There is a narrative coming out of OTAs that Ty Simpson and Stetson Bennett have yet to separate from each other in the battle for the QB2 role after Nate Atkins of The Athletic shared some insight from the offseason program.
For the Los Angeles Rams, their two options present two different dilemmas. Simpson is a first-round pick, the clear heir to Matthew Stafford, and a player who has a higher perceived ceiling than Bennett.
Bennett, on the other hand, knows the system like the back of his hand, has worked closely with assistants Nate Scheelhaase and Dave Ragone under Sean McVay, and has made tremendous strides in his development over the last few years, putting together an impressive 2025 preseason.
That dilemma will get solved in time. However, another narrative is that Simpson’s lack of separation calls into question whether he was worth the 13th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. There’s absolutely no reason to worry this early.
In 2025, Bennett entered OTAs as the team’s QB3 behind Matthew Stafford and Jimmy Garoppolo. Bennett could not hit the broadside of a barn during practice. Perhaps a bit of an overexaggeration, but he was missing passes that are layups at the NFL level. Fast forward to training camp, and while Stafford was out with an injury, Bennett took a massive share of snaps, leading to him becoming sharper than ever.
Do not read too much into this battle. Bennett is experienced and he will be a backup in the NFL for a very long time. He’s smart, courageous, and he’s a natural winner. Give Simpson some time. This break before camp should be exactly what Simpson needs to show his value.
For players, the break between OTAs and training camp works as a powerful reset. Simpson hasn’t had time off in a long time. He played the entire 2025 college football season, including two playoff games, before immediately jumping into the draft process.
By the end of the season, Bennett will be seen as a competent backup who should be the next of the Chase Daniels and Case Keenums of the world. Simpson will be the Rams’ QB2 at some point within the next five months.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams OTAs: Too early to panic about Ty Simpson-Stetson Bennett battle
