As July arrives, the Rams still have one big item left on their rookie checklist: getting Ty Simpson signed.
The first-round quarterback remains unsigned, and he is one of only two rookie first-round picks still waiting on a deal, along with Fernando Mendoza. That alone makes the situation worth watching, even if a holdout does not appear to be the expectation.
Under the rookie wage scale, these contracts usually move along without much drama. The holdout era for first-round picks is basically gone, with Shemar Stewart’s situation last year standing out and Roquan Smith’s earlier holdout before that. For most rookies now, the holdup is not about the total money so much as the fine print - things like guarantee payout timing, offset language and voiding rules.
Simpson’s contract should be relatively simple on paper. Spotrac has the 13th overall pick at $25.4 million in total value on the rookie wage scale. Last year’s 13th pick, Kenneth Grant, signed for $21.9 million.
Still, the fact that the only two unsigned first-rounders are quarterbacks is notable. Fernando Mendoza has yet to sign with the Las Vegas Raiders, and Simpson may simply be waiting to see how that deal is structured. He would not match Mendoza’s total value because he was taken 12 picks later, but the framework could still matter.
That kind of patience would fit the way these things usually unfold. Players and agents often wait on the details, and in Simpson’s case, the timing may be tied to Mendoza’s contract more than anything else.
The Rams also have a recent blueprint for how this can go. When they selected Jared Verse 19th overall in 2024, he signed in late May. And when the Rams finish their rookie class, they generally announce the group all at once.
Training camp is set to begin on July 25, which leaves the Rams a little more than two weeks to get Simpson under contract before players report. That matters because the team would prefer its rookie quarterback on the field from day one, getting the snaps he will not be able to pick up during the regular season.
There is also a clear connection on the representation side. Simpson’s agent is Jimmy Sexton, who also represents Matthew Stafford. That gives both sides plenty of familiarity after years of working through Stafford’s adjusted contracts.
For now, the best read is that this is a waiting game, not a standoff. The rookie wage scale has made true holdouts rare, and while Simpson is already drawing plenty of attention as Stafford’s future replacement, the expectation remains that a deal will get done. When Mendoza signs, the Simpson domino should follow.
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