For the Los Angeles Rams, Matthew Stafford remains the clear No. 1 quarterback after winning the NFL MVP award following a dominant season. So, when Los Angeles used the No. 13 overall pick on Ty Simpson, the decision left plenty of fans confused.
Now, Simpson sits behind Stafford and Stetson Bennett on the depth chart as the Rams’ third quarterback. Still, the young passer refuses to let his role change how he approaches his work.
Ty Simpson Explains Approach Despite Being Rams QB3
After making his preseason debut for the Rams, Simpson explained that he prepares as if he could be called upon at any moment.
“My mindset doesn’t change at all. I’m still gonna, you know, try to prepare like I’m gonna play because you never know what happens,” he said.
Rather than treating his current role as a reason to sit back, he wants to absorb everything Stafford can teach him.
BE THE GM OF YOUR FAVORITE TEAM: PFN’s Free NFL Mock Draft Simulator
“I say that all the time, you know, just because of, you know, past experiences with me and, you know, if anything, right, like, I’m trying to soak up as much knowledge as I can, and what better guy to do it from than, you know, Matthew?” he also added.
Simpson concluded by saying, “I’m gonna try to prepare as best I can and make sure, you know, I ask, you know, all the questions that I need to go in there and have confidence because, you know, if his helmet snaps off or something happens, right, I got to go in there, execute, and make sure that our offense doesn’t, you know, take a dip.”
That mindset already showed up during Week 1 of the NFL preseason, when Simpson finally got his first taste of NFL action. He completed 21 of 25 passes for 190 yards and 2 touchdowns, putting together an efficient outing from start to finish.
Simpson looked comfortable reading the defense and delivered several impressive throws. However, preseason numbers always need some context. He faced the Kansas City Chiefs’ backups rather than Steve Spagnuolo unleashing his full defensive scheme.
START PREPARING: PFN’s Free Fantasy Draft Simulator
Still, Simpson’s performance offered an early reason to believe his starter mindset could serve him well if the Rams ever need him.
In his final season at Alabama, Simpson posted an 85.4 grade in the PFN CFB QB Impact Metric, ranking No. 25 among 190 quarterbacks.
However, Simpson is unlikely to receive meaningful regular-season snaps, as Stetson Bennett currently holds the primary backup job behind Stafford. And Bennett has also made a strong case for that position throughout training camp.
The Rams’ head coach, Sean McVay, has praised Bennett’s approach.
“He really has [grown] and I’ve mentioned it,” said McVay. “He’s aggressive. He’s a playmaker. He’s going to be aggressive but not reckless. He can make some things happen off-schedule.”
“The way that we’re able to get in and out of the huddle in terms of his overall command has been significantly improved upon and the way that he works at it… It’s cool to be able to see a lot of the work that he’s put in pay off with the way that he’s playing and the respect he has from his teammates.”
So for now, Simpson’s path looks more long-term than immediate. The Rams drafted him as a developmental option while Stafford finishes the later stages of his career.
