Ty Simpson Vindicates Rams’ Controversial First-Round Selection

Los Angeles Rams first-round pick Ty Simpson had a great start to his NFL career, quieting the doubters at least for a day.

In the first half of the college football season, Simpson looked like he was in the race with Fernando Mendoza for the first pick.

However, the second half flipped the script as he failed to maintain his level of play, and Alabama’s lack of a run game ultimately cost him.

He fell so far down the draft boards that by the time the NFL Draft arrived, Simpson did not have a first-round grade by most accounts.

Aug 15, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Ty Simpson (15) throws a pass against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half of the preseason game at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

The Rams ignored all of that and trusted their scouting, electing to take the quarterback as the long-term successor to Matthew Stafford rather than adding another offensive weapon or a player at a blue-chip position.

On Saturday, in his preseason debut for the Rams and the first real chance to evaluate him, Simpson shone brightly and looked like the player that the Rams thought was a first-rounder.

Aug 15, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Ty Simpson (15) throws a pass during the second half against the Kansas City Chiefs at at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Ty Simpson’s Rams debut

Simpson completed 21 of 25 passes, throwing for two touchdowns and 190 passing yards.

He was decisive, getting the ball out of his hands quickly and showing an ability to use his feet well on play-action rollouts.

There was little in terms of miscues, and for the most part, he thrived with what was called. There were not many advanced passing concepts or much of Sean McVay’s special sauce, but more important than anything, the game did not look too quick.

“Bless the fact that he was able to play in the SEC,” Rams quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone said of Simpson on the broadcast.

“So, the speed (for Simpson) is pretty good there as well. … Ultimately how we try to tell the quarterbacks to play the position is leading with their eyes and their feet.”

It is just the preseason, a very noteworthy caveat, but the Rams can take away a ton of positives from his showing.

Simpson’s ability to make tough throws will need to be tested, along with his command at the line of scrimmage in terms of audibles, but if he is needed for an emergency start, the Rams likely feel good about him running a vanilla offense.

He needs to show much more to be a worthy successor to Stafford, but all in all, hard to ask for more from a preseason debut.

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