Ty Simpson Signs Rookie Deal: What the Rams Are Getting in Their Backup QB Investment
Ty Simpson is officially signed. The last member of the 2026 NFL Draft first round to reach a contract agreement, the Alabama quarterback put pen to paper with the Rams this week on a fully guaranteed four-year deal worth about $19 million.
Los Angeles took Simpson with the 31st overall pick, which surprised most draft rooms. Everyone expected him to slide into the middle of the second round. The Rams pounced and got the quarterback they think is going to sit behind Matthew Stafford for one or two years before taking over.
Why the Rams Drafted Him
Stafford turns 39 next season. He is on the last year of his current deal. He said publicly this offseason that he might retire when the contract is up. That would leave the Rams with Jimmy Garoppolo as their starter and no plan for the future.
Sean McVay is not letting that happen. He watched Simpson at Alabama for two years, loved his poise in the pocket, and thought his mechanics translated better to the NFL than half the quarterbacks who went ahead of him.
The Rams did not need to draft a quarterback at 31. They wanted to. That is the difference between a well-run franchise and a desperate one.
What Simpson Actually Brings
Simpson is 6-foot-3 with a real NFL arm. He can make every throw the position requires. He is smart, mechanically sound, and does not turn the ball over in high-pressure moments. His college numbers were solid: 3,600 yards, 24 touchdowns and 6 interceptions in his one full year as the starter after replacing Jalen Milroe.
He is not a runner. He is not going to make plays with his legs when the pocket breaks down. That is why he slid in the first place.
But in Sean McVay’s system, mobility is not a requirement. Stafford has never been a runner, and the Rams offense has still produced elite passing numbers for years. Simpson is a perfect fit for what McVay wants to do.
The Development Plan
Simpson is going to be the No. 3 quarterback all year behind Stafford and Garoppolo. He will get reps in preseason. He will be in the meeting room every day learning from a Hall of Fame quarterback.
If Stafford stays healthy and plays well, Simpson does not see the field in 2026. If Stafford gets hurt, Garoppolo starts and Simpson holds the clipboard. Only in an emergency does Simpson play meaningful snaps this year.
The plan for 2027 is to have Simpson ready to take over. Stafford either retires or moves to a mentor role. Garoppolo is a bridge who might be moved for draft picks in the spring. Simpson becomes the guy in year two.
Why This Is a Great Investment
Look at the last five drafts. First-round quarterbacks who sit for a year before taking over almost always outperform the ones who get thrown in as rookies. Jordan Love. Patrick Mahomes. Aaron Rodgers. Even Jalen Hurts benefited from a season learning behind Carson Wentz.
Simpson is being set up to succeed. He has the best offensive coach in football teaching him. He has a Hall of Fame quarterback next to him. He has one of the best receiver groups in the league to inherit.
The Rams are not just drafting a quarterback. They are running the smartest quarterback succession plan in the NFL, and they got the last first-round pick for the guy.
The Verdict
Simpson signing is not a big story on its own. It is one more piece of an offseason where the Rams have quietly positioned themselves for the next decade of dominance.
Stafford is winning now. Simpson is winning next. And Les Snead is once again ahead of the rest of the league.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
