Rams: (#13) 1st Round QB Ty Simpson

[A.J. Hicks]

I have not watched it all, but a comment on YouTube pointed out that Ty is taking notes the entire time. I skipped around and it appears true. One thing is for sure when it comes to Ty…if he’s not successful, it’s not going to be for a lack of effort.

He definitely takes notes the whole time....and Gruden is telling him to the entire time as well. I love these Gruden spots but man he can make it about himself real quick.

 

[El Chapo Jr]

If Stafford continues to ball out for 4-5 years, which is unlikely, the Rams have the option to do what the Pats did with Brady and Jimmy G. Towards the end of the contract, you trade the #2 for a 1st or 2nd and get much of your investment back.

Or if Stafford is finally retiring at that 4-5 year mark, since Simpson would be light on experience, you sign him to an extension that's 40% of what a starting QB goes for ala Malik Willis.

In the meantime with either scenario, you have a top-rated backup that keeps you on track to contend for Super Bowls if the #1 misses any time.

The ultimate goal with drafting him now is to have a prolonged SB-contending window, no matter what happens with Stafford.

No guarantee the scenario you're talking about plays out that way. If Stafford balls out and keeps Simpson on the bench, why would a team trade so much for an unproven QB? There's also a chance Simpson doesn't develop in that time of 4-5 years so signing him might not be an option. Lots of ways this can go whether good or bad.

 

[Memphis Ram]

None probably but I think 1 will drop to at minimum 20 but that's just a guess.

But at least he won't have elbow bursitis or lower back issues.

Not one person has told me that won't be an issue.

And having those issues as young as he is really worries me.

I believe that your concern about bursitis may be a bit overblown. You can get it by an infection after a cut or just a good hit.

And I had a lower back issue in high school and haven't had a problem since.

No one can predict the future but the guy had a medical check at the combine and was looked over by teams doctors there.

If there was a significant risk of an issue do you think he would have really been an option for the Rams?

I can't really recall the last time the team has used a day one or two selection on a player with a medical red flag.

Anyway, my theory is that the good QB that can keep drives alive with his legs scores more points.

 

[jrry32]

Realistically, I think Stafford is done in the next two or three years. If we win the Super Bowl in 2026, he may call it quits.

 

[DzRams]

No guarantee the scenario you're talking about plays out that way. If Stafford balls out and keeps Simpson on the bench, why would a team trade so much for an unproven QB? There's also a chance Simpson doesn't develop in that time of 4-5 years so signing him might not be an option. Lots of ways this can go whether good or bad.

Of course, if they miss on him this whole conversation is moot.

I'm addressing the angst related to Stafford balling out for the next 4-5 years, and the objection raised of the Rams losing a cost-controlled contract. I'm assuming he's a hit for the response.

We've seen this scenario before with the Pats. Jimmy G backed up Brady for three seasons and had thrown a whopping 94 passes with two starts over that time span. He had put enough on tape for the league to see he could start. Same with Malik Willis.

Even if Stafford plays at a high level for 5 more years, it's highly unlikely he won't miss some time due to injury or being rested at the end of the season. Simpson will have opportunities to put something on tape in those moments. Assuming he's a hit, he'll have trade value.

Bottomline, if Stafford is playing at a high level for the next half-decade, the SB window is still open. If he misses time or retires, they have an answer in place provided Simpson hits. There's no way to spin this as a horrible idea.

 

[Tano]

I believe that your concern about bursitis may be a bit overblown. You can get it by an infection after a cut or just a good hit.

And I had a lower back issue in high school and haven't had a problem since.

No one can predict the future but the guy had a medical check at the combine and was looked over by teams doctors there.

If there was a significant risk of an issue do you think he would have really been an option for the Rams?

I can't really recall the last time the team has used a day one or two selection on a player with a medical red flag.

Anyway, my theory is that the good QB that can keep drives alive with his legs scores more points.

Back issues are funny. You never know if it will be an ongoing thing or a temporary issue.

