The Los Angeles Rams made one of the most jaw-dropping moves of the 2026 NFL Draft by selecting quarterback Ty Simpson with the No. 13 overall pick. While planning for life after Matthew Stafford is a smart long-term strategy, the price tag for that insurance policy has raised more than a few eyebrows around the league.
And it's not just fans and draft analysts scratching their heads. According to ESPN's Adam Rittenberg, multiple SEC defensive coordinators who faced Simpson during the 2025 season were genuinely stunned he went in the first round at all.
"I was honestly surprised," one SEC defensive coordinator admitted. "I was surprised by the team, too."
The shock cuts both ways. Not only did these coaches question Simpson's first-round value, but they also couldn't believe the Rams—a team currently pushing all their chips to the center of the table—would invest such a premium pick in a developmental quarterback.
In theory, adding a young signal-caller behind a veteran like Stafford makes sense. But doing so in Round 1 during a win-now window feels like a head-scratcher, even for a front office known for thinking outside the box.
Another SEC defensive coordinator, who ranked Alabama's Jalen Milroe and former Heisman winner Bryce Young as tougher quarterbacks to prepare for, echoed the sentiment.
"For him to go that high, I was a little bit like, 'Wow, OK,'" the coach said. "I don't know how he practices, I don't know his mind. They were saying he was banged up in the back stretch, but he was just OK. Maybe he has those qualities that you can't coach that some of these [NFL teams] fell in love with."
Simpson started the 2025 campaign strong, showing flashes of the talent that made him a highly touted recruit. But as injuries mounted during the second half of the season, his play noticeably declined. By the time the postseason rolled around, he looked like a shell of the quarterback who had generated early buzz.
For Rams fans hoping this pick signals a seamless transition from Stafford to Simpson down the road, the skepticism from those who faced him weekly is hard to ignore. Sometimes the tape tells a different story than the draft board.