Frank SchwabSenior writerFri, April 24, 2026 at 1:32 AM UTC·3 min readTy Simpson was a hot name heading into the NFL Draft, mostly because nobody knew what to make of him or where he’d go in the draft.
The Los Angeles Rams obviously liked him, bypassing players who could have helped them in their Super Bowl quest now to take their eventual replacement for Matthew Stafford.
It was hard to pinpoint Simpson’s landing spot but the Rams ended the speculation early, taking Simpson with the 13th pick. It’s a good situation for Simpson, who can sit and learn behind reigning NFL MVP Matthew Stafford. It will be a polarizing pick because there were plenty of players on the board, like USC receiver Makai Lemon or some of the draft’s top offensive linemen, who could have helped a team that is a favorite to win the Super Bowl next season. Stafford is 38 and has considered retirement in recent years, which caused the Rams to think ahead at the position. They did have the 13th pick due to a trade last year with the Atlanta Falcons, so they could have seen that pick as a bonus. They used it on a player who they hope doesn’t play any meaningful snaps this season, but could provide an answer for the most important position down the road.
Simpson was widely considered to be the second-best quarterback in this draft class and had his supporters, but also those who thought he was due to be overdrafted because there wasn’t another viable QB2 option in a weak class behind Fernando Mendoza. It was tough to get a read on which team would take him, and how high.
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Most of the concern with Simpson had to do with his experience. He had just 50 career attempts in his first three seasons for a loaded Alabama program before getting his shot to start last season. He started 15 games, throwing for 3,576 yards, 28 touchdowns and 5 interceptions.
Fifteen starts over a college career isn’t much. Many other quarterbacks with a similarly short track record in college have failed to become good NFL starters.
The debate with Simpson came down to traits vs. experience. Simpson was solid for most of the season but his play trailed off in the last few games, perhaps due to multiple injuries he played through. Durability is another unknown for Simpson that makes him a risky pick — as is his size. He measured 6-foot-1 1/8 and weighed 211 pounds at the NFL scouting combine, which isn’t very big for a quarterback. Simpson’s size could be related to the injuries that piled up as his season went on.
Without many other exciting quarterbacks in the draft class, Simpson got plenty of attention. Some were impressed with the skills that he flashed last season. He has good arm strength and athleticism, and processes well. There is enough in his skill set that some teams could have seen him as a good developmental player with a bright future in the right situation.
It probably helped that Simpson didn’t have much competition in this draft class. He stood out among the quarterbacks past Mendoza. In a thin quarterback class, Simpson provided some hope of upside. The Rams hope they don’t see him on the field for a while, but now they have an answer to what happens when Stafford eventually retires.