Doctors can't even tell you.

So maybe it is overblown but we won't know until 3 years from now.

And I have been around enough people with back issues where doctors tried all kinds of different things to help the person and nothing works.

 

[PARAM]

Realistically, I think Stafford is done in the next two or three years. If we win the Super Bowl in 2026, he may call it quits.

I'd think that would be understandable. Two SBs his last 6 years, an MVP (with the possibility of a 2nd if he's the overwhelmimg factor in a great season....and why wouldn't he be?), 3 other playoff losses, 2 being against the eventually Champion and the other against a very talented young team as well as the guy traded to get him in LA. On the other hand, coming back 1 more year to add to that resume would be difficult to turn down.

 

[thirteen28]

Well, one thing we can say. Ty Simpson hit the lottery. Not only was he picked well before the projections. He's going to a team equipped to give him all the time he needs to learn the nuances of playing at the highest level. He'll have first hand exposure to one of the best anticipators and processors of the game in Matthew Stafford. And a coach whose high IQ to maximize the talent when the time comes. All the things he needs to clean up he'll have the coaching and time. Come September we won't be thinking about the draft. We'll be watching our team battle and compete for a championship.

He most certainly did hit the lottery. If you looked at Simpson before the draft and asked "what is the best possible situation he could land in through the draft among the 32 teams?" the Rams situation would stand head and shoulders above the rest. Not merely a solid starter he can learn behind with no pressure, but the reigning MVP and future HOFer. Not just a decent head coach, but possibly the best in the league and one of the most innovative minds around. Not just any offense, but an offense that is geared towards the things he does well.

Although I was initially taken aback by the pick, I can certainly understand the logic behind it, and when you put it in the context of the situation he ended up in, it makes perfect sense.

Also, as a rebuttal to some of the critics of the pick, if the Rams win it all next year (which they can with their current roster - a pick at 13 won't be the ultimate difference maker) and Stafford rides off into the sunset, many would have asked why didn't the Rams take advantage of the 13th pick and grab a QB when they could have. And I'm confident the Venn diagram between those critics who would later bash us for not preparing for Stafford's eventual retirement are the same ones who are the loudest about the Rams doing so now.

 

[Memphis Ram]

Back issues are funny. You never know if it will be an ongoing thing or a temporary issue.

Doctors can't even tell you.

So maybe it is overblown but we won't know until 3 years from now.

And I have been around enough people with back issues where doctors tried all kinds of different things to help the person and nothing works.

That may be true and I don't know about the people you've been around, but, my guess is that millionaires and billionaires owners have access to the best medical options around.

 

[Tano]

That may be true and I don't know about the people you've been around, but, my guess is that millionaires and billionaires owners have access to the best medical options around.

That's true too but I have seen ballplayers with back issues not get better.

But then again Stafford had a really bad back problem before the season and he got better. So who knows.

 

[El Chapo Jr]

Of course, if they miss on him this whole conversation is moot.

I'm addressing the angst related to Stafford balling out for the next 4-5 years, and the objection raised of the Rams losing a cost-controlled contract. I'm assuming he's a hit for the response.

We've seen this scenario before with the Pats. Jimmy G backed up Brady for three seasons and had thrown a whopping 94 passes with two starts over that time span. He had put enough on tape for the league to see he could start. Same with Malik Willis.

Even if Stafford plays at a high level for 5 more years, it's highly unlikely he won't miss some time due to injury or being rested at the end of the season. Simpson will have opportunities to put something on tape in those moments. Assuming he's a hit, he'll have trade value.

Bottomline, if Stafford is playing at a high level for the next half-decade, the SB window is still open. If he misses time or retires, they have an answer in place provided Simpson hits. There's no way to spin this as a horrible idea.

