The Los Angeles Rams decided to take former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday night. This was the pick the Rams got from the Atlanta Falcons in their trade up to get James Pearce Jr. out of Tennessee last spring. Of course, this has Rams head coach Sean McVay in the crossfires of a pick he did not seem enthused about...
On Saturday afternoon, he spoke to his close from Peter Schrager of ESPN about the Simpson pick.
"The big thing I would say is you get an opportunity to be able to get the 13th pick, based on moving back last year, getting Atlanta's pick. We liked his body of work. He's a great kid, football junkie. He comes from a football family. We thought it was a rare opportunity to be able to get a guy like him to learn under one of the all-time greats."
After putting Matthew Stafford on a pedestal, he then knocked Simpson down a peg with this remark.
"And I think the key thing I wanted to make sure was clear is we are excited about Ty, but this is Matthew Stafford's team. Ty will get an opportunity to be his successor whenever Matthew decides that time is. We want to be able to plan for the short, for the long. We know how fortunate we are to be able to have Matthew lead the way ... What a better situation than to learn under one of the all-time greats in Matthew Stafford."
McVay may now be on board with the Simpson selection, but this always felt like a Les Snead pick...
Sean McVay opens up to @PSchrags & @KyleBrandt on the Rams drafting Ty Simpson: ‘We’re excited for Ty but this is Matthew Stafford’s team…If I seemed stoic it was out of respect for Matthew’ pic.twitter.com/S8xbq2SaSV
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) April 25, 2026
One thing is clear when it comes to how McVay feels about Simpson: This is still Stafford's team.
Sean McVay is not even close to handing the Rams' reins to Ty Simpson
Together, McVay and Stafford have won a Super Bowl and been a force in the NFC for years. They both have Georgia ties from Stafford playing at UGA and McVay having grown up in Atlanta. His best friend growing up is the brother of Stafford's wife, for what it is worth... So it is hard to see them breaking up that bond just yet. Snead has a working relationship with Simpson's father Jason, too.
Be that as it may, McVay does not seem like he is ready to let Snead's guy take over his guy as the team's next starting quarterback. Stafford is no spring chicken, as he is pushing 40. With Stetson Bennett IV still around as a backup, somebody's feelings are about to get hurt, and it will probably he his. This is because Simpson has come into the league as a mid-first-round pick. He has to play soon.
What is so important to understand is the Rams' Super Bowl window is open for now, but on the verge of likely closing. McVay probably knows that, but also respects that the Rams need a succession plan under center if and when Stafford does call it a career. These are very tricky situations to navigate in the NFL, so bless up to any team that has to go through one. For now, McVay has cooled off just a bit.
Simpson should be so grateful that he gets to learn from his true NFL prototype in the iconic Stafford.
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