The Rams' decision to draft Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson in 2026 could define their legacy, depending on his development into a top player. If successful, this draft may be seen as a pivotal moment for the franchise.
Key points
Rams drafted Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson in 2026
The draft could define the Rams' legacy
Success hinges on Simpson's development
Winning a Super Bowl is a potential outcome
RamsTy Simpson
Rams general manager Les Snead, left, and coach Sean McVay speak to reporters.
Rams general manager Les Snead, left, and coach Sean McVay speak to reporters after the team drafted Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday night. (Gary Klein / Los Angeles Times)
If Ty Simpson develops into a top NFL quarterback who leads the Rams to a Super Bowl title, the club will look back at the 2026 draft as one of the best and shrewdest in its history.
Until then, it will be remembered for a news conference.
Yeah, that one.
The post-Day 1 session on Thursday night when coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead â the personable and ebullient duo that playfully channeled Top Gunâs âMaverickâ and âGooseâ in 2025 â appeared dour and subdued after selecting Simpson with the 13th overall pick.
The choice brought a collective groan from much of the fan base. And who could blame it?
They were eager to see their favorite team add a final piece â hello, USC receiver Makai Lemon? â to a roster perhaps one playmaker away from making the Rams the favorites to win Super Bowl LXI at SoFi Stadium next February.
Thatâs no knock on Simpson, a charming and mature Tennessee native who started 15 games for Alabama before the Rams made him the heir apparent to Matthew Stafford.
The next day, Snead and McVay gave Simpson his flowers and repeated the same talking point: They are in âlockstepâ as decision-makers. And McVay explained that his âgrumpyâ demeanor the night before was related to personal issues and his desire to delicately handle Staffordâs reaction to the pick.
Q&A
What impact will Ty Simpson have on the Rams' future?
If Ty Simpson develops into a top NFL quarterback, he could significantly enhance the Rams' chances of winning a Super Bowl.
Why is the 2026 NFL draft important for the Rams?
The 2026 NFL draft is crucial for the Rams as it could define their legacy based on the success of their first-round pick, Ty Simpson.
Who is Ty Simpson and what are his prospects with the Rams?
Ty Simpson is an Alabama quarterback drafted by the Rams, and his prospects hinge on his ability to develop into a leading NFL quarterback.
What are Sean McVay's expectations for Ty Simpson?
Sean McVay's expectations for Ty Simpson are high, as the team's future success may depend on his performance as a quarterback.
Related Articles
NFL
Jaguars' 2026 NFL draft class receives low grades from experts
Experts give low grades to Jaguars' 2026 NFL draft class; GM defends selections.
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
MLB·Recap
Homer-happy Reds blast past Tigers in 9-2 rout
Cincinnati Reds crush Detroit Tigers 9-2, led by Sal Stewart's big night!
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
Sports·Preview
Fever vs. Liberty preseason takeaways: First looks at Caitlin Clark, New Yorkâs bigs
Caitlin Clark returns as Fever beats Liberty 109-91 in preseason
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
NBA·Recap
Lakers star Luka Doncic ruled out for Game 4 vs. Rockets
Luka Doncic will miss Game 4 against the Rockets due to injury.
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
NFL·Recap
Grades and analysis for each 49ers pick in the 2026 draft
Check out the grades and analysis for each 49ers pick in the 2026 draft!
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
Sports
Braves canât keep Phillies down in 8-5 loss
Braves can't overcome errors, lose 8-5 to Phillies
See every story in Sports â including breaking news and analysis.
On Saturday, the Rams did not make Snead or McVay available to reporters to summarize their draft, which included Simpson, Ohio State tight end Max Klare, Missouri offensive lineman Keagen Trost, Miami receiver CJ Daniels and Alabama defensive lineman Tim Kennan III. It is the smallest draft class in Rams history, which befits a team with no glaring roster holes.
Ostensibly, Snead and McVay stepped aside to give assistant general manager John McKay and Nicole Blake, the director of scouting, strategy and analytics, experience dealing with questions from reporters, which they handled with aplomb.
Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson laughs while standing on the draft stage with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Thursday.
Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson laughs while standing on the draft stage with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Thursday. (Vera Nieuwenhuis / Associated Press)
But the braintrustâs absence only magnified that this draft was unlike any other it has overseen during 10 years working as a team.
It would have been difficult to top 2025.
The Rams won last yearâs draft when they traded out of the first round in exchange for the Atlanta Falconsâ first-round pick this year. That gave the Rams the Falconsâ pick at No. 13 and their own at No. 29.
In March, the Rams traded the No. 29 pick to the Kansas City Chiefs in a package for All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie. The masterful move addressed the Ramsâ most pressing need and gave them a Super Bowl-ready roster. Classic Snead.
The Rams, set up for a boom-or-bust season akin to 2021, were primed for another typical big swing with the 13th pick. But instead of giving Stafford another weapon, they gave him⊠his eventual replacement.
Choosing Simpson might prove a savvy move. Especially if Stafford is injured this season or retires in the next year or two. But the pick stunned many. And gauging his public reaction afterward, it appeared to unnerve McVay.
During their time together, Snead and McVay built teams that have played in two Super Bowls, winning one, and made eight playoff appearances. Some interpreted McVayâs demeanor on Thursday night as evidence of a splinter in one of the leagueâs most successful partnerships.
Recall that after the Rams lost in the NFC championship last January, team president Kevin Demoffâs first order of business was signing Snead and McVay to extensions that had been on the table all season.
Several days before the draft, McVay and Snead described their connection. And they did it with heartfelt comments.
âI truly love Les and I have such respect for the job that he does,â McVay said, adding, âThere is nobody I'd rather be partnered up with.â
Said Snead: âFrom a life perspective, you hear it when players retire, they miss the locker room. Whenever that time comes for me, I'll miss showing up and doing hard things with Sean just because that's a relationship that probably makes life worth a living.ââ
McVay probably feels that way about Stafford. In 2021, Stafford led the Rams to a Super Bowl title. At 38, he is the reigning NFL most valuable player. He also is in negotiations for a contract adjustment.
But McVayâs desire to not hurt Staffordâs feelings by not publicly giving Simpson a trademark positive-infused welcome-to-L.A. moment seemed misguided. Stafford is one of the toughest and most resilient players in the NFL. He is bound for the Hall of Fame. The guy seems pretty secure in who he is and where he stands with the team and in NFL history.
So the Rams broke from script. They abandoned an all-in pick for an investment in the future.
âYouâre never one player away,â McVay said Saturday during a television interview with NFL Network. âWe know that we have a chance to be a good football team but you earn it every single year.
âAnd if you could tell me that taking somebody would ensure us, I think we would do that. But it doesnât quite work like that.â
No, it doesnât.
And if Simpson lives up to the potential that the Rams see in him, it will be another in a string of genius decisions by Snead and McVay.
But if Lemon makes a big catch for the Philadelphia Eagles against the Rams in the NFC playoffs, the Rams might look back at it as the swing they should have taken.