Lmao, it actually has the potential, like any move, to be a horrible idea. If Simpson ends up busting (playing horrible whenever he does play) and there's other players we could have had that do great, then yes horrible idea. I'm not going to flat out say oh yes that's how it's gonna go down because we all have to give the guy a chance regardless of what side of the fence we sit on plus we just don't know. You also can't present any scenario and call it a win win because again, no one knows knows what will go down with Simpson. I wasn't a fan of him being drafted nor am I going to pretend that I have high hopes just because we drafted the guy. However, I've said multiple times, with Simpson and others before him that I'm not a fan of, I would love nothing more than to be dead wrong. I'll root for the guy when he plays like I do all Rams.

 

[El Chapo Jr]

He most certainly did hit the lottery. If you looked at Simpson before the draft and asked "what is the best possible situation he could land in through the draft among the 32 teams?" the Rams situation would stand head and shoulders above the rest. Not merely a solid starter he can learn behind with no pressure, but the reigning MVP and future HOFer. Not just a decent head coach, but possibly the best in the league and one of the most innovative minds around. Not just any offense, but an offense that is geared towards the things he does well.

Although I was initially taken aback by the pick, I can certainly understand the logic behind it, and when you put it in the context of the situation he ended up in, it makes perfect sense.

Also, as a rebuttal to some of the critics of the pick, if the Rams win it all next year (which they can with their current roster - a pick at 13 won't be the ultimate difference maker) and Stafford rides off into the sunset, many would have asked why didn't the Rams take advantage of the 13th pick and grab a QB when they could have. And I'm confident the Venn diagram between those critics who would later bash us for not preparing for Stafford's eventual retirement are the same ones who are the loudest about the Rams doing so now.

I wouldn't bash the Rams going all in to win a Superbowl with Stafford riding off into the sunset after this year without a QB plan in the stable. I'd celebrate the shit out of that. Superbowls are extremely hard to win period. No telling how good or bad Simpson will be. He'll have every opportunity to prove his worth, a great QB to learn from, and a mastermind coach. At the end of the day though, the kids gotta deliver once he's put on the spot.

 

[DzRams]

Lmao, it actually has the potential, like any move, to be a horrible idea. If Simpson ends up busting (playing horrible whenever he does play) and there's other players we could have had that do great, then yes horrible idea. I'm not going to flat out say oh yes that's how it's gonna go down because we all have to give the guy a chance regardless of what side of the fence we sit on plus we just don't know. You also can't present any scenario and call it a win win because again, no one knows knows what will go down with Simpson. I wasn't a fan of him being drafted nor am I going to pretend that I have high hopes just because we drafted the guy. However, I've said multiple times, with Simpson and others before him that I'm not a fan of, I would love nothing more than to be dead wrong. I'll root for the guy when he plays like I do all Rams.

Every pick is a horrible idea if they bust. I don't think you understand the concept of assuming the pick hits, which is the context here.

If Stafford is balling out AND Simpson hits, him sitting for a prolonged period of time is not a horrible idea.

 

[El Chapo Jr]

Every pick is a horrible idea if they bust. I don't think you understand the concept of assuming the pick hits, which is the context here.

If Stafford is balling out AND Simpson hits, him sitting for a prolonged period of time is not a horrible idea.

No, it isn't a horrible idea if Simpson hits which I'm not even sure why you think I don't understand that. However its almost like you're trying to not even consider the possibility that Simpson will not work out for some odd ball reason or like I'm trying to be convinced to buy in on the guy. Gotta take those rose colored glasses off and know it can go a number of ways, good, ok, bad, etc. Simpson has a lot to overcome historically because no QB has done well with the limited amount of starts he had in college. You're optimistic about his outlook and that's awesome. Nothing wrong with that at all. I'm not sold and need to see it happen in real time. If it's crow I eat, I'll gladly do it with extra helpings. If I'm right, I'm not going to celebrate it or gloat because ultimately it affects the Rams which sucks. We'll see how it goes. As the great Mike Tyson said, everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the mouth.

 

[badnews]

the Venn diagram between those critics who would later bash us for not preparing for Stafford's eventual retirement are the same ones who are the loudest about the Rams doing so now

100%, just a single circle of over-inflated outrage.

