The Los Angeles Rams made an unexpected move in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. The team selected former Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the No. 13 overall pick despite veteran Matthew Stafford coming off an MVP season.
Shortly after the selection on April 24, Simpson revealed that Matthew Stafford‘s wife, Kelly Stafford, reached out to him with a welcoming message.
“Kelly has actually texted me on Instagram,” he said. “Welcomed me and told me to hit her up with my family if we ever need anything.”
Simpson, 23, said he had not yet spoken with Matthew Stafford but expressed enthusiasm about eventually connecting with the veteran quarterback.
“I can’t wait to talk to Matthew,” Simpson said. “I’m super ecstatic because I just want to pick his brain about everything, soak up all that knowledge.”
The former Alabama standout threw for 3,567 yards and 28 touchdowns in his final college season. The first-round draft pick added that he has long admired Stafford’s career.
Simpson’s arrival comes after Stafford, 38, delivered a standout 2025 campaign that included a career-high 46 touchdown passes and a trip to the NFC Championship game. Despite that success, the Rams used a high-value draft pick on a quarterback widely expected to serve as a backup in the short term.
Head coach Sean McVay addressed reactions to the selection, acknowledging his visible demeanor during the draft broadcast.
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The coach said he appeared “a little grumpy” but clarified “that was never my intended way to come off.” McVay added that he and general manager Les Snead were aligned on the decision.
Mike Greenberg Criticizes Rams’ First-Round Decision
ESPN host Mike Greenberg criticized the Rams’ decision to draft Simpson, questioning the immediate impact of the pick.
Speaking on The Rich Eisen Show, Greenberg said, “Let’s be as direct as we can be. It’s a terrible pick. It’s an absolutely terrible pick. … He may wind up being the greatest player of all time. But, they have Matthew Stafford at an age where he is the very definition of year to year. They had the best team in the NFL last year and didn’t win the whole year.”
He continued, “They literally got for the most valuable asset they had in this entire exercise of the NFL draft, they got someone who would contribute zero to their effort to win the Super Bowl next year.”
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Simpson spent four seasons at Alabama, serving primarily as a backup before becoming the starter in his final year. He led the program to the College Football Playoff quarterfinals while posting stellar numbers.
