The Rams cleared one of the last offseason loose ends Saturday, getting first-round quarterback Ty Simpson under contract just as training camp ramps up.
Simpson’s new deal is a fully guaranteed four-year rookie contract worth $25.4 million, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. It also includes a $14.94 million signing bonus and a fifth-year team option Los Angeles can pick up after the 2029 season.
That matters because Simpson had been the lone unsigned first-round pick from the 2026 draft class when camp opened, and the delay had raised the possibility that he could miss valuable early reps. Now that’s off the table. He can get to work immediately as the Rams begin full-team practices and sort out the backup quarterback battle behind Matthew Stafford.
The timing is especially important for a rookie quarterback learning Sean McVay’s offense. Stafford is expected to handle most of the first-team work when healthy, which leaves Simpson and Stetson Bennett fighting over a limited number of snaps.
Every practice counts in that kind of competition, and missing even a few could have given Bennett a real edge. Simpson won’t have that problem now.
Los Angeles used the No. 13 overall pick on Simpson in the 2026 NFL Draft for more than just depth. The Rams see him as a possible long-term answer behind Stafford, and they knew they might not get another chance to draft that high anytime soon after finishing 12-5 and reaching the NFC Championship Game last season.
For now, though, the job in front of Simpson is simpler: beat out Bennett for the No. 2 role.
Bennett has a head start in the system and drew praise from McVay for the progress he made during the offseason, which gives him a real shot to open the season as Stafford’s primary backup. Simpson, meanwhile, brings first-round talent and the kind of quick processing that fits McVay’s offense. He’ll need to sharpen his decisiveness under pressure and get better at sensing rushers bearing down on him.
Stafford still has the starting job locked down. The reigning NFL MVP led the league with 4,707 passing yards and 46 touchdowns before signing a one-year, $55 million extension that keeps him under contract through the 2027 season. That gives the Rams room to develop Simpson without forcing him into action before he’s ready.
There is still one more quarterback wrinkle Los Angeles could explore. Jimmy Garoppolo reportedly considered retirement after the last two seasons as Stafford’s backup, but he remains open to playing in 2026 if the right opportunity comes along. A return to the Rams would give them a veteran insurance policy if Simpson and Bennett both come up short, though it would also cut into the practice and preseason reps Simpson needs.
For now, the Rams have the paperwork done and the rookie in the building. The next step is finding out whether Simpson can handle the backup job right away.
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