Why the Rams see Simpson as Stafford’s heir apparent

Los Angeles–in June, Los Angeles Rams General manager Les Snead was doing “due diligence on quarterbacks” at the Manning Passing Academy in Thibodaux, Louisiana.

While there – and during the next year – the scouting staff identified Alabama quarterback ty simpson Such as “someone who will work well with [head coach] shaun [McVay] And he fits what we’re looking for at that position,” said director of scouting Nicole Blake.

In Simpson, the Rams took note of “his intelligence” and saw him playing in the pro-style system used by Alabama.

“He makes a lot of pro-style throws and it was very easy to see the translation,” Blake said.

Although Simpson made only 15 college starts after sitting back bryce young And Jalen MillerThe Rams thought he was the right player to draft as a potential successor. Matthew Stafford. Los Angeles selected Simpson with the No. 13 pick in last weekend’s NFL Draft.

According to ESPN Research, these 15 career starts are the fourth fewest by any first-round quarterback in the last 25 years. Only Anthony Richardson Sr.. (13), Mitchell Trubisky (13) and Dwayne Haskins (14) had fewer.

Rams assistant general manager John Mackey said the lack of games played was not something the staff was “overly concerned about.”

“He spent time learning in Alabama,” McKay said. “He was at a high level program and then we were able to evaluate all types of throws. He was in a lot of big moments so we felt there was enough of a sample size where we didn’t have any inhibitions about starters.

“…Based on what he put on tape we felt confident he was the right person.”

Snead said that although Simpson did not start his first three seasons, the quarterback “played maturely.”

“I think that’s the benefit of going places, staying tenacious and just trying to make plays,” Snead said. “There’s an element of sitting back, learning, growing and getting better.”

McVay added: “I think his ability to stay the course and go through some different challenging adversities shaped him.”

Simpson said he told teams during the predraft process that the years he spent at Alabama were “important – maybe more – than the years I played.”

“I had to learn how to practice,” Simpson said. “I had to learn how to study when I wasn’t playing because I never knew when that time was going to come. Whenever that time came, it was that year and I made the most of it.”

That tape – and subsequent meetings with the Rams – showed the team two things in particular: Simpson’s intelligence and his tenacity.

His first start last season came in Alabama’s opener against Florida State, a game the Crimson Tide lost. Simpson completed 23 of 43 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns.

“I grew up in Alabama,” Sneed said. “The sky was falling in the state of Alabama [because they lost]But probably beyond that point to see how they progressed as a team and how he progressed as a quarterback in the playoffs [stood out]”

After that loss, Simpson and Alabama won eight consecutive games and compiled an 11–4 record, which ended with a loss to Indiana in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. Mackey pointed to watching Simpson as one of his favorite November games, calling the quarterback’s performance “tough and courageous”.

“One game I always remember is when you saw him play against Auburn this year, where things were really messy,” McKay said. “He was under a lot of pressure up front and things were moving really fast. It’s not his best statistical game. It’s not a game where it stands out, but you see some moments of struggle. He was able to rise up and make plays to get them a big win.

“That was a game that really stood out. It’s not a game that everybody talks about. I think he only threw for 130 yards. When you watch that game and really evaluate the tape, you’re like, ‘Holy cow, it’s unbelievable you got them over the line.'”

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It was also on tape that the Rams saw how Simpson “was able to process, was able to read one, two or three backside throws,” Mackey said, all “things we have a big appreciation for in our offense.”

“You have to be smart to play here,” Blake said. “You can tell just by watching film that he knows how to play the position. He’s a super-smart quarterback. He obviously grew up with his dad as a coach, so he’s lived and breathed it his whole life.”

Simpson’s father, Jason, has coached UT Martin since 2006.

The Rams also expect Simpson to — or at least hope he — gets at least a year of practice reps before playing in a meaningful NFL game. Although the Rams have confidence in Simpson, McVay made it clear that whenever the time comes, it will be on Stafford’s terms.

Stafford, entering his 18th NFL season at the age of 38, was named the NFL’s MVP after leading the league in passing yards (4,707) and passing touchdowns (46) last season.

But the Rams drafting Simpson had less to do with timing than how much they liked the prospect. After all, although McVay has said that Stafford has earned the right to decide how long he wants to play on a year-to-year basis, he also said in league meetings in March that he wouldn’t be surprised to see Stafford play beyond the 2026 season.

“Especially for Shawn and the way we like to play, you can’t plug and play just any quarterback out there,” Blake said. “When you get somebody that you think fits into that system and everybody in the building we’ve got buys into that, I don’t think it really matters when you get them, you just get them.

“Maybe it’ll be two years, three years, four years, who knows. It’s a hard thing to find, so when you find it, you take it.”