The Rams selected Alabama QB Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft. That lands Simpson in one of the league’s best developmental spots, with Sean McVay calling the offense and Matthew Stafford still in place as a short-term bridge. The concern: Simpson's resume includes only 15 college starts. Recent first-round QBs with 15 or fewer starts include Anthony Richardson, Mitchell Trubisky, and Dwayne Haskins. That’s not exactly a comforting list. Still, Simpson flashed enough NFL-caliber traits to earn Round 1 capital. He threw for 3,567 yards, 28 TDs, and 5 INTs in his lone season as Alabama’s starter. Among 15 Combine-invited QBs, he ranked fourth in Big Time Throw rate, eighth in aDOT, and 10th in adjusted completion rate.
Draft Sharks Rookie Guide: “Simpson did flash NFL-caliber traits while throwing for 3,567 yards, 28 TDs, and 5 INTs. His father has coached Tennessee-Martin for 20 years. Simpson shows first-round mechanics, a smooth delivery, and class-best footwork. But average arm strength and limited experience hurt his early upside.”
Matthew Stafford is currently slated to enter the final year of his contract. That makes Simpson a Year 1 backup.
Per analyst Joel Kaltt, the Rams made Matthew Stafford aware of the Simpson pick on Thursday morning. The meeting reassured Stafford that he could remain the starter moving forward.
That aligns with the recent buzz out of L.A.
“Progress has been made," GM Les Snead recently said of a contract extension for Stafford. "No timeline per se, but don’t expect any drama.”
At 38 years old -- and with a lengthy injury history -- Stafford may be operating on a year-to-year timeline. Still, his presence keeps Simpson off the field for at least 2026 and potentially 2027.
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