 

[RamFan503]

Sure, as I'm specifically referring to the Stabler sitting for 5 years comment. No one is waiting that long for a QB to develop in the Not For Long league. Now if we are moreso talking about Simpson, it becomes a horrible idea if Stafford continues to ball out and wants to keep playing. I say this because I want this team to win Superbowls which is the ultimate goal. If Stafford gives us the best chance, I personally could give zero fucks about Simpson getting his shot which makes the sitting idea suck ass because you lose even more years of control. Obviously no way of telling if that'll even be the case one way or the other, just simply answering your question.

In a year to year situation - which has been the case for the last two years - you have to think you need to somehow at least prepare for the inevitable, and we needed to address the QB situation THIS year. IMO of course and I’ve made no secret of how I would have gone about it. But if you are going year to year and hope for the best, you are not addressing it. Even though I wanted a later round pick, I still would have been really disappointed if they didn’t draft SOMEONE. We may be in a window where wasting a #1 pick makes THE most sense. I’m good with wasting it now if that is what it means.

I think the idea of Ty sitting for 5 years is kind of ridiculous. But if that means we are having Staff playing at a high level for that long - which I think is also ridiculous - I’m still good with addressing it now.

In the grand scheme of things, sitting a QB vs drafting another rookie is a smart move as no rookie outside of MAYBE Love would have moved the needle anyway.

Just my opinion but all this hand wringing is fools folly. We all know we need to address the future at QB. Most of us don’t feel Stetson is that future. So then what? We trade several first rounders to move up to grab a QB next year? A QB that might have to start as a rookie? We’re not getting that kind of rookie QB unless we move WAY up.

We took a stab. Because we didn’t trade away any real draft capital, we are potentially in no worse position than if we took another rookie at another position and that guy didn’t pan out - or even if he did - the most important position is QB - bar none. If we hit it, Snead is a genius. If we missed, he’s still far better than Lynch.

I’m excited to watch Ty in preseason. I didn’t want us to take him. But now I want him to show some signs and give us some post Staff hope. I’m with several of you (@Memphis Ram ) in really wanting to see what McVay can do with shaping a young QB.

 

[TheTackle]

Realistically, I think Stafford is done in the next two or three years. If we win the Super Bowl in 2026, he may call it quits.

If the team and coaching is as good as it now looks on paper I think both are high probabilities

Go Rams!

 

[El Chapo Jr]

In a year to year situation - which has been the case for the last two years - you have to think you need to somehow at least prepare for the inevitable, and we needed to address the QB situation THIS year. IMO of course and I’ve made no secret of how I would have gone about it. But if you are going year to year and hope for the best, you are not addressing it. Even though I wanted a later round pick, I still would have been really disappointed if they didn’t draft SOMEONE. We may be in a window where wasting a #1 pick makes THE most sense. I’m good with wasting it now if that is what it means.

I think the idea of Ty sitting for 5 years is kind of ridiculous. But if that means we are having Staff playing at a high level for that long - which I think is also ridiculous - I’m still good with addressing it now.

In the grand scheme of things, sitting a QB vs drafting another rookie is a smart move as no rookie outside of MAYBE Love would have moved the needle anyway.

Just my opinion but all this hand wringing is fools folly. We all know we need to address the future at QB. Most of us don’t feel Stetson is that future. So then what? We trade several first rounders to move up to grab a QB next year? A QB that might have to start as a rookie? We’re not getting that kind of rookie QB unless we move WAY up.

We took a stab. Because we didn’t trade away any real draft capital, we are potentially in no worse position than if we took another rookie at another position and that guy didn’t pan out - or even if he did - the most important position is QB - bar none. If we hit it, Snead is a genius. If we missed, he’s still far better than Lynch.

I’m excited to watch Ty in preseason. I didn’t want us to take him. But now I want him to show some signs and give us some post Staff hope. I’m with several of you (@Memphis Ram ) in really wanting to see what McVay can do with shaping a young QB.

