The Los Angeles Rams have found a potential successor to Matthew Stafford, who is coming off an MVP season, after taking Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
It was the most shocking move of the first round, with Stafford returning for his sixth season with the franchise.
While many in the NFL world are wondering why the Rams took the quarterback, one insider dropped his latest insight, revealing why the team decided to draft Ty Simpson in the first round.
Albert Breer on Why Rams Took Ty Simpson
GettyHead coach Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams
Matthew Stafford mulled retirement this offseason before announcing that he would return for his 18th season in the league after winning his MVP award. Stafford’s return was a major positive for the Los Angeles Rams, who would have immediately taken a QB if he decided to call it a career. Jimmy Garoppolo is a free agent considering retirement himself and Stetson Bennett doesn’t have the experience to replace Stafford.
LA decided to take Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick despite Stafford returning for another season, instead of drafting Makai Lemon, who the Rams were also interested in.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer dropped his latest takeaways from the draft, revealing what he heard about the Rams’ decision to take the Alabama quarterback.
“Maybe most of all, as I’ve heard it, they loved seeing how he got scraped up, and knocked down, and picked himself up,” Breer wrote. “The Rams liked how the Bama coaches put a lot on him to begin with… Simpson kept battling, like an NFL quarterback has to.”
“But where this really began and ended was with what McVay, GM Les Snead and the crew saw on tape, which was a quarterback who could run their offense. Really, it started with the tape, after the reality set in that Jimmy Garoppolo probably wouldn’t return as Matthew Stafford’s backup, all the way back in March. It ended on Thursday, after McVay apprised Stafford of the plan, and the Rams pushed the button on the night’s biggest surprise.”
The window to win another Super Bowl with Stafford is closing as he approaches 40. The Rams were likely to take a quarterback later in the draft, but taking Ty Simpson with the 13th overall surprised many.
Ty Simpson Has Yet to Speak with Stafford
GettyMatthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams
When drafted by the Los Angeles Rams, Ty Simpson revealed that he hasn’t spoken with head coach Sean McVay.
Simpson later mentions that he has yet to meet with Matthew Stafford, but was congratulated by his wife, Kelly.
“I have not [spoken with Matthew yet],” Simpson said. “Kelly has actually texted me on Instagram and has welcomed me and told me to hit her up with my family if we ever need anything.
“But I can’t wait to talk to Matthew. I’m super ecstatic because I just want to pick his brain about everything and soak up all that knowledge, like how he goes about things, (he’s) just super awesome. I’ve been a big fan for a long time.”
Learning under McVay and Stafford, Ty Simpson could have a strong second season.
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