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Matthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams reacts during the NFC Championship Game against the Seattle Seahawks.
The Los Angeles Rams must figure out what their plan is after Matthew Stafford, and the sooner the better. The 2025 MVP is back under center for 2026. However, he turned 38 in February, and the Rams could be in a prime position to draft his replacement.
That is in terms of both ammunition and timing.
The Rams also have the kind of infrastructure built to support a young QB. That is particularly true for one who may need some time to develop.
Rams Listed as Potential Landing Spot for Ex-Alabama QB
GettyTy Simpson #15 of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks on against the Auburn Tigers.
CBS Sports’ Jared Dubin listed the Rams as one of three teams he could see targeting former Alabama Crimson Tide QB Ty Simpson. It would be with the 29th overall pick in the 2026 draft.
Simpson is the outlet’s 33rd overall prospect and, like the consensus, QB2 in the class.
“L.A. has the benefit of allowing a quarterback to sit behind Stafford for at least a year, and Simpson seems like a quarterback who could use some seasoning, so he could be a fit,” Dubin wrote on February 23.
“The Rams have needs on defense, especially in the secondary, but with two first-round picks in this year’s draft, they could devote one to finding the quarterback of the future.”
Dubin called Simpson a “tough evaluation.”
“Inexperienced quarterbacks have generally been considered a risky bet for NFL teams, and those risks haven’t paid off in recent years,” Dubin wrote. “Still, Simpson is likely to be sought after when the end of April rolls around. He’s probably going to be the second quarterback off the board, and if he’s not, it surely won’t be long before he’s selected.”
Simpson threw for 3,567 yards and 28 touchdowns with 5 interceptions. He led the Crimson Tide to the CFP quarterfinals. There, they lost to the eventual national champions, the Indiana Hoosiers.
In addition to the Rams, Dubin listed the Pittsburgh Steelers (21st overall), New York Jets (33rd), Arizona Cardinals (34th), and Indianapolis Colts (47th) as potential draft homes for Simpson.
Former Executive: Rams ‘Like’ Ty Simpson
GettyTy Simson #15 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates a touchdown against the Oklahoma Sooners.
Given the apparent need and the ability to potentially sit and let him fall to them, former NFL player and executive Louis Riddick is a proponent of Simpson landing with the Rams.
More than that, Riddick suggested the Rams are interested in Simpson.
“I know, personally–Look, I know they like Ty Simpson,” Riddick said on “NFL Draft Daily” on February 14. “When you look at Ty’s skillset, and you think about Ty’s makeup, that’s exactly what they’re looking for.”
The Rams currently have veteran Super Bowl champion (as a backup) Jimmy Garoppolo and 2023 fourth-round pick Stetson Bennett IV behind Stafford on the roster.
Ty Simpson a Polarizing Prospect
GettyTy Simpson #15 of the Alabama Crimson Tide drops back to pass against the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship Game.
Not everyone is on board with the Rams selecting Simpson. AtoZ Sports’ AJ Schulte rejected the notion.
“There’s just one (ok, more than one) problem with this theory to me. None of this matches how the Rams have operated over the last decade. It doesn’t make any sense,” Schulte wrote on February 16, noting that Simpson makes sense for LA in that he is a quarterback, but nothing else of merit.
“Simpson’s game…doesn’t really translate to the Rams. He only has 15 games under his belt as a starter, and it shows in his response to pressure. He gets rattled far too easily, panicking into ill-advised throws and dropping his eyes into the rush. You can immediately see his feet get frantic, and his ball placement gets erratic. Additionally, he takes far too many sacks trying to make something happen, and he’s not talented enough to make that up.”
ESPN’s Field Yates pushed back, underscoring Simpson as a polarizing prospect. Round 1 of the 2026 draft is on April 25. The Rams will pick 13th and 29th, potentially giving them two attempts to land a QB of the future early on.
Josh Buckhalter covers the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. He has covered both leagues since 2016, including bylines at FanSided, Last Word on Sports and Clocker Sports. He’s based in Villa Park, Illinois. Follow Josh on Twitter and Instagram: @JoshGBuck More about Josh Buckhalter
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