Alabama QB Ty Simpson Selected by Los Angeles Rams at No. 13 in NFL Draft, Puts on Hat After Pick

The Los Angeles Rams selected Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, a decision framed by team leadership as a strategic move to secure the future successor to MVP quarterback Matthew Stafford.

Rams general manager Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay emphasized the pick was made with a long-term vision, acknowledging Stafford’s MVP-caliber 2025 season while preparing for an eventual transition at the quarterback position.

“Let’s make one thing clear, This represents Matthew’s team,” McVay said in his post-draft news conference, reinforcing that Simpson would develop behind Stafford rather than challenge for an immediate starting role.

Snead added that the selection, made using a pick acquired in last year’s trade with the Atlanta Falcons, reflects the organization’s commitment to sustained success by planning “three days, three weeks, three months, and three years down the line.”

The Rams view Simpson as a developmental prospect who can learn under McVay’s offensive system, with the coaching staff expressing confidence in his ability to eventually assume a leadership role when Stafford’s tenure concludes.

Simpson, who started one season at Alabama after sitting behind Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe, passed for 3,567 yards and 28 touchdowns with five interceptions in 2025, showing flashes of Heisman Trophy contention early before facing increased defensive pressure later in the season.

Despite entering the draft as a polarizing figure due to limited starting experience, the Rams believe Simpson’s NFL-level processing and upside justify the investment, particularly given the rarity of quarterback talent available at the 13th pick.

The selection underscores the Rams’ approach of balancing immediate competitiveness with future planning, aiming to avoid a steep decline when Stafford eventually departs by cultivating a successor in advance.