LOS ANGELES — Matthew Stafford still throws darts. He led the Los Angeles Rams to a 12-5 record this past season, ripping passes through impossibly tight windows. But the clock stops for no one. At 38 years old, the veteran quarterback anchors a roster built to win right now, yet general manager Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay face a brutal reality. They need a succession plan.
Armed with the No. 13 and No. 29 picks in the Rams 2026 NFL Draft war chest, Los Angeles sits in prime position to grab Stafford’s heir apparent. With the NFL Combine kicking off this week in Indianapolis, the target flashing brightest on their radar is Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson.
You cannot ignore the elephant in the room. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza essentially locked up the No. 1 overall pick. The Las Vegas Raiders hold that top spot, and league insiders universally expect them to draft the Heisman winner. That leaves Simpson as the premier secondary option for quarterback-needy teams.
Simpson spent the fall lighting up the SEC. Watching him navigate the pocket at Bryant-Denny Stadium, you could feel the tension dissolve the moment the ball left his hands. He processes pressure instantly. He steps up, sets his feet, and fires. That mechanical consistency screams Sean McVay.
The Los Angeles front office famously skips the Combine, preferring to do their scouting in the shadows. But they know the board. The New York Jets sit at No. 2 and No. 16, desperately needing an offensive spark. If the Jets pass on a signal-caller early to draft a lineman, Simpson could slide right into Snead’s lap at No. 13.
“If you looked at him over those first nine games, getting the ball out, he was letting it rip. So for me, the Rams may be the good fit, the best fit for Ty Simpson if in fact he’s there near the end of the first round.”
— Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN NFL Draft Insider
Drafting a quarterback in the first round fundamentally changes a team’s offseason math. If the Rams use the 13th pick on Simpson, they sacrifice an opportunity to draft an immediate starter at offensive tackle or edge rusher. For a team fresh off a 12-win season, passing on immediate defensive help stings.
However, the long-term payoff justifies the risk. The Green Bay Packers modeled this perfectly with Jordan Love. You draft the kid, let him hold a clipboard, and let him absorb the offense behind a future Hall of Famer. Stafford is a master of the pre-snap read. Giving Simpson a year or two to study Stafford’s daily habits ensures the Rams do not collapse into a multi-year rebuild when their veteran finally retires.
Los Angeles holds the cards. The draft board will fluctuate wildly over the next two months, but keep your eyes on the trade wire. If Snead senses the Pittsburgh Steelers creeping up from No. 21 to steal Simpson, do not be surprised if the Rams package their picks to move up and secure their future.
