​The Los Angeles Rams stunned the NFL by selecting quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick in this year’s draft. With their first-round choice, many expected the Rams to add a wide receiver or an offensive lineman to support MVP quarterback Matthew Stafford, but the team chose a different path and drafted a signal-caller. Ty Simpson, taken at No. 13 in the 2026 NFL Draft, drew mixed reactions. General Manager Les Snead’s decision drew scrutiny given Stafford’s high level of play at 38 and the expectation that the Rams would be all-in for a title run next season, yet the front office defended its choice. Shortly after, the Rams made a bold move by trading for Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, signaling a clear bid to contend for a Super Bowl in the upcoming campaign. Still, the decision to draft Simpson at 13 remains controversial.
Former Washington general manager Scott McCloughan weighed in, criticizing Simpson and labeling the Alabama product a career backup. “I think the quarterback from Alabama is overdrafted,” McCloughan said on The Team 980. “But it’s the position alone, you know. He’s like JJ McCarthy of Minnesota and like Mac Jones of New England. He’s a career backup.” He suggested the pick reflects a desire to prove the selection was correct, rather than a solid roster-building strategy. “Ideally, he might start, but that’s because of where his pick was and they want to prove everybody right, you know, type of thing. And that’s not the way you should build a roster. Not at all.”
Simpson has appeared in only 15 college games, serving as a reserve at Alabama for three seasons. While he flashed potential during the 2025 season, a back injury hampered his performance. Nonetheless, Simpson led the Crimson Tide to the SEC Championship Game and another College Football Playoff berth before losing to Indiana. Snead believes Simpson’s talents justify a first-round pick, but many question whether he can meet such lofty expectations in the near future.