By admin 
When the Los Angeles Rams drafted Ty Simpson with the 13th pick in the April 2026 NFL Draft, the football world was stunned.
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It was the highest draft selection of head coach Sean McVay’s tenure, which began in 2017 and has been defined by consistent winning. So their decision to take the Alabama quarterback instead of a more ready-now piece for a roster built for another Super Bowl run raised plenty of questions.
The Rams still have an elite quarterback in Matthew Stafford, fresh off his first career MVP award and looking just as sharp heading into the 2026 season. But the future Hall of Famer turns 39 next year, and is approaching his career on a year-to-year basis. With his timeline uncertain, the Rams paired that win-now urgency with future planning by bringing in his eventual successor, a move that delivered a mixed reaction.
Five months after the decision, the pick is looking better. Simpson turned in an outstanding NFL debut in the preseason opener at Arrowhead Stadium, completing 21 of 25 passes (84 percent) for 190 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in a 20-12 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Colin Cowherd says Ty Simpson looked the best
Colin Cowherd praised
“Ty Simpson was the best quarterback I saw all weekend. 21 of 25, three scoring drives, rolling out, athletic, accurate, sprinkling the ball all over the field,” Cowherd said.
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“Quarterback and left tackle. There are not many great ones in the world. Okay, I will defend any general manager ever who drafts a quarterback or a left tackle a year or three before they need them. The Green Bay Packers three different times-Favre, Rodgers, Jordan Love. They get the guy in the building before they absolutely need him to start. It has paid off.
“Stafford, legendary guy, unbelievable prep, one of the smartest guys to play the position. Why not get your quarterback in the room with him? Because my guess is Stafford’s got at least two more years left.”
Simpson is battling fourth-year Stetson Bennett for the backup spot behind Stafford, and with his performance, it’ll be interesting to see the rep count between the two quarterbacks leading up to the second preseason game this weekend.
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On this day, however, the Rams made the right call.
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This story was originally published August 17, 2026 at 2:01 PM.