Ty Simpson’s path with the Los Angeles Rams is already under a bright spotlight, and now the first-round quarterback is staring at another problem before training camp even opens: he still hasn’t signed his rookie deal.
That matters because Simpson was never a clean, universally celebrated pick in the first place. The Rams took him 13th overall in the NFL Draft, a choice that drew plenty of pushback because he wasn’t viewed as a top-tier quarterback prospect out of Alabama and many expected him to last longer. The fit also raised eyebrows since Los Angeles was supposed to be in win-now mode, with a Super Bowl window pushing the idea that the team would target someone ready to help immediately.
The reaction only got louder from there. At Simpson’s introductory press conference, Sean McVay didn’t come off as thrilled with the selection, even if he has softened that stance a bit since then.
The Rams, for their part, have kept trying to cool things down around their rookie quarterback. They’ve grouped him with the rest of the rookie class, and McVay has praised Stetson Bennett’s progress while avoiding any big public spotlight on Simpson.
Still, the scrutiny has never really gone away. When the Rams restructured Matthew Stafford’s contract and added another year, the pick looked confusing to plenty of people again.
Then came the report after the draft that the Rams would view it as a “win” if Simpson never started a game before the end of his rookie contract. That kind of reporting only added fuel to the fire around a player who was already being picked apart.
There have been some encouraging signs behind the scenes. Simpson has reportedly shown a good head on his shoulders and has been soaking up as much as he can from Stafford in the meeting rooms. He talked about that during OTAs, and the Rams have clearly tried to handle his development carefully.
But careful handling only goes so far. Simpson can’t afford much more noise, and missing training camp would be a bad look for a rookie who is already one of the most debated players in the class. Right now, he is one of six rookies from the 2026 class who have not signed, and the group also includes three other quarterbacks: Fernando Mendoza, Carson Beck, and Drew Allar.
That kind of holdout is less common now than it used to be. Since the rookie wage scale came in, these deals have become much more routine, with the real negotiations usually centered on secondary language like guarantee payout scheduling, offset language, and voiding rules. Shemar Stewart was unsigned until late July last year before both sides finally settled on contract language.
In Simpson’s case, the delay appears tied to the quarterback market around him. The expectation is that the players behind Mendoza are waiting to see how his deal is structured, and once that gets done, the rest could fall into place quickly.
The Rams also haven’t had a ton of experience with first-round picks, but they have generally handled their deals efficiently and usually announce them together. That makes Simpson’s situation, this close to camp, a little unusual for the organization. The ideal outcome is obvious: get the deal done before camp and avoid turning this into a bigger story.
Because the football side matters too. Training camp reps are valuable for Simpson, especially with the possibility that the Rams manage Stafford’s workload. That could open up more first-team snaps for Simpson and Bennett, giving both quarterbacks a chance to work in a more live setting than OTAs provided.
If Simpson misses those early days, he loses ground. He would also be starting behind Bennett in the fight for the backup job, and that competition is one of the more important position battles on the Rams’ camp roster. Simpson is expected to be ahead of Bennett by the time the regular season begins, but even a short delay could matter in that race for QB2.
The Rams have already been swallowed up by speculation about an Aaron Donald return after trading for Myles Garrett, but Simpson’s unsigned contract is right there with it as a major storyline. He’s being treated as the future behind Stafford, which only raises the stakes.
Back in 2023, the Rams got Matthew Stafford’s contract done before things could drift into a holdout. This one may be a little more complicated, but the goal is the same: get Simpson on the field.
If he misses the start of training camp, that’s not the kind of beginning he wants, and it’s not the kind of start the Rams want either.
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