Rams' QB Simpson 'drinking from a fire hydrant' learning from MVP Stafford

One player with plenty to reflect on right now is Ty Simpson, picked 13th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, who joins a quarterback room led by 2025 MVP Matthew Stafford.

For a 23-year-old trying to absorb Sean McVay's offense for the first time, it's an immensely challenging position he finds himself in.

But it's also a situation that he described as a "big advantage" given the wealth of talent he's surrounded by.

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Learning from Stafford, Nacua and Adams

"I feel like I'm a freshman again, right? Drinking from a fire hydrant," Simpson said after last week's sessions.

"You're expected a lot. The quarterback runs the show here, just how I like it, but it's just making sure that you're disciplined and you're detail-oriented."

Simpson gets to watch Stafford operate up close and study Puka Nacua and Davante Adams running routes every session.

"I think it's really, really cool to, one, be in the room with Matthew, who has done it at a high level for so long," Simpson said.

"And then see it from a wide receiver standpoint with Davante and Puka," he continued.

"Davante especially, because of him being similar to Matthew, but I think both of those guys are two guys who are one of the greatest at their positions.

"The fact that I can watch both of them at the same time on my team, it's a big advantage for me," he said.

"What a great group of guys, first and foremost," he added, before reeling off several more of the staff and players who have helped him so far.

"It's been a great experience. I can't thank them enough for taking me in and teaching me along the way. So it's been a pleasure.

The 'big brother' role Stafford is playing

The dynamic between a veteran starter and his long-term successor can go a few different ways.

Some established signal-callers baulk at the idea of having what should be their eventual replacement added to the roster.

But not Stafford, who says he's been answering Simpson's questions "as honestly and as thoroughly as he possibly can."

Simpson appreciates the guidance, telling the team website, "We've had a good rapport and a good relationship.

"That goes back to how [Stafford] has taken us all in, and I really appreciate it, because he didn't have to do that.

"Anything that I can ask him, and I can just take in, I'm willing to. So I hope I'm not annoying him, but I really appreciate the 'big brother' kind of role that he's playing in my development."

Simpson's teammates on the rookie

While talking to Arena Gridiron about the value in taking Simpson in the first round, Rams' safety Quentin Lake also said he sees the value in having Simpson learn from Stafford.

"What he's getting is so valuable for him to develop as a player," he said.
 

With training camp slated for mid-July, Simpson has valuable time on his hands to keep drinking from the fire hydrant before he gets his feet wet in his rookie year.

The company he's in is clearly as good as it gets for a rookie quarterback. What he does with that access is on him.