Ty Simpson assessment from Rams OC should temper exaggerated concerns

The Los Angeles Rams do not expect much of anything in 2026 from rookie quarterback Ty Simpson. The plan is to put him on ice for a year or two while Matthew Stafford chases a championship. Still, they would like to see their No. 13 overall pick flash in a way that will get them excited for the future.

Not everyone is high on what they have seen thus far from Simpson as he battles former fourth-round pick Stetson Bennett, who is 28 years old and has as many NFL games under his belt as you and I do, for the primary backup job.

Offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase, however, has come away impressed, praising Simpson for his coachability and work ethic.

"Appreciate the way that he goes about his business," Scheelhaase said via ESPN's Sara Barshop. "He's an early-morning, stay-long type of guy, which you've got to be at that position. He's coming with the right mentality."

Rams OC praises Simpson amid reported OTA struggles

Simpson threw 28 touchdowns against just five interceptions in his lone season as the starter at Alabama. Putting up those numbers despite a volatile offensive line and minimal running game helped Simpson rise up draft boards. The whip-like arm and deep accuracy appealed to scouts breaking down his film. Scheelhaase's remarks echo Stafford's when asked what he had seen from his rookie understudy in OTAs.

Simpson does, though, have some major red flags he will need to work through. He doesn't have great positional size at 6-2 and barely over 200 pounds. He had only one year of starting experience in college. His lack of elite athletic ability and his sharp decline in play to end the season, in part due to lingering effects from an earlier injury, likely turned some teams away.

The Rams have the luxury of being able to slowly grind Simpson's flaws into dust, as they won't expect to see him on the field until Stafford retires. He won't be thrown into a game when he isn't ready, which could damage his overall development.

Fans would like to Simpson, the Rams' highest draft pick in a decade, separate himself from Bennett, who might win the backup job this season but isn't really part of the team's long-term plans. While Simpson marinates on the bench, Scheelhaase and the coaching staff will be able to invest the necessary time and energy to make him into a polished product.

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