Stetson Bennett’s spot with the Rams is suddenly about more than just training camp reps. With LA taking Ty Simpson in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, Bennett’s path to sticking around has gotten a lot narrower, and the money side of the league may end up doing as much damage as anything on the field.
At the moment, Bennett reportedly has the edge over Simpson in camp. That should count for something, especially with the backup job in play this year. But the longer view is where things get tricky for Bennett, because the Rams may not make this decision based purely on who looks better right now.
The reality is simple: both quarterbacks are on rookie deals, so financially, there isn’t much separating them today. That changes once Bennett’s rookie contract runs out after this season. At that point, his next deal would cost more than Simpson’s, and for a pair of quarterbacks fighting over a backup role, that could be enough for the Rams to lean toward the cheaper option.
There’s also the obvious signal that comes with Simpson being a first-round pick. The Rams clearly believe he has real upside, or they wouldn’t have invested that kind of draft capital in him. Even if Bennett wins the job this year, that doesn’t guarantee the organization sees him as part of the long-term plan.
For Bennett, the answer is straightforward: compete every day and make the decision impossible. If he wants any shot at carving out a real NFL career, he has to beat Simpson now. And if the Rams eventually decide to move on after this season, Bennett needs to put enough good tape on film to give another team a reason to sign him.
It’s still hard to picture Bennett being out of the league a year from now. Whether it’s with the Rams or somewhere else, someone should be willing to bring him in because he’ll remain a relatively affordable option.
The bigger question is whether that next team would actually give him a chance to play. As time goes on, those chances only get harder to find.
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