Entering 2026, the Los Angeles Rams already have their answer for what life will look like after Matthew Stafford retires. Having drafted Ty Simpson earlier in the offseason, the Rams have avoided what appears to be a disaster in the making.
While the 2027 NFL Draft is likely to be headlined by Arch Manning, there will be several other quarterbacks that will be considered top prospects. The Rams’ recent history shows that it would’ve been unlikely for them to have a pick that would get them Manning or a player of his caliber.
Now, we have learned that controversial quarterback Brendan Sorsby will likely be involved in that draft after the NFL announced it won’t hold the supplemental draft for Sorsby this year. Sorsby, who made bets on his college team and has a self-admitted gambling issue, attempted to play college football this season, using the court system to maintain his eligibility. The college football world nearly revolted, and now Sorsby will not play in college or the NFL this season.
Sorsby has recently drawn comparisons to Simpson, with ESPN’s Jordan Rodgers stating he believes Sorsby has the potential to be better than Simpson and first overall pick Fernando Mendoza.
“I think he’s got a higher ceiling than Mendoza and Simpson,” stated Rodgers. “I don’t mean that he’s a better player now. Both of those guys were drafted because their floors are extremely high, they’re pro-ready, but from a pure talent standpoint, arm ability, and athletic ability, he’s got a higher ceiling.”
Teams were reportedly interested, with some believing that a franchise could spend a first- or second-round pick on Sorsby in the supplemental draft. The fact that teams were considering spending that type of draft capital on a player with as many red flags as Sorsby proves that the Rams were correct in assessing the current quarterback market and selecting Simpson when they did.
If the Rams were to add a quarterback, Simpson’s character remains a key part of his value. Simpson does all the right things and is aligned with the values of the team. In a world where teams are preparing to again take incredible gambles on unknown results, the Rams choose to stick with the sure thing, especially before the sure thing becomes too expensive to acquire.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Brendan Sorsby situation proves Rams were smart draft high-character Ty Simpson
Reporting by Brock Vierra, Rams Wire / Rams Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Brock Vierra, Rams Wire | USA TODAY Network
