Andrew Buller-Russ
Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead delivered the first true shocker of the 2026 NFL Draft by selecting Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick in the first round.
While there had been a lot of speculation that the Rams could eventually target a potential long-term replacement to learn and develop behind Matthew Stafford, no one thought they would be willing to invest the 13th pick, knowing this is a team trying to capitalize on the NFL’s reigning MVP’s Super Bowl window.
Of course, Snead is one of the NFL’s most unpredictable GMs who’s proven that he’s never afraid to deliver a surprise. Aside from the Rams clearly falling in love with Simpson as a prospect, why did they select him so high? Couldn’t they have traded down for a player who had commonly been projected to land in the second round or possibly late in the first?
According to The Athletic‘s Rams insider Nate Atkins, Los Angeles may have struck so early because they were worried about their NFC West rival, the Arizona Cardinals, drafting him first. The Cardinals held the 34th overall pick in the second round, but pre-draft speculation suggested they could try trading up into the end of the first round to secure a fifth-year option on Simpson’s rookie contract.
“They weren’t sure where Simpson would go if they didn’t draft him,” Atkins wrote. “But they believed the Arizona Cardinals, who owned pick No. 34 in the second round, had heavy interest, a team source told The Athletic. They could either lock in Simpson as their future or risk facing him twice a year within the NFC West.”
In the end, the Rams paid the price and landed their top target at QB. Barring injury, Simpson likely won’t help the Rams win any games in 2026, but the organization hopes he becomes the solution to a potential problem before it even becomes an issue.
Related: Los Angeles Rams Open To Adding Another QB After Drafting Ty Simpson 13th
