The Los Angeles Rams reported to training camp on Saturday morning, although the contract status of first-round draft pick Ty Simpson was still up in the air.
Simpson is the last 2026 draft pick to sign his rookie deal, and beginning his career with a camp holdout would not have been a great start for the Alabama product. Thankfully, things did not come to that as Simpson has inked his first NFL contract, per Ian Rapoport of ESPN and NFL Network:
The #Rams and No. 13 overall pick Ty Simpson have agreed to terms on his rookie contract and he is signing his four-year, $25.4M fully guaranteed deal with a fifth-year option. He gets a $14.94M signing bonus in a deal done by Ed Berry of @caa_sports. pic.twitter.com/Gesekuse8N
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 25, 2026
A four-year contract with a fifth-year option is standard for all first-round rookies. Considering Simpson may not play for a couple of seasons, getting that option year will be big for the Rams down the line.
Now that Simpson’s deal is signed, it should allow him to get plenty of reps during training camp and the preseason to get up to speed. The Rams will obviously be cautious with Matthew Stafford during camp to ensure he stays fresh and healthy, which means Simpson and Stetson Bennett will be getting a majority of the reps.
Considering the Rams received a lot of criticism for drafting Simpson where they did, they surely will be very invested in his development to become the successor to Stafford whenever the reigning MVP decides he is done playing.
Sean McVay details focus for Ty Simpson
As Simpson heads into his first training camp with the Rams and in the NFL, head coach Sean McVay detailed what the focus should be for the rookie.
“What does it look like to be able to communicate, especially as a quarterback?” McVay said. “How am I saying the plays? … You have to see plays when you’re saying them, otherwise you can’t call plays in this offense. … Practicing in the mirror, what does your voice inflection look like? How are you emphasizing certain things? How are you really being able to go through the mechanics of everything that happens before the snap? And then what’s my footwork? What’s my timing and rhythm?”
Simpson obviously isn’t the Rams’ starter, but injuries can happen at any time so he needs to prepare as if he is going to be playing right away.
