Rams selected Alabama QB Ty Simpson with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

24 April 2026

We’re used to being surprised, but this is one of the most stunning drat picks of the 21st century. Simpson (6’1/211) was actually connected to the Rams earlier on Thursday, but we assumed it was for either a trade-in or Day 2 pick. Simpson spent the first three years of his career as a backup at Alabama but was finally given a chance to start in 2025. The former five-star prospect displayed immediate potential, throwing for 2,934 yards and a 22:4 TD:INT total through his first 11 games while leading Bama to a 9-2 record. He played well on the road against a good Georgia team (276/2) on his way to a win, and also pulled off road wins against Missouri and Auburn. Unfortunately, he struggled down the stretch, throwing for 633/6 in his final four games while completing just 57.1 percent of his passes and taking 10 sacks. A one-year sample size makes Simpson a tough evaluation, but when he was at his best, he displayed mostly good decision-making while making NFL-caliber throws against some of the top teams in the nation. Much like another former one-year starter at Alabama (Mac Jones), Simpson is a mechanically sound quarterback who doesn’t possess an elite arm. His 6.2 ADOT on completed passes is below average for recent QB prospects, but his career 42.9 completion percent on deep passes suggests he can air it out a bit when needed. With only one year of starting experience under his belt, Simpson has plenty to learn while developing at the next level. Time will tell if he’s a franchise-changing player or another Alabama quarterback who eventually falls by the wayside. The Rams, clearly, believe it’s the former, though we fully expect Matthew Stafford to remain the starter for 2026.