INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The 2026 NFL draft has begun in Pittsburgh. The three-day event continues with Rounds 2 and 3 on Friday (7 p.m. ET) and Rounds 4-7 on Saturday (noon ET).
The Los Angeles Rams made pick No. 13 the first round.
A full list of Rams’ selections are below, in addition to positional needs.
Round 1, No. 13: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
My take: The Rams hope they found Matthew Stafford‘s eventual successor in Simpson, selecting him with the No. 13 pick they received in their 2025 draft-day trade with the Atlanta Falcons. By picking Simpson, the Rams addressed a position that wasn’t a hole on a roster considered to be a Super Bowl contender in 2026, rather than taking a player who could help immediately. Rams head coach Sean McVay was clear Thursday night: “This is Matthew’s team.” McVay said Simpson will compete with 2023 fourth-round pick Stetson Bennett for the backup quarterback spot this offseason. Simpson said he was eager to learn from Stafford and McVay, the latter he called a “quarterback genius.”
When will he be expected to get regular playing time? That remains to be seen because every indication from McVay this offseason is that the Rams would love to have Stafford for as long as he wants to play. At the league meetings last month, McVay said Stafford has “earned the right to be able to be on a year-to-year basis.” Simpson probably will get significant snaps during training camp and the preseason, especially because McVay said he’ll be competing with Bennett to serve as the team’s backup quarterback.
What we’re hearing about Simpson: Rams general manager Les Snead praised Simpson’s “perseverance.”
“I think right now he’s still becoming, but I would say the journey that he’s had,” Snead said when asked what stood out about Simpson’s character. “I think the thing you appreciate is persevering through the ebbs and flows of going to Alabama, earning the job, getting his first — let’s call it — the opening game against Florida State and they lose that game. … but to see probably that from that point forward, how they progressed as a team [and] him as a quarterback.”
What’s next: The Rams currently have two Day 2 draft picks (No. 61 and No. 93). The Rams are likely to address more immediate needs, including a third wide receiver behind Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. The Rams could also add depth at cornerback, a position they addressed in mid-March by trading for All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie and signing Jaylen Watson to a three-year deal. Los Angeles could also add depth on the offensive line, especially because four of five starters are headed into the final seasons of their contracts.
Round 2: No. 61
Round 3: No. 93
Round 6: No. 207
Round 7: No. 232
Round 7: No. 251
Round 7: No. 252
