay or general manager Les Snead until the night of the selection. “This was my first time talking to Les, tonight,” Simpson said. “This was my first contact.”
Despite the lack of pre-draft engagement, Simpson expressed enthusiasm about joining a roster built to contend immediately. “I was just super blessed and super excited,” he told reporters. “The fact that an organization like the Los Angeles Rams believed in me, took a chance on me, it’s just something that I’m so grateful for.”
The Rams enter the 2026 season as Super Bowl favorites, bolstered by star receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, along with a defense featuring edge rusher Jared Verse and cornerback Trent McDuffie. With Matthew Stafford still under center, the team is positioned to compete for a title while developing its future quarterback.
Stafford, now 38, has openly flirted with retirement after each of the past two offseasons, making the selection of Simpson a clear nod to succession planning. Simpson acknowledged the opportunity to learn from a veteran he’s long admired. “I haven’t talked to Matthew yet but I’m super pumped to be in the room with him and learn from him,” he said. “He’s one of the greatest of all time.”
McVay, who led the Rams to a Super Bowl win in 2021 and came within one game of another before falling to Seattle in the NFC Championship, appeared unenthused at the press conference following the pick. His subdued reaction fueled speculation that he preferred a player who could help Stafford win another title rather than invest in a long-term project.
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McVay downplayed expectations for Simpson’s immediate role, stating only that he would compete with Stetson Bennett for the backup job. This marked the first time since 2016 that the Rams selected a quarterback in the first round, when they traded up to take Jared Goff with the No. 1 overall pick.
The decision represents a significant shift in strategy for a franchise that has frequently traded away first-round picks to maximize short-term competitiveness. Instead of using the 13th pick to address immediate needs, the Rams opted to secure their quarterback future, even if it means delaying gratification.
Analysts noted the move as one of the biggest surprises of the draft’s early rounds, especially given the Rams’ recent history of aggressively pursuing win-now moves. The selection of Simpson, a quarterback with limited pre-draft dialogue with the organization, stands in stark contrast to their usual approach.
Simpson’s father is the head football coach at UT-Martin and has communicated with Snead, though Simpson confirmed he never personally met the Rams’ general manager or head coach before draft night. His only prior visit to Los Angeles came during the Rose Bowl.
While the Rams remain focused on winning now with Stafford at the helm, the selection of Simpson signals a deliberate effort to avoid a quarterback vacuum when he eventually departs. For Simpson, the chance to develop behind a Super Bowl-winning quarterback in a well-coached system represents a rare ideal scenario.
Why did the Rams pick a quarterback if they’re trying to win the Super Bowl this year?
The Rams selected Ty Simpson to plan for the future while still being competitive in 2026 with Matthew Stafford as their starter. They view the pick as succession planning, not an immediate replacement.
Did Sean McVay or Les Snead interact with Ty Simpson before the draft?
No. Simpson said he only met a few Rams scouts at Alabama’s Pro Day and had his first conversation with Les Snead on draft night. He never spoke with Sean McVay before the selection.
What does Ty Simpson feel about backing up Matthew Stafford?
Simpson said he’s excited to learn from Stafford, calling him one of the greatest of all time and expressing enthusiasm about studying his film and being in the same room with him.
