The Rams shocked the NFL world a little bit on Thursday night by taking Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and it partly had to do with  Bengals passer Joe Flacco . ESPN's Jeremy Fowler noted the team's inability to sign Flacco this offseason made them more willing to invest valuable draft capital in a young quarterback as opposed to a piece that will help Matthew Stafford win another Super Bowl. A Flacco Pursuit Dec 7, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco (16) warms up before a game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images | Mark Konezny-Imagn Images "The uncertainty around Jimmy Garoppolo's future played a role, too," Fowler wrote . "The team knew in March that retirement was a possibility for Garoppolo, a free agent, effectively leaving Los Angeles without its steady backup.…