What to make of Rams Ty Simpson surprise and more first-round 2026 NFL Draft takeaways

Matthew Stafford’s reward for winning NFL MVP is a ticking clock in the shape of Ty Simpson.The Rams delivered the biggest surprise of the NFL Draft’s first round Thursday when they drafted Simpson at No.13 and put an early end to the foolish idea that the Alabama quarterback might have to wait until the second round to hear his name called.The pick came with shades of 2024, when the Falcons signed Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million free-agent contract but turned around and drafted Michael Penix Jr.

at No.8 to create an awkward quarterback dynamic that appears to have double-flopped. The Rams avoided making the mistake that the Falcons made in not cluing in Cousins and let Stafford, 38, know ahead of time that Simpson could be their pick but that the starting job is his for as long as he wants to play.

Whether that remains true under pressure if the Super Bowl hopefuls falter remains to be seen in the fall, but Simpson sat for four seasons at Alabama before making his first 15 career starts last season.Rams backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is considering retirement.Before Simpson entered the draft, his father, a high school coach, reportedly spoke to Rams general manager Les Snead for advice on how his son would be seen by the NFL.The word was that Simpson would be a first-round pick — and Snead might have tipped his hand of his own interest.Simpson was a one-year starter at Alabama, and the recent track record for quarterbacks with fewer than 30 career college starts is alarming.Twelve of the 20 quarterbacks picked in the first or second round of the 2021-25 drafts made fewer than 30 starts.

Drake Maye and C.J.Stroud are the only Pro Bowlers on the list, the jury is out on Bryce Young and J.J.

McCarthy, Tyler Shough impressed as a rookie, and then you have busts Zach Wilson, Will Levis, Kyle Trask, Justin Fields, Mac Jones, Trey Lance, and Anthony Richardson, most of whom already are well-traveled.Here are five other takeaways from the first rou...