The Atlanta Falcons could only sit back and watch this year's first round of the 2026 NFL Draft after trading this year's pick to add both Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. an offseason ago. Still, fans couldn't help but pay attention to what would have been their pick, which now was held by the Los Angeles Rams. The franchise didn't disappoint Atlanta fans when it came to entertaining, selecting former Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson No. 13 overall.
It was arguably the draft's most surprising moment for a team that is clearly focused on chasing a Super Bowl with aging quarterback Matthew Stafford. Former Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett remains a backup option, but clearly wasn't viewed as a player the franchise wanted to step in and take over when Stafford walks away. Still, it was a shock to see a contender opt to utilize the pick for a position that has so much stability.
For the Falcons, Simpson would've been an interesting option if the franchise still held its own first-round selection. Michael Penix Jr. is coming off an underwhelming season and remains a question mark after yet another serious injury. While there is no denying Pearce's impact, it was difficult to sit back and consider the potential options now out of Atlanta's reach.
Wide receiver Makai Lemon and offensive tackle Blake Miller both were clear fits for the Falcons and were still on the board when the No. 13 pick was on the clock. Still, it is hard to fault the Falcons due to the clear pass-rush improvement.
Atlanta's Trade Pick Used to Make 1 of Draft's Most Surprising Decisions
Los Angeles using the selection to take a quarterback will at least give Atlanta fans a short-term reprieve from an obvious comparison. Stafford is expected to play beyond this season, leaving plenty of runway for Pearce to produce for Atlanta while Simpson is presumably stuck on the Los Angeles bench.
With that said, there is no question that Atlanta will be tied to Simpson's story as a pro. If the signal caller were to develop into a capable franchise quarterback while the Falcons continued searching for answers, there would be obvious frustration for a franchise that has watched a revolving door at the position.
Simpson, making his way into the top 15 picks even as a quarterback, was a clear shock, distracting from the fact that the Falcons didn't have their own selection. Perhaps even more notable was the team's decision not to trade Kyle Pitts or another key piece to get back into this year's first round. Leaving the focus on the odd decision from Los Angeles, starting speculation on whether the Falcons missed out on a possible franchise quarterback.
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