Should Los Angeles Rams rookie quarterback Ty Simpson not secure the backup position, it will be a major step backward.a
Every player taken in the first round of the draft is usually viewed as a plug-and-play starter, but that is not always the case, especially for quarterbacks. Still, the Los Angeles Rams have made a significant investment in Ty Simpson, as he is now viewed as the successor to Matthew Stafford.
Simpson will sit behind Stafford for at least one year, but what happens beyond that remains to be seen. One thing is for sure: if the Alabama product loses out on the backup quarterback position, it will be viewed as a major step backward.
Simpson will battle it out with Stetson Bennett IV for the backup position, and it appears that the Rams are not looking into getting a veteran option, which is what head coach Sean McVay indicated in his recent media session on Tuesday.
The good aspect of not looking for a veteran option is that McVay might be plenty pleased with both Simpson and Bennett as the signal caller to step in should anything befall Stafford.
What would end up being a big negative is if Bennett happens to beat out Simpson for the backup position.
Sure, Bennett knows the system well, as he is entering his fifth year with the Rams, but he has mostly been kept on the team as the practice squad passer for obvious reasons. McVay praised the veteran with his leadership and command while Stafford was shut down in OTAS.
"I've seen tremendous growth. you know, he obviously with Matthew not being out here, um, based on the plan and the schedule that we've kind of thought was going to be best for him for, you know, for now and for the long term. Setson's gotten a lot more reps than he would have otherwise. And so, I think he's done a really nice job," McVay said.
While having a safety blanket in the form of Bennett, should he win the presumed quarterback competition against Simpson, it could derail his development in a major way.
Nobody can predict what will happen in the regular season, and Stafford has proven that he can play through injury and through an entire season. Still, the NFL can lead to unwanted situations.
If Stafford were to go down, it should be Simpson stepping in to lead this Rams team, not Bennett. The obvious reason is due to being drafted in the first round, but the other aspect of this statement is that the offense needs to still work with the Crimson Tide prospect under center.
There is a growing belief that Stafford may choose to walk away from the NFL in 2027, or he could end up playing for another team if the Rams choose to move with Simpson under center, but that would only be possible if he wins the backup position and shows he is capable of stepping in when called upon.
Simpson will get a full season to learn the ins and outs of the Rams offense under McVay while learning from the reigning MVP. If he does not have the right kind of skills to land that backup position, the investment will look like an immediate failure.
There might also be a situation where Stafford stays under center for two years, allowing Simpson the chance to learn even more. However, that would also not matter much if he were the third-string quarterback who plays with the practice squad.
Simpson is the future of this team and offense, and anything less than a step forward during training camp and preseason may prove the rumors that McVay was truly angry about the pick during his infamous draft night presser.
