“He’s a Career Backup” – Ex-NFL GM Fires Harsh Assessment of Rams Rookie QB Ty Simpson

Former Commanders GM views Rams rookie Ty Simpson is a similar quarterback to JJ McCarthy and Mac Jones.

“He’s a Career Backup” – Ex-NFL GM Fires Harsh Assessment of Rams Rookie QB Ty Simpson

Ty Simpson (Image via IMAGO)

A former NFL general manager is calling Ty Simpson a career backup quarterback. He sees Simpson in the same mold as JJ McCarthy and Mac Jones.

After much speculation leading up to the 2026-27 NFL draft, the Los Angeles Rams shocked the football world by selecting ex-Alabama quarterback Simpson 13th overall in the first round. With Matthew Stafford extending his stay, Simpson must wait for his chance to start for the Rams.

Recent reports indicate that Simpson is competing with former Georgia QB Stetson Bennett for the number two job behind Stafford. Fans will know the outcome of the battle at the end of training camp in July.

Meanwhile, former Washington Commanders general manager Scot McCloughan predicted a bleak future for Simpson. McCloughan believes Simpson is a career backup at best and can never be a regular starter in the NFL.

I think the quarterback from Alabama [Ty Simpson] is over-drafted… But it’s the position alone, you know. I think, not being a guru, but he’s like [Minnesota Vikings quarterback] JJ McCarthy. He’s like [former New England Patriots quarterback] Mac Jones. He’s a career backup.

Scot McCloughan said on The Team 980 (H/T New York Post)

The Rams and Sean McVay eventually have to give Simpson a shot at being the starter, given where he was drafted.

They want to prove everybody right, you know, type of thing. And that’s not the way you should build a roster. Not at all.

McCloughan said as a veiled dig at Rams GM Les Snead and McVay
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The Rams earn a poor grade on the Ty Simpson draft

Simpson played only one full season for the Crimson Tide. He went 11-4, averaged 64.5% completion, and threw 28 touchdowns to 5 interceptions. Most mock drafts gave Simpson a late third-round grade, neck and neck with Miami’s Carson Beck, who played in the CFP Final last season.

“He’s a Career Backup”: Ex-NFL GM Fires Harsh Assessment of Rams Rookie QB Ty Simpson
Ty Simpson (Image via IMAGO)

Simpson impressed a lot of clubs at the NFL Combine and during his top 30 visits. This increased his draft stock from a projected third rounder to a late first-round draft pick.

Of course, the Rams taking him inside the top 15 raised ample eyebrows. McVay’s reaction didn’t help either. Later, multiple outlets reported that the Rams were secretly planning to take Simpson and even arranged meetings between him and McVay.

ESPN’s Seth Walder graded the Rams’ offseason business a C+.

They swerved drastically from their Super Bowl window-maximizing approach when they drafted Simpson with the No. 13 pick. Selecting a player who won’t play without a [Matthew] Stafford injury is the opposite of maximizing their current window. And it looks even stranger after the Garrett trade. It’s not because backup quarterbacks don’t matter — they do — but a veteran backup could have been had for much less capital.

Walder wrote

Several college quarterbacks play lights-out football in college but struggle in the NFL. It’s a completely different ball game.

JJ McCarthy winning a CFP title with Michigan helped him earn a first-round grade. The Vikings released Sam Darnold so that McCarthy could be the rightful face of the franchise. Despite finishing with a winning record, McCarthy was arguably one of the worst quarterbacks last year.

The New York Jets cut ties with first-round QB Zach Wilson even before he played out his rookie contract. Wilson is now bouncing around the league.

Simpson’s predecessor at Bama, Mac Jones, entered the league as Tom Brady’s successor. Three years later, the Patriots shipped him off, and now he’s a backup in San Francisco. Jones increased his stock a little bit last year while filling in for injured Brock Purdy. He went 5-3 as the starter.

Unlike the Rams, the Jets and the Patriots aren’t known for developing young quarterbacks. Analysts view McVay as a quarterback guru who brought the best out of Jared Goff and then won a Super Bowl with Stafford. If anyone can help Simpson become a starter in the league, it’s McVay. That said, he must surpass Bennett before thinking about replacing Stafford.

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