What Ty Simpson pick means for Matthew Stafford, Rams QB room as retirement question looms
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The Los Angeles Rams selection of Alabama QB Ty Simpson was the first big shocker of the NFL Draft.
There were questions of whether Simpson would even go in the first round, but the Rams decided to make him Matthew Stafford's backup and successor. This is all coming off a year in which the Rams were one of the best teams in football and made it all the way to the NFC Championship Game.
While Simpson doesn't put pressure on Stafford in the moment, he does potentially put a timer on how long the Super Bowl champion remains in Los Angeles. According to several reports, the Rams made sure to give Stafford a heads-up before making the pick.
Rams are drafting QB Ty Simpson with the 13th pick. Sean McVay actually told Matthew Stafford today of their decision and made it clear it’s for whenever Stafford decides to move on @nflonfox
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) April 24, 2026
Stafford is set to remain the starting quarterback for the 2026 season, but Simpson's addition will add a different layer to the Rams' future. Here's what the Simpson pick means for Stafford.
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What Ty Simpson means for Matthew Stafford
In the short-term, Matthew Stafford is the Rams starting quarterback as Simpson will sit and learn behind him. However, this gives the Rams a clear successor for Stafford when Stafford decides to retire in the future.
Stafford's status with the team is year-to-year and dependent on the veteran quarterback's mindset after each season. Los Angeles will likely bring Stafford back every year as long as he wants to return, but Simpson gives the Rams insurance in case Stafford's contract status becomes an issue.
The Rams had the No. 13 overall pick thanks to a trade with the Atlanta Falcons last year, so the team picked in the first half of the first round despite losing in the NFC Championship Game. Therefore, Los Angeles doesn't believe it will be picking this high again anytime soon.
This pick can be compared to when the Green Bay Packers took Jordan Love while still employing Aaron Rodgers. In the short-term, Rodgers was still the starter and remained on the team for a few more seasons. However, Green Bay was able to develop Love in the background of competing for a Super Bowl.