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Rams Draft Ty Simpson No. 13, Keep Stafford Starter

4/29/2026

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Summary

Rams Draft Simpson

The Rams selected Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the No. 13 pick in the 2026 Draft.
Simpson disclosed a secret meeting with coach Sean McVay at the Rams’ facility that the team ordered private.
Rams tried to trade back from the 13th spot, receiving no offers before the clock expired.
GM Les Snead met Simpson’s parents while head coach Sean McVay said Matthew Stafford stays starter and Simpson will be his backup.

Summary

Rams Target Simpson

The Rams view J.J. Simpson as a developmental quarterback who will remain behind Matthew Stafford for several years.
In his final Alabama season, Simpson completed 305 of 473 passes for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns and five interceptions.
He led Alabama to the SEC championship game, a College Football Playoff, and was ranked second-best QB prospect behind Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza.

History

Historical Context

After the St. Louis Rams turned a 1999 preseason injury to Trent Green into a surprise Super Bowl XXXIV win—thanks to undrafted quarterback Kurt Warner’s 4,353 yards and 41 touchdowns under coach Dick Vermeil—the franchise adopted a quarterback-development philosophy. In 2024, Los Angeles Rams GM Les Snead and coach Sean McVay continued that legacy by drafting Alabama’s Ty Simpson as Matthew Stafford’s backup.

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Rams Draft Simpson

The Rams selected Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the No. 13 pick in the 2026 Draft.
Simpson disclosed a secret meeting with coach Sean McVay at the Rams’ facility that the team ordered private.
Rams tried to trade back from the 13th spot, receiving no offers before the clock expired.
GM Les Snead met Simpson’s parents while head coach Sean McVay said Matthew Stafford stays starter and Simpson will be his backup.

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