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It seemed that in Los Angeles the sun would shine all winter, lighting up SoFi Stadium; however, a team appeared that showed them their limits in the NFC Championship and later tore apart the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX, the Seattle Seahawks, leaving the rest of their season frozen.
Then came a brief calm for the Rams quarterback, with the season's MVP edging out the Patriots passer, Drake Maye, in the final vote. During his acceptance speech for the award, he said there would be one last year to try to play another Super Bowl.
This was welcomed by the front office, since they will again have their star leading the offense, which immediately placed them as the second favorites, eight months before the start of the 2026 season.
The Rams start looking ahead to the imminent retirement of Matthew Stafford
With their star secured for the 2026 season, the front office and Rams head coach Sean McVay are now trying to determine their path once Stafford hangs up his cleats.
With that scenario, which could arrive after next season in Los Angeles, they will need a new passer who can give the franchise the same opportunities, and they already have their eyes on the man who could succeed Matthew Stafford.
With that in mind, they will target Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson in the draft, according to NFL insider Louis Riddick.
I know personally, I know they [the Rams] like Ty Simpson out of Alabama," Riddick said. "When you look at Ty's skillset, and you think about Ty's makeup, that's exactly what they're looking for.
For Simpson, the 2025 season was strong in terms of statistics:
- 3,567 passing yards
- 28 touchdowns
- 5 interceptions
If he ends up in Los Angeles with the Rams, he could spend a valuable season learning beside Stafford and be ready for the 2026 campaign.
It is not clear whether the Rams will take him with either of their first two selections, but they might wait until their third option and pick him there. That would come in the second round, with the 61st overall selection, a position that could allow the coaching staff to develop him patiently behind the veteran, without the immediate pressure of starting from day one in the NFL.
The Rams now have the chance to maintain the favoritism surrounding them for next season with Stafford controlling the offense, while beginning to prepare the rookie so that, when his turn arrives, he will be fully ready for the responsibility of taking over the starting role in a franchise that expects to remain in contention every season, for the organization, the locker room, and the expectations of the fan base alike.