NFL Insider Reveals Why Rams Took Ty Simpson at No. 13 Overall
The 2026 NFL Draft began with a few surprises, including Jeremiyah Love and Carnell Tate going at No. 3 and 4, respectively.
The Kansas City Chiefs traded up from No. 9 to No. 6 and selected LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane, and Sonny Styles dropped out of the top five after a ton of hype.
But the biggest surprise came when the Los Angeles Rams selected Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson at No. 13 overall.
The Rams made the NFC title game, but they had the 13th pick due to the Atlanta Falcons trade during the 2025 NFL Draft, where they moved up to select Tennessee pass rusher James Pearce Jr.
While the Simpson selection was a bit of a surprise to many, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network shed some light on why the Rams made that choice.
"If you like him, just take him," Rapoport said. "Their roster's so good and Sean McVay doesn't really play rookies anyway...The Rams are so good they are never going to have the opportunity to draft at 13 again."
From The Insiders on @NFLNetwork: The #Rams took QB Ty Simpson, in part because it may be their only opportunity for years to take a QB that high. pic.twitter.com/aHRhsAu5Hj
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 27, 2026
Right now, the Rams have Matthew Stafford at quarterback, and they will almost certainly enter the 2026 season as Super Bowl contenders, so getting a pick in the top-15 might not happen for a long time for LA.
Where Simpson Fits With the Rams
Simpson was rising up draft boards and was projected to go somewhere in the back-end of the first round, so the Rams certainly threw a wrench into other teams' plans.
However, while Stafford is back for 2026, it could be his final season.
Jimmy Garoppolo has yet to decide whether he will play another year, and he is a free agent anyway.
That leaves only Georgia Bulldogs QB Stetson Bennett and Simpson on the roster, so the former Crimson Tide starter could work his way into the QB2 conversation as soon as 2026.
Sure, the 2027 QB class is loaded, but if the Rams make the Super Bowl or go deep, they are picking way late in the first round when all of those quarterbacks are off the board.
It's a risk worth taking, but the Rams are thinking win-now, and Simpson could learn and develop from Stafford.
Related: NFL Draft expert nailed the most controversial 1st round pick
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This story was originally published April 28, 2026 at 5:14 AM.