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One of the most intriguing storylines entering the first round of the NFL Draft was where Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson might land. Well, fans got their answer sooner than they expected.
The Los Angeles Rams surprisingly selected Simpson with the 13th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The pick isn’t completely out of line and is arguably the best-case scenario for Simpson. The Rams have Matthew Stafford as their starter for 2026, but Stafford has flirted with the idea of retiring in each of the last two offseasons. It is clear that the clock is ticking on his NFL career.
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The Los Angeles Rams did a marvel and selected Alabama QB Ty Simpson with the 13th pick in the NFL Draft. (CFP/Getty Images)
Now, Simpson will be able to sit behind one of the NFL’s best veteran quarterbacks, learn the position while adjusting to life in the NFL and not face immediate pressure to succeed. Additionally, the Rams are one of the best-run franchises in the league right now. Sean McVay is an elite head coach who led the team to a Super Bowl victory to cap the 2021 season and had the team just one win away from another Super Bowl berth before falling to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship.
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Frankly, the most surprising aspect is that the Rams are looking to the future. This is a team that has had no problem trading away first-round picks to make their team the best it can be each season. It seemed more likely that the team would use the 13th pick to upgrade its team for next season, which could be Stafford’s last. Instead, the team decided to prepare for Stafford’s retirement without missing a beat.
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, now 38, has flirted with retirement after each of the last two seasons. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
There were several surprises in the first 13 picks of the 2026 NFL Draft: The Cardinals selected Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love at No. 3, the Titans selected Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate at No. 4, the Kansas City Chiefs traded up to take LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane at No. 6 and even the Cowboys traded up a spot to ensure they drafted the safety. Ohio State’s Caleb Downs at No. 11.
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But the Rams completely abandoning their recent strategy (typically trading first-round picks and loading up for now) to select Stafford’s heir apparent is easily the biggest early surprise of the 2026 NFL Draft.
