Matthew Stafford's extension doesn't change anything about the Ty Simpson pick
No, Matthew Stafford's contract doesn't make the decision to draft Ty Simpson look worse. It changes nothing with the Rams' QB situation.
Matthew Stafford announced to the world in February that he was coming back for his 18th NFL season in 2026. Fittingly, he did so during his MVP acceptance speech, committing to another season with the Los Angeles Rams . On Thursday, the Rams signed Stafford to a contract extension through 2027, tacking on another year to his current deal.
The initial reactions have been positive, but some have questioned why the Rams drafted Ty Simpson if they were planning to sign Stafford to an extension that includes $55 million in new money. On the surface, it would seem like this contract guarantees Simpson won’t play until 2028 at the earliest. That’s simply not the case.
Stafford’s deal changes nothing about the Rams’ decision to select Simpson. It doesn’t make it more puzzling, as some have suggested, nor does it make the pick a waste, as others have said. The timeline for both quarterbacks remains exactly the same.
Though we don’t know the exact details of Stafford’s deal, or how his retirement after the season will affect the salary cap, but by no means does this extension guarantee he’ll continue playing in 2027. There’s still a chance he could retire following the 2026 season. This contract is simply to give the reigning MVP a raise, and keep him under contract in case he does want to keep playing next year.