I have zero against the folks that think it was a good idea to draft Simpson. I'm just not there unfortunately. I thought he was pushed up the board big time due to a really weak QB draft class. I think its entirely false to say that the Rams had to take a QB THIS year for a eventual Stafford replacement. Sometimes some positions are ignored and it is what it is. However, reality is the Rams took their shot at a QB. It'll either work out or it won't. Its jmo that the Rams missed an great opportunity to add a player that can contribute this year to a championship run. Time will certainly tell how the shot works. Definitely agree that Snead is much better than Lynch. I'm more excited to see how Stafford plays and how our defense looks going after a Lombardi. Other than preseason, Simpson is an afterthought to me once the regular season kicks in.

 

[TheTackle]

I have zero against the folks that think it was a good idea to draft Simpson. I'm just not there unfortunately. I thought he was pushed up the board big time due to a really weak QB draft class. I think its entirely false to say that the Rams had to take a QB THIS year for an eventual Stafford replacement. Sometimes some positions are ignored and it is what it is. However, reality is the Rams took their shot at a QB. It'll either work out or it won't. Its jmo that the Rams missed a great opportunity to add a player that can contribute this year to a championship run. Time will certainly tell how the shot works. Definitely agree that Snead is much better than Lynch. I'm more excited to see how Stafford plays and how our defense looks going after a Lombardi. Other than preseason, Simpson is an afterthought to me once the regular season kicks in.

Well said. It will be fascinating to see Lemon play. I would question whether he would thrive in our system when so many targets go elsewhere and the playbook is so much more complicated and nuanced than USC. The knife cuts both ways

 

[TheTackle]

The biggest reason why Ty Simpson is the best fit to be Matthew Stafford successor in the Rams​

Angel Nakamura

The former Alabama quarterback put up some great numbers

The Los Angeles Rams selected Ty Simpson with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft as a way of signaling more than just a long-term plan behind Matthew Stafford.

It reflects a belief that Simpson already possesses one of the most translatable traits for NFL success: elite decision-making.

During his time at Alabama Crimson Tide, Simpson posted the lowest interception percentage in program history at 0.96%. Over 523 career pass attempts, he threw just five interceptions. The number stands out for a program that has produced top-tier quarterback talent for decades.

It's not just about avoiding mistakes​

Simpson consistently showed the ability to read defenses quickly and deliver accurate throws within structure. Playing in a pro-style system at Alabama, he was asked to make NFL-type reads, operate under pressure and attack multiple levels of the field. That experience reduces the learning curve as he transitions to the next level.

In his lone season as a full-time starter in 2025, Simpson led Alabama to the College Football Playoff while putting together one of the most efficient passing seasons in school history. He ranked near the top of multiple single-season categories, including passing yards, completions and touchdowns, while maintaining a 64.5% completion rate.

According to Pro Football Focus,Simpsontied for the most "big-time throws" in the FBS with 30 - high-level passes that require precise timing and placement, often into tight windows. That combination of aggressiveness and control is rare

Strength in the intermediate passing game​

He threw for over 1,000 yards on passes traveling 10 to 19 yards downfield, an area heavily emphasized in Los Angeles' offense. He also excelled in play-action situations, posting a 121.4 passer rating with 10 touchdowns and just one interception. That aligns with a Ramssystem that has historically leaned on play-action at one of the highest rates in the league.

Ty processes information quickly, limits risk and still creates explosive plays. That's the balance NFL teams look for, especially in quarterbacks expected to eventually take over for established veterans. There are still questions, as there are with any rookie.

Simpson only has one full season as a starter, and the jump to the NFL will test his ability to maintain that level of efficiency against faster, more complex defenses. But if there's one reason to believe he can succeed, it's already on tape.

The biggest reason why Ty Simpson is the best fit to be Matthew Stafford successor in the Rams

The Los Angeles Rams selected Ty Simpson with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft as a way of signaling more than just a long-term plan behind Matthew Stafford.

amp.marca.com