It has become abundantly clear in the NFL that - especially for quarterbacks - fit and circumstances matter almost as much as raw talent.
If you are getting drafted into the NFL, you're a talented player. But many careers were over before they ever started because of poorly run franchises that didn't do their part in the development of young prospects.
The spotlight on QB development has been amplified in recent years due to the success some pro signal-callers have had after they moved on from their first team. Shaking off the bust label, players such as Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, and Daniel Jones have found success with a change of scenery.
Darnold is the new standard-bearer after leading the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl title just over a week ago.
So where Alabama QB Ty Simpson gets drafted in April will play a big role in how the beginning of his NFL career goes. If ESPN analyst Louis Riddick is correct, then Simpson will be set up for long-term success right away and might not need to bounce around like some of the others listed above.
According to Riddick, the Los Angeles Rams are intrigued with Simpson's skillset and could be a team to watch for the former Crimson Tide star:
RUMOR: The Rams, who have picks 13 and 29 in the 2026 NFL Draft, are high on Alabama QB Ty Simpson, according to Louis Riddick of ESPN.
— Recruits CFB (@recruits_cfb) February 15, 2026
“I know personally (the Rams) like Ty Simpson. When you look at his skillset and you think about his makeup, that’s exactly what they’re… pic.twitter.com/anK1gTGjJd
The Rams would be a perfect landing spot for Ty Simpson
The Rams have reigning NFL MVP Matthew Stafford under center, but the former Georgia QB just turned 38, and it's time to start planning for life after him. Los Angeles holds two first-round picks (13 + 29) this year, which would allow them to potentially draft their QB of the future, along with grabbing a player who can be a difference-maker next season.
Being drafted by the Rams would allow Simpson to sit and develop for a couple of years behind a seasoned veteran in Stafford. With Simpson's limited starting experience at the collegiate level, finding a landing spot where he doesn't have to play immediately would be for the best.
We've seen that exact scenario work for other teams in the past to make seamless transitions from an aging veteran into a talented young player. It worked out in consecutive cycles more than a decade apart for the Green Bay Packers, who transitioned from Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers and then Rodgers to Jordan Love more recently. Green Bay hasn't skipped a beat and avoided any long-term rebuilds as a result.
With Stafford's history of injuries and advanced age, planning for the future now would be a smart play. And after a couple of seasons, Simpson would be ready to take the torch and keep the Sean McVay offense rolling in Los Angeles.