Los Angeles Rams rookie quarterback Ty Simpson believes he already has a huge advantage despite not being projected to play in 2026.
Los Angeles Rams rookie quarterback Ty Simpson is set to be the face of the franchise once Matthew Stafford retires.
The 13th overall pick in this year’s draft has received a ton of criticism, largely because the organization went in a completely different direction than many expected. Nonetheless, the Rams feel confident in the pick as they believe Simpson will be the right person for the job.
In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated at the NFLPA Rookie Premier, Simpson said he believes he already has a major advantage compared to other rookies due to being under the wings of Stafford and veteran wide receiver Davante Adams.
““I think it’s really, really cool to, one, be in the room with Matthew, who has done it at a high level for so long, and then see it from a wide receiver standpoint with Davante and Puka,” Simpson said. “And Davante especially, because of him being similar to Matthew, but I think both of those guys are two guys who are one of the greatest at their positions. The fact that I can watch both of them at the same time on my team, it’s a big advantage for me.”
As far as his development goes, Simpson couldn’t have landed in a better situation. The 23-year-old will be behind a likely Hall of Famer and reigning MVP of the league. Stafford has done it all and seen it all in his career, and for Simpson to learn from a player like that could do wonders for the start of his career and beyond.
For the Adams side of things, his presence should be valuable for Simpson’s development and help him learn what it takes to consistently throw to — and build chemistry with — a star wide receiver.
The likelihood of Simpson throwing the ball to Adams consistently once he’s the starter is dim. If Stafford plays out the rest of his contract with the Rams and he retires, Simpson won't be the starting quarterback until the 2028 season.
Adams will be 35 years old at that point, and his time with the Rams and in the league may come to an end by then.
Sitting behind a veteran quarterback isn't always viewed as the ideal path for a young signal caller in today's NFL. However, Simpson has already shown he’s comfortable waiting his turn.
There may not be a better situation for Simpson's development than learning from some of the best players the league has to offer.
