The Los Angeles Rams are in a tailspin. After a promising offseason that included a bold move to draft former Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson in the first round, the team has stumbled to a 2-4 record, and the whispers are growing louder: it's time to hand the keys to the rookie.
The Rams' latest setback came in a narrow 18-16 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, a game that exposed an offense lacking its usual spark. Just a week earlier, they fell to the Buffalo Bills in a 37-34 shootout. Two straight losses, a last-place tie in the NFC West, and suddenly the season feels like it's slipping away.
Enter Ty Simpson. Drafted 13th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, Simpson was widely seen as the heir apparent to Matthew Stafford—perhaps in a year or two, after one more Super Bowl push. The blueprint is familiar: the Chiefs did it with Patrick Mahomes behind Alex Smith, and the Packers did it with Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love. But the Rams' current trajectory may force a change sooner than anyone anticipated.
Pressure is mounting from all corners. Turf Show Times, SB Nation's Rams blog, is unequivocal: "If LA would have ignored the backup quarterback position as they had done in recent years, there would be no conversation. Instead, this year is different. They drafted Ty Simpson thirteenth overall."
The blog goes on to argue that with the Rams tied for last in the NFC West, "the playoffs are far out of reach barring a dramatic reversal in overall team performance. This is a losing team. At some point you must accept who you are and decide who should be part of the turnaround next year." They don't mince words about Stafford either: "Matthew Stafford won't be back in 2027. He looks like a shell of his MVP form from a year ago."
Head coach Sean McVay has never been one to make rash decisions, and he reportedly wasn't keen on drafting Simpson in the first place. But if the losses keep piling up, the front office may force his hand. The Rams have a history of making tough calls when the time is right, and this could be one of those moments.
For now, Stafford remains the starter, but the clock is ticking. A couple more bad losses and the calls for Simpson will only grow louder. The Rams have a decision to make: stick with the veteran and hope for a miracle, or embrace the future now. As the season spirals, one thing is clear—something has to change in Los Angeles.
For more on quarterback controversies across the league, check out the Seahawks' dilemma with Sam Darnold and Tony Gonzalez's take on Bo Nix.
