‘Like Matthew Stafford': SEC Coach Praises Rams QB Ty Simpson

While Fernando Mendoza was the first pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, the pick people might be discussing for much longer is the quarterback taken at No. 13 in the first round, Ty Simpson of Alabama.

The Los Angeles Rams, currently the odds-on favorite to win the next Super Bowl, had a chance to draft an impact receiver or defender to truly put them over the line as the most talented roster in football.

Instead, head coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead chose Simpson, trusting in the current configuration of their roster and preparing for the future by selecting 38-year-old Matthew Stafford’s successor.

Simpson only played a single year at Alabama, but has been praised for his mechanics, his ability to play under center, and an extremely high football IQ that reportedly impressed the Rams’ brain trust.

Although there has been a series of pundits and scouts confused by the pick, wondering if Simpson was even worth a first-round pick alone going 13th overall, others see the savviness in the selection by a franchise that won’t likely have a chance to pick this high for a QB while Stafford is still playing.

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ESPN put out a new report on Monday, asking college coaches across the country for their thoughts on the 2026 NFL Draft, promising them anonymity in exchange for their honest opinions on the picks.

One coach from the SEC who had to play against Alabama and Simpson was high on his ceiling, especially given the situation he finds himself in with the Rams in L.A.

“It’s a great fit for him from a system standpoint, and who he’s going to be behind for a year,” the anonymous SEC coach remarked. “There’s a lot of similarities [with Stafford]. [The pick] was the biggest [surprise], a guy who didn’t have a ton of starts, but when he played, he played well. His long game is going to be really good.”

Only time will tell if it was the right choice for the Rams, but it won’t stop analysts, fans, and even former coaches from dissecting every upcoming play by Simpson this preseason for Los Angeles.

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This story was originally published May 4, 2026 at 7:37 PM.