Forget what you thought you knew about immediate impact players from the draft, because the Rams just dropped their Week One depth chart and it’s a head-scratcher. We’re talking about Ty Simpson here, the quarterback they nabbed with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. And guess what? He’s not QB2. He’s not even close. Simpson is listed as the No. 3 guy on the depth chart, and honestly, that’s a shocker given his draft capital.
Stetson Bennett Takes the Backup Slot
So, who actually snagged that backup spot behind Matthew Stafford? That would be Stetson Bennett, who’s officially listed as the Rams’ No. 2 quarterback for the upcoming season. This means our boy Ty Simpson is riding the pine behind two other QBs right out of the gate. Coach Sean McVay, ever the diplomat, apparently felt “good” about both Bennett and Simpson after the preseason wrapped up. But let’s be real, when pressed on who’d actually be Stafford’s primary backup, McVay clammed up, declining to make a definitive statement. Now we know, and it’s not the guy everyone was hyping up during the draft cycle. Bennett gets the nod, leaving a lot of questions about Simpson’s immediate future.
The No. 13 Pick Is a “Long-Term Project” , Seriously?
Now, here’s the kicker, and maybe the real story behind this surprising depth chart: Despite rolling with a sky-high No. 13 overall draft status, the word from inside the Rams’ camp is that Ty Simpson was brought in as a long-term project. Yeah, you read that right. He wasn’t supposed to be an immediate impact player, not even close. The dream, the big picture plan, is for Simpson to eventually be their starting quarterback down the road. But “down the road” clearly means a long, long way off. Right now, not only is he not the starter, but he can’t even lock down the No. 2 spot. It just reinforces that sometimes, those high draft picks are playing for the future, not for this season’s Week One snap counts.
So, if you thought the Rams were ready to throw their top draft pick into the fire, think again. This isn’t about immediate flashes; it’s about patience and a journey that seems to have just begun for Simpson. It’s a huge gamble on a high pick being a long-term play, and it’s gonna be wild to watch how this unfolds as the regular season kicks off. Will Simpson climb that ladder, or will the “long-term project” tag stick for longer than anyone expects?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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