Rams pull stunner, select Alabama QB Ty Simpson with 13th pick in 2026 NFL Draft
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One of the most intriguing storylines heading into the first round of the NFL Draft was where Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson might land. Fans got their answers sooner than they expected.
The Los Angeles Rams surprisingly selected Simpson with the 13th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The choice isn’t completely out of left field and is probably the best-case scenario for Simpson. The Rams have Matthew Stafford as their starter for 2026, but Stafford has flirted with the idea of retirement in each of the last two seasons. It’s clear that time is ticking on his NFL career.
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The Los Angeles Rams made a surprising move and drafted Alabama QB Ty Simpson with the 13th pick in the NFL Draft. (CFP/Getty Images)
No longer will Simpson sit behind one of the NFL’s best veteran quarterbacks, learning the position as he adjusts to life in the NFL and not face immediate pressure to succeed. Additionally, the Rams are currently one of the best-coached teams in the league. Sean McVay is an elite head coach who led the team to a Super Bowl victory to end the 2021 season and brought the team to within one win of another Super Bowl berth before falling to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship.
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The most surprising aspect is that the Rams are frankly looking to the future. This is a team that has no problem trading first-round picks to make its team the best it can be every season. It appeared the team would use No. 13 to improve their team for next season, which could be Stafford’s last. Instead, the team decided to prepare itself for Stafford’s retirement without missing a beat.
Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford, now 38, has flirted with retirement after each of the last two seasons. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
There were plenty of surprises in the first 13 picks of the 2026 NFL Draft: The Cardinals took Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love with the No. 3 pick, the Titans selected Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate with the No. 4 pick, the Kansas City Chiefs traded up to take LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane with the No. 6 pick, and the Cowboys even traded up a spot to make sure they selected Ohio State safety Caleb Downs with the No. 1 pick. 11.
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But the Rams’ complete abandonment of their last strategy to select Stafford’s successor (usually swapping first-round picks and loading up for now) is the biggest early shock of the 2026 NFL Draft.
