The Los Angeles Rams selected quarterback Ty Simpson as the No. 13 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, positioning him as the future successor to Matthew Stafford. This move reflects the Rams' strategy to secure a long-term option at quarterback despite Stafford's recent MVP performance.

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The Los Angeles Rams may have the defending NFL MVP under center right now, but that isn't stopping the organization from positioning itself for the future. They may have done just that with the selection of Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, who now heads to L.A. as the No. 13 overall pick at the 2026 NFL Draft.
This is quite the surprise to hear Simpson's name called this early in the draft. Leading up to Thursday's opening round, it wasn't a guarantee that he'd hear his name at any point in the first. If he were, it'd probably be in the back half. However, that changes here thanks to the Rams' belief in Simpson as the heir apparent to Stafford.
The selection makes sense despite the presence of Stafford, who is coming off an MVP season. The 38-year-old is only signed through next season and has flirted with retirement in the past, so the presence of Simpson as a future starter developing in the wings gives Sean McVay and company a long-term option at the position.
.@AlabamaFTBL QB Ty Simpson is headed to the @RamsNFL!
2026 NFL Draft starts on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/6fXeRjn08g— NFL (@NFL) April 24, 2026
The Rams called Stafford earlier on Thursday to tell him of their plans to select Simpson, so the veteran was in the know at the time he was selected, according to ESPN.
The Rams drafted Ty Simpson to secure a future starting quarterback as Matthew Stafford, who is 38, may retire soon.
Ty Simpson's selection indicates that the Rams are preparing for life after Stafford, who is only signed through next season.
Ty Simpson was a surprise pick at No. 13, as many analysts expected him to be selected later in the first round.

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Simpson is CBS Sports' No. 2-ranked quarterback in the 2026 class after a stellar year as the Crimson Tide's starter. He earned second-team All-SEC honors after throwing for 3,567 yards in 2025, the fourth-most in program history. Simpson's numbers did dip in the second half of Alabama's season, but that may have been largely due to him losing weight as he reportedly dealt with a case of gastritis.
| Ty Simpson 2025 season | First 9 games | Final 6 games |
|---|---|---|
| Completion percentage | 67% | 61% |
| Passing YPG | 273.4 | 184.3 |
| Yards per attempt | 8.3 | 6.3 |
| TD-INT | 21-1 | 7-4 |
Simpson is the fourth Alabama quarterback selected in the first round since 2020, joining Tua Tagovailoa (Dolphins), Mac Jones (Patriots), and Bryce Young (Panthers).