The Los Angeles Rams spent a portion of the spring charting a path beyond the present by using the No. 13 overall pick on quarterback Ty Simpson, even as Matthew Stafford capped the most productive season of his career and claimed the NFL's Most Valuable Player award.
Preparing for a transition
The Rams' front office is operating with one eye on the here-and-now and one on the near future. A monumental 2021 trade that sent Jared Goff and multiple draft picks to Detroit in exchange for Stafford delivered a Super Bowl title at SoFi Stadium. But Stafford’s career continuation is being treated as uncertain — a year-to-year proposition — and he could still decide to step away after the 2026 campaign. Drafting Simpson is the franchise’s proactive answer to that possibility.
Simpson arrives in a locker room that is riding high on recent success, yet also conscious of the need for long-term stewardship of the quarterback position. Scouting reports and camp chatter will now shift to measuring how quickly Simpson can absorb the pro game and whether his upside would allow the Rams to hand him the keys as soon as 2027.
Styles and eras: where Simpson might fit
The NFL landscape has changed since Stafford entered the league. Many hall-of-fame-era pocket passers have retired in recent years, while a new wave of quarterbacks has emerged who blend arm talent with movement. The source lists several of those rising names — Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Drake Maye, Caleb Williams and Jordan Love — underscoring how the position’s prototype has shifted.
"But modern professional football almost requires quarterbacks to be able to win with their legs."
That observation frames the central evaluation the Rams must make: can Simpson develop the mobility and playmaking range now expected of top-tier passers, or will his strengths align more closely with Stafford’s veteran skill set? The answer will determine not only practice-room decisions but the timetable for succession.
Context and consequences
The Rams’ decision to invest a first-round pick in Simpson carries several implications:
- Insurance policy: With Stafford’s future uncertain, Simpson provides immediate depth and a plan for continuity.
- Long-term competition: Simpson’s presence creates a developmental runway that could yield a starting-caliber quarterback by 2027 if progression is steady.
- Scheme considerations: Coaching will need to balance play designs that maximize Stafford’s strengths while building a system that can accommodate Simpson’s eventual profile.
| Key milestones | Details |
|---|---|
| 2021 trade | Rams acquired Matthew Stafford for Jared Goff and draft capital; resulted in a Super Bowl title |
| 2026 season | Stafford posted his best season and won NFL MVP honors |
| 2026 draft | Ty Simpson selected No. 13 overall |
There is still time to evaluate Simpson’s traits and trajectory. Training camp and the preseason will reveal how he handles pro-level reads, the Rams’ protection schemes and the urgency of playing at NFL speed. For a franchise that secured long-sought hardware with Stafford, the present success does not erase the need for prudent succession planning.
The broader NFL trend — toward quarterbacks who can extend plays with their legs and make off-platform throws — will be a measuring stick for Simpson’s ceiling. Whether he becomes a successor who surpasses Stafford’s recent peak remains an open question, but Los Angeles has at least placed its bet on having options when the next chapter arrives.
