Ty Simpson, Los Angeles Rams, Round 1, Pick 13
The Los Angeles Rams selected quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Simpson, an Alabama product, now joins a Rams offense as the heir apparent to Matthew Stafford, the reigning NFL Most Valuable Player.
Projected Role in the Rams Offense
- Backup for 2026 while preparing to succeed Matthew Stafford
- Expected snap share: 0%
- Timeline to start: 2027, barring an injury to Stafford or a Week 18 start if the Rams are safely in the playoffs or officially out of them
- Primary competition: Stetson Bennett IV
Key Takeaways
- Ty Simpson projects as a backup quarterback, giving him at least one year to improve his mechanics and develop into an NFL starter.
- He is not anticipated to have immediate fantasy impact, but he is a superior option for preserving the fantasy value of the Rams' skill players if Stafford were to miss time.
- Biggest winner: Simpson
- Biggest loser: Stetson Bennett IV
Fantasy Football Impact of Ty Simpson on the Los Angeles Rams
Ty Simpson becomes the heir apparent to the reigning NFL Most Valuable Player, eventually getting the keys to one of the NFL's most potent and fantasy-friendly offenses.
Stafford, 37, had arguably the best season of his career in 2025, throwing 46 touchdown passes against eight interceptions as he played through a herniated disc he aggravated in training camp. Despite the injury, Stafford played in every game, but the risk of his missing time is real, which would be a blow to a team in a Super Bowl window. Last season's backup, Jimmy Garoppolo, is mulling retirement, which would leave Stetson Bennett IV, who has not thrown a pass in an NFL regular-season game, as the primary option to step in for Stafford if he missed time.
Simpson brings elite processing ability, making him an ideal fit for a Sean McVay offense. Though Simpson only started 15 games at Alabama, he was trusted to adjust alignments and shift into different plays following his pre-snap reads. He completed 64.5 percent of his passes for 3,567 yards and threw 28 touchdowns to just 5 interceptions. His mechanical flaws can be fixed, and he gets a year to learn the offense and work on his techniques before taking the reins, assuming Stafford remains healthy.
