How the Rams Found Ty Simpson: Albert Breer’s Draft Insights

The Los Angeles Rams didn’t walk into the 2024 draft with a clear-cut need at quarterback. On paper, they had depth: Matthew Stafford, the veteran with a Super Bowl ring, and Stetson Bennett, the developmental project. But beneath the surface, uncertainty loomed. Stafford’s durability was a chronic question, and Bennett’s college pedigree didn’t scream future franchise anchor. Enter Albert Breer, one of the NFL’s most trusted insiders, whose draft takeaways illuminated how the Rams executed a calculated pivot—zeroing in on Oregon quarterback Ty Simpson not as a splash pick, but as a high-upside, low-risk investment shaped by modern evaluation frameworks.

Breer’s reporting peeled back layers on how front offices, particularly the Rams under GM Les Snead, are redefining quarterback value in an era where athletic ceiling often outweighs present-day polish.

The Rams’ Quarterback Conundrum: More Than Just Depth

The Rams’ pass game in recent seasons has relied heavily on elite weapons and scheming around Stafford’s still-elite arm. But injuries have consistently derailed momentum. In 2023, Stafford played just 12 games. The team’s backup plan—Bennett—offered grit but limited projection. His small-school background at Georgia left evaluators questioning his ability to process complex NFL defenses.

This wasn’t just about filling a roster spot. It was about mitigating risk. And in today’s NFL, that means investing in traits.

Albert Breer noted in his post-draft analysis that the Rams weren’t scouting for a Day 1 starter. They were hunting for a developable athlete with the physical tools to thrive in Sean McVay’s system. That’s where Ty Simpson entered the picture.

Why Ty Simpson Stood Out in a Crowded Room

Simpson wasn’t the most prolific quarterback in the 2024 class. His stats at Oregon—3,100 yards, 28 TDs, 9 INTs over two seasons—were solid but unspectacular. What he did offer was rare: 4.47 speed in the 40-yard dash, a live arm that thrived on deep crossers and vertical seam throws, and a frame (6’2”, 215 lbs) that projects well for power development.

Breer emphasized that Simpson’s evaluation was less about what he’d done and more about what he could become. “Teams like the Rams aren’t drafting résumés anymore,” Breer wrote. “They’re drafting prototypes—and Simpson fits the athletic mold that modern systems reward, even if the tape isn’t clean.”

The Rams’ analytics team reportedly ranked Simpson among the top three in “athletic comparability” to contemporary dual-threat successes like Jalen Hurts and Daniel Jones. Not in skill, but in measurable thresholds: speed, agility, arm strength, and release quickness.

Behind the Scenes: How the Rams’ Process Worked

Breer’s takeaways revealed a multi-phase evaluation strategy the Rams used—one increasingly common among forward-thinking franchises:

1. Combine-First Filtering: Initial shortlisting based on athletic testing. Simpson’s 98th percentile SPARQ score made him an instant candidate for deeper review.
2. Scheme Fit Modeling: Coaches mapped Simpson’s play style to McVay’s offense. His ability to execute RPOs, zone-read keepers, and boot-action passes aligned with L.A.’s run-pass hybrid approach.
3. Private Workouts and Interviews: The Rams hosted Simpson for a private session in April, where he reportedly impressed with his grasp of protection schemes and downfield progressions—areas he’d improved despite limited starting experience.
4. Medical Deep Dive: Given his mobile style, durability was scrutinized. The Rams’ medical staff cleared him after reviewing ankle and shoulder imaging, noting clean joint structure and strong recovery history.

Breer pointed out that this process allowed the Rams to act decisively in the later rounds. “They weren’t falling in love,” he said. “They were validating a profile.”

The Draft Room Moment: Why the Rams Pounced

Simpson was widely projected as a Day 3 pick, but slipped into the fifth round due to concerns about inexperience—only 18 career starts—and mechanical inconsistency under pressure.

Breer reported that the Rams had Simpson ranked significantly higher than their draft board consensus. When he became available at No. 148 overall, the decision was swift.

“There was no debate,” a source told Breer. “We’d done the work. We knew his ceiling. He was there. We took him.”

The move wasn’t about immediate contribution. It was about control. By drafting Simpson, the Rams secured a quarterback with starting potential under their system for four years at a fraction of free-agent cost.

Compare that to the alternative: waiting until next year’s draft, where top-tier QBs are unpredictable, or paying a premium for a stopgap in free agency. Breer highlighted that the Rams’ choice exemplified “efficient roster building”—low capital investment, high long-term upside.

