Los Angeles Rams rookie quarterback Ty Simpson is ready to learn from one of the best signal-callers in the league, Matthew Stafford.
The Los Angeles Rams shocked the football world on Thursday night, using their 13th overall pick on Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson.
Many are not too happy with the pick, but Simpson couldn’t care less. The 23-year-old rookie spoke to reporters on a Zoom call after becoming a Ram. He spoke on a variety of topics, including eventually becoming Matthew Stafford’s successor.
In the interview, Simpson expressed his excitement to play in Los Angeles and learn from one of the greats in Stafford.
"(I admire) how cool, calm and collected he always is," Simpson said, "how he's so smart. He can manipulate the defense. And he's a gunslinger, like he has no fear. As a quarterback, you have to have no fear when you're in the huddle, and he slings that ball around and he makes other people better around him.
"I couldn't ask for a better situation."
Simpson is far too familiar with being a backup early on in his football career. In his time in Tuscaloosa, Simpson backed up the likes of Byron Young, Tyler Buchner and Jalen Milroe.
Some even suggested that Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer preferred to start Simpson over Milroe. Nonetheless, he was the backup for the first three seasons of his college career before he was eventually thrust into the starting spot in his senior season.
The Tennessee native will undergo the same thing in Los Angeles behind Stafford. The only question is how long he will be the backup? Stafford’s time in the NFL is up in the air. No one would be surprised if he were to retire after 2026 or play two more seasons. He is capable of doing either one.
The best-case scenario for Simpson is that he is the Rams' starting quarterback for the 2027 season. Worst-case scenario is the Rams name him QB1 in 2028 or possibly 2029, depending on how long Stafford wants to continue playing.
Simpson's time at Alabama was one worth noting. He played and started in 15 games for the Crimson Tide in 2025 and collected an 11-4 record. Simpson was stellar early on; however, injuries derailed his season a bit as he played through back issues, gastritis and elbow bursitis.
Health was an issue for Simpson; however, he did his best to prevail, and it did him some good with Los Angeles choosing him at 13.
Whether you like the pick or not, Simpson will learn from one of the best quarterbacks of this generation while having a legitimate chance to earn a ring right out of the gate.