Matthew Stafford had one of the best seasons of his NFL career at 38 years old. He was a win away from his second Super Bowl appearance with the Los Angeles Rams, led the NFL in touchdowns and passing yards, and secured himself MVP.
At the end of the season, his status for 2026 was unknown, until he announced at the 2025 NFL Honors that he’s not done yet.
At the start of the Rams OTAs, general manager Les Snead discussed recent contract negotiations with Stafford ahead of the season: “Progress has been made. No timeline per se, but don’t expect any drama.” Stafford is in the building for the offseason program, entering a contract year.
However, despite knowing their QB1 was returning for at least following season, the Rams made quite a surprising pick in round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft. They obtained the 13th overall pick, where many expected the Rams to select USC receiver Makai Lemon or Clemson cornerback Jermod McCoy, but the Rams went down a different route.
The Rams selected Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson. For months, Simpson was rarely projected to be a first-round pick, let alone fall within the top 15.
Moments after the NFL commissioner Roger Goodell revealed that the Rams selected Ty Simpson at pick 13, ESPN’s Adam Schefter shared, “The Rams called their veteran QB Matthew Stafford today to inform him that they planned to select Ty Simpson.”
But what does this really mean for the young QB and veteran duo?
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Ty Simpson Set to Succeed Matthew Stafford in Future Seasons
Just because the Rams drafted Ty Simpson, does not mean that he will be taking Matthew Stafford’s spot next season. Sean McVay and Les Snead are typically a “win now” franchise, and proved that with their offseason transactions, but their draft plans paints a different picture.
Rams beat writer Adam Grosbard explains how Simpson could be a good fit, noting that he only started one year in college and needs a place to learn and grow.
“Ty Simpson only started one year in college, Grosbard wrote in his tweet. “He needed somewhere that he could sit and learn. He will definitely get that behind Matthew Stafford for at least one year with the Rams.”
“Ty Simpson said he had minimum contact with the Rams during the draft process,” Grosbard said in a follow up tweet. “Acknowledged that waiting behind Matthew Stafford will be similar to his college career and he looks forward to absorbing everything he has to offer.”
Sean McVay is a developmental coach, while selecting Simpson at pick no. 13 is somewhat surprising, their decision to have him learn as Stafford’s successor isn’t.
The last time the Rams selected a quarterback in the first round was in 2016 with Jared Goff, although now a Detroit Lion, McVay turned Goff into an elite quarterback.
GettyTy Simpson rose to No. 13 in the draft on Thursday.
Social Media Reactions to Rams Selecting Ty Simpson
The Rams had a silent draft following the selection of Simpson, but social media has had quite the opposite reaction.
On the flip side of things, former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III shared that he thinks Simpson will thrive under the Rams offensive scheme:
“The Rams just got their heir apparent to Matthew Stafford in Ty Simpson out of Alabama,” Griffin III wrote. “He is a POINT GUARD QB that thrives off of anticipation, a quick trigger release, and enough athleticism to create outside the structure of the play. In Sean Mcvay’s system, Simpson doesn’t need to be Superman. He just needs to distribute the ball accurately and make the right decision. Simpson has enough gunslinger mentality in him to make the transition from Stafford to him digestible for the coaching staff. SHOCKER OF THE 1st round, but when you know you want a guy JUST GO GET HIM.”
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