The Arizona Cardinals have been the consensus choice to draft Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah sees another contender that most are overlooking.
The Los Angeles Rams don’t need a quarterback right now. That’s precisely why they make sense as a destination for a developmental prospect who started just 15 college games.
Why Daniel Jeremiah Identifies the Rams as a Team to Watch for Ty Simpson
Most draft analysts have fixated on the Cardinals as Simpson’s likely destination. Arizona holds the third overall pick and desperately needs a long-term answer after losing Kyler Murray to Minnesota in free agency. The fit seems obvious on paper, but Jeremiah, one of the league’s most respected evaluators, sees a sleeper candidate that shouldn’t be dismissed.
“Arizona is the team that makes the most sense for Ty Simpson,” Jeremiah wrote on X. “The question is, when would they pull the trigger? The Rams are the other team I’d keep an eye on.”
The Rams hold the 13th overall pick after acquiring it from Atlanta last year. Matthew Stafford recently won MVP at age 37, throwing for 4,707 yards and a league-leading 46 touchdowns while leading Los Angeles to the NFC Championship Game. He’s confirmed his return for 2026, but Sean McVay has openly discussed planning for life after his franchise quarterback.
Simpson’s limited résumé becomes an asset in this scenario. The Alabama product made 15 starts across four seasons with the Crimson Tide, completing 64.5% of his passes for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions in 2025.
Scouts see elite processing ability, polished footwork, and the football intelligence that typically requires years to develop. What he lacks is experience managing an NFL-caliber pass rush and consistency on deep throws.
Those weaknesses need time to correct. The Green Bay Packers have proved the value of patience when Jordan Love sat three seasons behind Aaron Rodgers before emerging as a franchise quarterback. Simpson could follow a similar track, learning McVay’s system and studying Stafford’s preparation habits without the pressure of immediate starting duties.
Simpson’s Limited College Starts Could Be a Feature for the Rams
The criticism around Simpson’s 15 career starts typically frames it as a red flag. For a team like Los Angeles, it might be the opposite.
Stafford has publicly entertained playing through 2027, and McVay said he would believe his quarterback if he wanted “a couple more years.” That timeline gives Simpson the runway to develop properly.
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He wouldn’t need to play in 2026 or potentially 2027. The fewer college snaps on his body, the fresher his legs when he eventually takes over.
Simpson profiles as a scheme fit for what McVay runs. He attacks intermediate windows with anticipation, resets his feet quickly in the pocket, and shows sneaky athleticism as a runner.
PFSN’s scouting report on Simpson stated: “One of Simpson’s best traits is his mechanical profile; he has some of the cleanest throwing form in the class, with consistent sync and hip torque across situations. And in his best moments, he’s shown he can quickly discern coverage voids pre-snap and anticipate over the middle.”
“That said, his post-snap processing and trigger run hot-and-cold, his situational precision falters too often in spite of his solid mechanics, and his non-elite arm strength shows up when attempting to drive passes downfield,” the report noted. “With his general freneticism, Simpson could’ve benefitted from returning to school, but in a scarce QB class, he’s the best positioned to benefit.”
The Rams’ only current backup is Stetson Bennett, who has never appeared in a regular-season game. Investing premium draft capital in Stafford’s successor makes more sense than adding a rotational piece to an already loaded roster. Simpson would join Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp, and a championship-caliber supporting cast ready to maximize his transition whenever it arrives.
