Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is playing the best football of his NFL career at 37 years old.
The Rams also advanced to the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs on Saturday after defeating the Carolina Panthers 34-31. Despite this and Stafford leading the league’s No. 1 offense, per PFSN, conversations continue about when he will decide to call it a career.
Rams Predicted To Land Ty Simpson in 2026 NFL Draft
Although Stafford isn’t showing signs of slowing down, it’s understandable that the front office wants to be prepared for his retirement.
This is why PFSN’s latest mock draft from Alec Elijah sees the Rams select Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson with the No. 24 pick in the first round.
“[The] Rams should view Ty Simpson as an ideal quarterback to develop if Matthew Stafford’s career is nearing its end. His mechanics are clean and efficient, allowing him to defeat pressure before it arrives. The ball comes out quickly, his base stays balanced, and his release is compact enough to function under duress,” Elijah wrote.
In Simpson’s first full season as the starter at Alabama, he completed 64.5% of his passes for 3,567 yards, 28 passing touchdowns, and five interceptions. He also added 93 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.
Simpson is already 23 years old, which means he may not see the field till age 25 or 26 if Stafford continues to perform at the level he did in the 2025 regular season. This is a similar situation to how the Green Bay Packers bridged the gap between Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love.
Elijah continued, “Simpson processes information rapidly, cycling through reads quickly enough to make secondary options viable even under intense pressure. What ties it together is leadership. Simpson controls the huddle, communicates with confidence, and brings cohesion to the offense through his presence.”
Simpson would have the privilege of learning behind an all-time great in Stafford if Los Angeles opts to focus on its future in Round 1.
