The Los Angeles Rams didn’t make a splash selecting a quarterback in the early rounds. No blockbuster trade. No consensus top-10 pick. Instead, they went quiet, calculated, and late—landing Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson in the fifth round. It was a move few saw coming, but one that Albert Breer, one of the sharpest minds in NFL personnel reporting, dissected with surgical precision. Breer’s draft takeaways revealed not just that the Rams picked Simpson—he wasn’t even the most talked-about Alabama QB—but why, and how a player with limited college snaps became a cornerstone of their long-term quarterback strategy.
Breer’s insights cut through the noise. While most analysts fixated on bigger names and instant contributors, he highlighted subtle front-office signals: a shift toward developmental patience, a bet on physical tools over proven production, and a quiet but determined rebuild of L.A.’s QB pipeline. This wasn't just about drafting a player—it was about reshaping philosophy.
The Rams’ Quarterback Problem Before the Draft
The Rams entered the draft with a glaring hole at quarterback. Matthew Stafford, once the engine of a Super Bowl run, was now recovering from multiple injuries and entering the back half of his 30s. Stetson Bennett, the short-term bridge, showed grit but lacked the arm talent and scalability to be a franchise answer. The Rams didn’t need just a backup. They needed a future.
But they didn’t draft a future No. 1. Instead, they zigged when the league zagged. While teams like the Bears and Raiders reached for names, L.A. waited. And waited. They didn’t make a pick until the third round. Their quarterback didn’t come until Day 3.
Breer noted this wasn’t incompetence—it was strategy. The Rams, under GM Les Snead and coach Sean McVay, had grown allergic to overdrafting quarterbacks. Jared Goff cost a king’s ransom. They wouldn’t repeat that. So they adopted a build-from-below approach: late-round fliers on high-upside athletes who could be molded in their system over years, not weeks.
Why Ty Simpson? Breer’s Breakdown of the Fit
Albert Breer zeroed in on three factors that made Simpson attractive to the Rams, far beyond the surface-level scouting report:
- Physical Tools That Translate
- Simpson’s 6'3", 215-pound frame, 4.47-second 40-yard dash, and 9.96-second three-cone drill lit up combine metrics. Breer emphasized that the Rams value movement and play-extension—traits baked into McVay’s offense since his Washington days. “When you watch Simpson scramble and keep his eyes downfield while on the move, you see a prototype for what this offense wants,” Breer said on The MMQB. “He’s not just fast—he’s aware fast.”
- Alabama Quarterback Development Pipeline
- Breer pointed out the Rams’ quiet respect for Alabama’s QB assembly line. While Bryce Young struggled in Carolina, the organization sees value in how Nick Saban develops mechanics, mental processing, and leadership—even for backups. Simpson may not have started, but he absorbed the same coaching, film study, and daily routines as Young and Jalen Milroe. “It’s not about games played,” Breer explained. “It’s about reps absorbed.”
- Personality and Coachability
- In a league where ego can derail development, Breer highlighted Simpson’s humility and work ethic. Multiple sources told him Simpson was the first in the Alabama QB room each morning, last to leave, and never complained about his role. For a team that’s weathered internal friction (remember the Goff-to-Rams transition?), cultural fit matters. “The Rams don’t want a diva,” Breer noted. “They want a grinder who’ll ride the scout team for two years and still give maximum effort.”
The Draft Room Logic: Why the Rams Waited
One of Breer’s most insightful takes was about timing. Why did the Rams let Simpson fall to the fifth round? Was he underrated or overlooked?
Breer argued it was both. Simpson’s lack of starting experience scared off teams needing immediate depth. His stats—only 63 career pass attempts—weren’t resume-worthy. But he also suffered from narrative bias. While Young represented polish and Milroe represented production, Simpson was labeled “the athlete”—a backburner project.
But the Rams, Breer said, see past that. “They didn’t fall in love with a stat line. They fell in love with a ceiling.” In private workouts, Simpson impressed with arm strength, deep-ball touch, and processing speed under pressure. The Rams’ analytics team reportedly scored his movement and decision-making as “elite for his experience level.”
Breer also noted that the Rams’ coaching staff had been tracking Simpson since his high school days. They saw a player similar to Jalen Hurts in physical profile and developmental arc—someone who could start late but peak later. “This isn’t a desperation pick,” Breer said. “It’s a long-game investment.”
Comparing Simpson to Recent Rams QB Draft Picks
| Player | Round | Career Outcome with Rams | Development Path |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jared Goff | 1 | Starter, Super Bowl QB | Immediate starter, high-pressure role |
| John Wolford | 7 | Emergency starter, traded | Depth, limited reps |
| Bryce Perkins | UDFA | Practice squad, brief starter | Developmental, mostly special teams |
| Ty Simpson | 5 | Project (early stages) | Long-term mold, system-fit focus |
Breer contrasted Simpson’s selection with past moves. Goff was a win-now bet. Wolford and Perkins were depth throws. Simpson sits in the middle—a legit developmental project with a higher floor than most late-round QBs. “He’s not here to run trick plays,” Breer observed. “He’s here to learn, grow, and potentially take over in 2026 or 2027.”
