Rams shouldn’t expect Matthew Stafford drama after Ty Simpson pick

TL;DR

Matthew Stafford is not expected to create drama following the Rams' selection of Ty Simpson in the 2026 NFL draft. The Rams communicated their plans with Stafford beforehand, reducing the likelihood of any negative fallout.

Key points

Matthew Stafford hasn't publicly commented on Ty Simpson's draft selection.
The Rams communicated their draft plans with Stafford beforehand.
Stafford is not expected to create drama regarding the pick.
The situation is different from Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love.
Simpson's selection could motivate Stafford to excel.

Mentioned in this story

Matthew StaffordTy SimpsonAaron RodgersTom Brady

Los Angeles RamsGreen Bay PackersNew England Patriots

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JANUARY 25: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams reacts after failing to complete a pass on fourth down during the fourth quarter against the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship game at Lumen Field on January 25, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) | Getty Images Matthew Stafford hasn’t officially made a statement after the Los Angeles Rams took Ty Simpson in the 2026 NFL draft. Everyone’s waiting to hear from the reigning MVP, but if history tells us anything, don’t expect any drama from Stafford’s end. The reason we might not have heard from Stafford is that, like the rest of us, he’s still in shock. Simpson’s selection in the first round was one of the most surprising draft picks in recent memory. Even days later, it’s a pick that doesn’t make sense externally for a team supposedly going all in this offseason. Internally, it shouldn’t cause much friction.

Read more: Rams repeat Packers’ mistake with Ty Simpson pick

Truthfully, no one should be worried about Stafford’s reaction, since when has he ever caused a stir? The Rams made a conscious effort to communicate their first round plans to Stafford. For example, that wasn’t the case for , who when everyone else did. It’s a business, and teams aren’t obligated to keep their franchise quarterbacks in the loop on everything. L.A. did what failed to do, and that will make a difference in the long run, regardless of the veteran’s reaction. There is a clear difference between showing disagreement with an organization’s decision and accepting it, and being a plain ol’ drama queen. Take the Rodgers-Love situation again, A-Rod exhausted Green Bay with the “will he or won’t he” retirement dance nearly every offseason towards the end of his time there. Eventually, the Packers opted to trade him to the Jets and give Love his opportunity. Stafford has not done anything to that level to the Rams, as he’s never operated like that. Similar to the case with Rodgers and Love, Stafford could ultimately be motivated by the selection and maintain his MVP-level play for seasons to come. Rodgers won back-to-back MVPs after Love was drafted. , to a lesser extent, was motivated by the ’ selection and proceeded to win three more Super Bowls in . This might be the best-case scenario for Stafford and the Rams, assuming they can get over the hump within the next couple seasons. If the Rams were worried about walking on eggshells about how their quarterback would respond, they wouldn’t have made the pick, let alone communicated it beforehand. Stafford isn’t wired to air his grievances publicly, and that’s why this won’t morph into a major storyline in the media.

Q&A

What was Matthew Stafford's reaction to the Rams drafting Ty Simpson?

Matthew Stafford has not publicly reacted to the Rams drafting Ty Simpson, but he is not expected to cause any drama.

How did the Rams communicate with Stafford about the Ty Simpson pick?

The Rams made a conscious effort to inform Stafford about their first-round plans prior to the draft, unlike the Packers' handling of Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love.

What impact could Ty Simpson's selection have on Matthew Stafford's performance?

Ty Simpson's selection could potentially motivate Stafford to maintain his MVP-level play, similar to how Aaron Rodgers performed after the Packers drafted Jordan Love.