The first major stunner in Round 1 of the 2026 NFL draft came at pick No. 13 when the Los Angeles Rams drafted Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson.

Simpson was widely viewed as the second-best quarterback in the draft behind first overall pick Fernando Mendoza, and he was even getting some first-round hype coming into the draft. However, his selection in the top 15 came as a fairly significant surprise.

Only a one-year starter at Alabama, Simpson has said schools attempted to lure him out of the draft and into the transfer portal. However, his decision to go pro seems to have ultimately paid off as he's heading out to LA.

.@AlabamaFTBL QB Ty Simpson is headed to the @RamsNFL!2026 NFL Draft starts on NFLN/ESPN/ABCStream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/6fXeRjn08g

The Rams likely view Simpson as the future replacement for Matt Stafford, who is 38 but is also coming off an MVP season in 2025. Simpson will almost certainly serve in a backup role to begin his career, but with a fairly thin quarterback class, Los Angeles opted to pick a potential future face of the franchise.

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This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: NFL Draft 2026: Rams take Ty Simpson at No. 13 in surprise pick