Matthew Stafford nearly carried the Los Angeles Rams to a Super Bowl appearance this past year, proving to the NFL that he still has a lot left in the tank.
Stafford seems to be getting better with age as he is coming off the best year of his career, winning his first MVP. Stafford led the Rams to a 12-5 record during the 2025 season and nearly got them past the eventual-Super Bowl champions the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game.
While Stafford is locked in as Los Angeles’ starting quarterback for the 2026 season, the team still selected Alabama’s Ty Simpson with the No. 13 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. According to Stu Jackson of TheRams.com, head coach Sean McVay told Stafford the Rams would be taking Simpson in the draft but also made it clear whose team it still is:
Meanwhile, McVay emphasized, “Let’s make one thing clear, this is still Matthew’s team,” and this was about getting the chance to address the backup quarterback spot.
Asked about Stafford’s reaction to the pick, McVay said, “Oh, he was great. He’s a stud. I mean, he’s always first class in every sense of the word.”
The Atlanta Falcons drew criticism for taking Michael Penix Jr. without telling Kirk Cousins, who had just signed with the team in free agency, so it’s good to hear that Los Angeles avoided this mistake.
However, the pick was still a surprise to those outside of the organization as it seemed like they would take a player who could start or contribute immediately. Simpson has proven he has plenty of upside after his showing with the Crimson Tide last year, but he’ll be relegated to being Stafford’s backup until the reigning MVP moves on.
General manager Les Snead and McVay have earned the benefit of the doubt given how well they’ve managed Los Angeles’ roster and in their defense, they have two Day 2 picks to work with. Now that Simpson has solved the backup quarterback issue, the team can look to target spots like wide receiver, offensive line and linebacker.
Out of the three needs, receiver seems like a logical target for Los Angeles’ next pick. The Rams have done well for themselves in the later rounds of the draft, so it’ll be exciting to see who they select the next two days.
Sean McVay wouldn’t be surprised if Matthew Stafford plays for Rams beyond 2026 season
Stafford may be getting older, but his ability to process the field and manipulate defenders with his eyes and arm angles remains top-notch. McVay has gotten the best out of Stafford and wouldn’t be surprised if the star quarterback player for the Rams beyond 2026.