How the Rams’ System Amplifies Simpson’s Strengths
Sean McVay’s offense, once revolutionary, has evolved. It’s still rooted in play-action and tight end usage, but in recent years, it’s leaned more on quarterback mobility and off-script plays—especially with Stafford injured. Breer pointed out that Simpson’s skill set aligns perfectly with this shift.
For example: - McVay’s RPO (run-pass option) game thrives with a QB who can pull, pitch, or keep based on defensive alignment. Simpson’s read-zone experience at Alabama translates directly. - The Rams use “scramble drills” extensively in practice—designed to train QBs to keep drives alive when structure breaks down. Simpson’s ability to throw on the run from awkward angles is a natural fit. - L.A. also runs “motion-heavy” formations to create mismatches. Simpson’s field vision and timing on quick decisions are already advanced, per Breer’s sources.
“The Rams aren’t trying to turn him into Stafford,” Breer said. “They’re trying to turn him into the next generation of their offense—one that doesn’t rely solely on a cannon arm, but on speed, intelligence, and adaptability.”
What Could Go Wrong? Risks in the Simpson Bet
Even Breer, a proponent of the pick, acknowledged the risks.
- Inexperience: 63 pass attempts isn’t just limited—it’s borderline developmental red flag. Can he adapt to NFL speed without a foundation?
- Mechanical Inconsistencies: While his arm is strong, Simpson sometimes drops his elbow on intermediate throws, leading to wobbles and interceptions in practice. The Rams’ QB coaches will need to fix this fast.
- Depth Chart Pressure: If Stafford retires early or Bennett outperforms, Simpson could stagnate on the bench, losing crucial developmental reps.
Breer warned that the Rams must commit to Simpson’s growth—through reps on the scout team, film sessions with Stafford, and possibly a Year 2 push into third-string duties. “The biggest risk isn’t that he fails,” Breer said. “It’s that they don’t give him enough to succeed.”
The Road Ahead: What Success Looks Like
Breer outlined a realistic three-year arc for Simpson:
- Year 1: Scout team QB, absorbing the playbook, mastering pre-snap reads, and building chemistry with receivers on the side.
- Year 2: Active on game days, occasionally in “gadget” packages (e.g., QB runs, wildcat), possibly a preseason starter.
- Year 3: Compete for starting job if Stafford retires or Bennett flops.
“If he’s starting by 2026, the Rams win this draft,” Breer said. “If he’s a career backup, it’s a wash. But given the cost—late fifth-round pick—it’s one of the lowest-risk, highest-reward moves they’ve made in years.”
Closing: The Quiet Genius of Breer’s Takeaway
Albert Breer didn’t just report the pick. He decoded it. In an era of instant analysis and hot takes, Breer’s work reminded us that real draft understanding comes from connecting dots: coaching trends, team philosophy, player psychology, and long-term vision.
The Rams didn’t panic. They didn’t reach. They didn’t overspend. They found a player with elite physical traits, elite coaching pedigree, and elite work ethic—then drafted him when no one else would. That’s not luck. That’s process.
For fans and analysts alike, Breer’s takeaway is clear: Stop chasing production. Start projecting potential. The next great Rams quarterback might not come from New York or Las Vegas. He might come from Tuscaloosa—via a quiet fifth-round selection that only the sharpest minds saw coming.
FAQ
Did Albert Breer predict the Rams would draft Ty Simpson? No, Breer didn’t predict the pick, but he quickly analyzed the logic behind it, citing the Rams’ history of late-round QB development and Simpson’s athletic profile.
How did Ty Simpson perform at the NFL Combine? Simpson ran a 4.47 40-yard dash, posted a 39.5-inch vertical, and showed strong agility metrics, outperforming many higher-drafted QBs in physical testing.
Why did Ty Simpson have so few college starts? He backed up Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe at Alabama, two highly-touted QBs, limiting his opportunities despite strong recruiting rankings.
Is Ty Simpson expected to start soon for the Rams? No, he’s viewed as a developmental project. A realistic timeline has him competing for a starting role no earlier than 2026.
What makes the Rams’ QB room unique right now? It blends experience (Stafford), grit (Bennett), and high-upside potential (Simpson), giving L.A. flexibility in both short-term performance and long-term planning.
How does Albert Breer get such deep NFL draft insights? Breer maintains extensive sources across front offices, coaching staffs, and agent circles, allowing him to report on strategy before it’s visible on draft boards.
Could Ty Simpson beat out Stetson Bennett? Eventually, yes—if Simpson develops faster and Bennett fails to elevate his game. But Bennett has a head start in system familiarity.
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