Rams Draft Ty Simpson: What it Means for Jimmy Garoppolo’s Future

The Los Angeles Rams may have solved two issues by drafting Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson.

Simpson’s selection at No. 13 in the first round helps the team shore up their backup QB spot after Jimmy Garoppolo indicated he may retire.

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Garoppolo, 34, has played an important role in backing up Matthew Stafford, who is the reigning Most Valuable Player but also is 38 years old and has a history of injuries, including an aggravated disk in his back.

Ty Simpson makes Jimmy Garoppolo more expendable

Before the draft, general manager Les Snead made clear that the team wanted Jimmy G back.

“Jimmy has always been priority No. 1 for backup, so we’re letting him go through his process,” Snead said. “And then from there, we go to the next steps.”

Now that Simpson has been drafted, though, the calculus has changed, coach Sean McVay said Thursday.

“It is probably not necessary now going this route,” McVay said when asked about Garoppolo’s future.

As for who the backup will be, McVay didn’t name a frontrunner — but he also didn’t list Garoppolo as a contender.

“We’ll see. [Simpson] is going to compete with [quarterback] Stetson [Bennett IV],” he said.

Ty Simpson vs. Stetson Bennett: The 2026 Rams backup QB battle

It will be interesting to see Simpson and Bennett, both former SEC quarterbacks, compete for the backup spot.

Both were second-team All-SEC quarterbacks, though Bennett won two national championships at Georgia, an honor that eluded Simpson at Alabama.

Where Simpson has the edge, though, is in size, age and ability to be the Rams’ quarterback of the future.

There’s a reason Bennett, 28, was a fourth-round pick and Simpson, 23, was picked No. 13 overall, and that’s potential.

Simpson, who’s a couple of inches taller than the 5-foot-11 Bennett, has “franchise quarterback” potential, the Rams believe, as detailed by NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero — at least, as long as he can stay healthy.

Simpson struggled with injuries in the second half of the 2025 season and ultimately couldn’t finish the Rose Bowl game.

That said, the Rams were sold on what he can do when he remains healthy.

“This was Les Sneed’s guy, and we’ll find out in the years to come how well it works,” Pelissero said.

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