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Rams Draft Alabama QB Ty Simpson 13th Overall

4/28/2026

Summary

Rams Draft Simpson

The Los Angeles Rams chose Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Coach Sean McVay and GM Les Snead said Simpson will succeed MVP Matthew Stafford, noting his April 28 ESPN Radio interview preceded a meeting with McVay.
Dan Graziano reported on April 26 that the pick is future-focused, after grades ranged from a C (USA TODAY) to a B+ (NFL.com) and Poor (PFF).

Summary

Rams Acquire Simpson

The Rams secured the No. 13 pick after a 2025 trade that sent James Pearce Jr. to the Atlanta Falcons.
With five picks, the top-15 slot—amid a deep receiving trio of Puka Nacua and Davante Adams and an O-line—offers a rare chance to shape the quarterback succession plan.
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler ranked the Rams’ 2026 draft class 30th of 32, calling Simpson the standout and assigning coaches Kliff Kingsbury, Dave Ragone and Nate Scheelhaase to mentor him.

History

Historical Context

Created in 1936 to equalize talent, the NFL draft lets the worst team pick first. In the 2000 draft, the New England Patriots used a compensatory 199th-overall selection—earned after losing punter Tom Tupa—to choose quarterback Tom Brady, who later secured six Super Bowls and reshaped franchise strategy. The Los Angeles Rams’ 2025 trade for a top-13 pick on Ty Simpson reflects the same emphasis on developing quarterbacks.

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Rams Draft Simpson

The Los Angeles Rams chose Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Coach Sean McVay and GM Les Snead said Simpson will succeed MVP Matthew Stafford, noting his April 28 ESPN Radio interview preceded a meeting with McVay.
Dan Graziano reported on April 26 that the pick is future-focused, after grades ranged from a C (USA TODAY) to a B+ (NFL.com) and Poor (PFF).

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