The Los Angeles Rams drafted quarterback Ty Simpson out of Alabama with the No. 13 Pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Rams were projected to take USC star Makai Lemon, a receiver who can function as the third option, a luxury for a high-powered offense as they push their chips in to win-now.
Los Angeles has an aging quarterback in Matthew Stafford and a roster that is talented enough to win now, which makes an instant contributor like Lemon, another offensive weapon, or even another defender, the likely pick.
Instead, general manager Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay throw the ultimate curveball and take a young quarterback.
In his only season as a starter, Simpson threw for 3,567 yards with 28 touchdowns and five interceptions—his QBR of 76 ranked No. 20th in the nation.
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The Rams are built to win in 2026, and their only chance will be if Stafford stays healthy.
If Stafford avoids injury and plays the whole season, Ty Simpson will never see the field and therefore cannot contribute.
The math on the selection is quite clear for a veteran-heavy team that traded its other first-round pick for cornerback Trent McDuffie and gave him a massive extension.
Any other position helps the Rams win a Super Bowl in 2026, but Simpson simply cannot.
As for the player himself, Simpson had two separate seasons, essentially: first, his start, when he was a budding Heisman contender and looked to be the best quarterback entering the draft.
In the second half, things fell apart, and he ended the season on a whimper, looking like a totally different player.
The reason this pick is not an F is McVay and his credibility as a coordinator.
With time to learn under Stafford, it is quite possible Simpson ironed out his inconsistency and learned McVay’s system down to a T, serving as a Brock Purdy-like player who can be a star without elite playmaking.
The offensive guru is one of the most highly regarded minds in football and could be right about the player, but the pick could still age poorly.
The post Rams Make Stunning Selection, Take Ty Simpson With No. 13 Pick appeared first on LA Sports Report.