​Training camp is just around the corner, with only two weeks to go before the Los Angeles Rams take the field again at Loyola Marymount University. As we count down to camp, we’re taking a closer look at each position group, starting with the quarterbacks.
The Rams are confident that Matthew Stafford will be their starting quarterback once more this season, but they must determine who will serve as the QB2 behind him. The competition narrows to two contenders: Ty Simpson and Stetson Bennett. Action will heat up once camp opens later this month.
Matthew Stafford will begin his 18th NFL season after accepting his MVP award in February, and the Rams gave him a fresh contract update in May. He’s locked in for the 2026 season and is aiming to add another Super Bowl title to his resume in Los Angeles. Simpson, viewed as a first-round pick with long-term potential, is virtually guaranteed a spot on the 53-man roster. Even if he stumbles through camp and the preseason, his draft position would still secure his place on the team. For now, the Rams see him as a backup with a possible path to taking over Stafford in the future.
Stetson Bennett presents another intriguing option. If Bennett continues developing, he could be too valuable to cut and might be claimed off waivers by another team. However, if he fails to outperform Simpson in camp and the preseason, Bennett could become expendable. The Rams don’t need two mid-level backups behind Stafford; they need one reliable quarterback they can rely on if needed.
Bennett does have the tools to be a solid NFL QB2, but his long-term upside doesn’t quite match Simpson’s trajectory. Since the Rams signed Jimmy Garoppolo in 2024, backup quarterback stability has been a priority, and the Simpson–Bennett competition marks a genuine, on-field battle rather than a foregone conclusion. Simpson arrives with the advantage of draft pedigree and a rookie spark, while Bennett brings three years in the Rams’ system and steady improvement.
This quarterback competition is less about appearance and more about how Simpson performs on the field. If Simpson excels in camp and the preseason, the Rams will feel confident naming him as the QB2. If he experiences typical rookie growing pains, the Rams may opt for Bennett to maintain a safer, proven presence behind Stafford. There are no under-the-radar sleeper candidates at quarterback this year; the Rams know what they have in the trio, and no surprise arrival is expected to unsettle the current plans.
In summary, the quarterback battles will be a focal point of training camp as the Rams determine whether Simpson or Bennett earns the QB2 job behind a settled Stafford. The outcome will shape the team’s depth behind one of the NFL’s veteran quarterbacks and influence how the organization views its immediate and future plans at the position.