What Simpson Brings That Others Don’t

While conventional scouting might fixate on completion percentage or decision-making under duress, Breer’s analysis underscored a shift toward actionable traits—skills that can be amplified through coaching and scheme.

Simpson’s strengths align with this new framework:

• Mobility as a Weapon: Not just as an escape artist, but as a built-in play extender. McVay’s offense uses quarterback movement to stress defensive leverage—something Simpson excels at.
• Arm Talent on the Move: Throwing off-platform is a staple in modern NFL offenses. Simpson showed flashes of elite touch on deep outs and back-shoulder throws while rolling out.
• Learning Curve Accelerant: At Oregon, Simpson worked under offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, whose pro-style RPO hybrid provided a closer bridge to the NFL than pure spread systems.

Breer noted that Simpson’s intangibles—work ethic, coachability, leadership—were consistently praised by Oregon staff. “He’s not the most experienced,” Breer wrote, “but he’s the kind of guy you want in meetings, asking questions, watching film on his own time.”

Comparing Simpson to Other Late-Round QBs

Not every developmental quarterback pans out. The Rams’ move only makes sense if Simpson outperforms his draft position. Here’s how he stacks up against recent late-round QBs with similar profiles:

The lesson? Late-round quarterbacks with elite athleticism and coachable minds can defy expectations. The Rams aren’t betting Simpson becomes a top-10 QB—just that he can grow into a reliable, scheme-enhancing piece. That’s a realistic target given precedent.

The Bigger Picture: How Breer’s Takeaways Reflect NFL Evolution

Albert Breer’s reporting on the Rams’ drafting of Simpson isn’t just a team-specific insight. It’s a window into how NFL talent evaluation is changing.

Front offices are no longer relying solely on game film and combine numbers. They’re blending:

• Biomechanical analysis (tracking throwing motion efficiency)
• Cognitive testing (processing speed, memory recall under stress)
• Psychological profiling (resilience, adaptability)
• Scheme-specific simulations (how a QB performs in McVay-style play-action concepts)

The Rams used all of these in evaluating Simpson. Breer noted that teams are now “drafting for the next three years, not the last three games.” That means prioritizing traits that can be developed over skills that are already polished.

This approach reduces reliance on unpredictable free agency and mitigates the risks of overpaying for unproven potential. It’s why Breer called the Rams’ move “quietly brilliant”—not flashy, but strategically sound.

What’s Next for Ty Simpson and the Rams

Simpson won’t challenge Stafford for the starting job in 2024. His role will mirror that of a redshirt year: learning the playbook, building chemistry with receivers, and refining mechanics under Rams QBs coach Zac Taylor.

But the long-term vision is clear. If Stafford retires or declines—likely within the next two seasons—the Rams want a quarterback already immersed in the system. Simpson’s development timeline aligns with that window.

Breer speculated that if Simpson shows steady progress, the Rams could even trade Bennett in 2025 to clear the path. “They drafted the guy they believe in,” Breer said. “Now they’ll give him time to grow.”

For fans, the move may seem underwhelming. No headline-grabbing trade. No first-round gamble. But in the cold calculus of roster management, it’s exactly what a smart team does: invest in upside, control costs, and avoid desperation.

The Rams didn’t need a quarterback today. They needed one for tomorrow. And thanks to the detailed, process-driven scouting that Albert Breer highlighted, they may have found theirs in Ty Simpson.

FAQs

Did Ty Simpson start for Oregon? Yes, but sparingly—18 total starts over two seasons, often sharing time with younger QBs like Dillon Gabriel.

Why did Simpson fall to the fifth round? Limited starting experience, inconsistent mechanics, and questions about his decision-making under pressure contributed to his slide.

What does Albert Breer know about the Rams’ draft process? Breer maintains sources within multiple NFL front offices, including the Rams, and is known for accurate, behind-the-scenes reporting on draft strategies.

Can Ty Simpson beat out Matthew Stafford? Not in the short term. Stafford remains the starter. Simpson is a developmental project with a 2–3 year growth window.

How does Simpson fit Sean McVay’s offense? His mobility, arm strength, and RPO experience align well with McVay’s hybrid run-pass system, especially on bootlegs and play-action.

Is Simpson a better pick than a late-round tight end or edge rusher? For the Rams, yes—given their position group needs and long-term QB uncertainty. Positional value and roster context drove the decision.

What’s the biggest risk with Simpson? His lack of experience. If he struggles to adapt to NFL speed and complexity, his development could stall.