Wouldn’t it higher serve the Los Angeles Rams to have rookie first spherical decide Ty Simpson or fourth-year sign caller Stetson Bennett to be Matthew Stafford’s backup in 2026? It might come down as to if or not Simpson wants improvement behind the scenes or the primary alternative to achieve expertise, ought to Stafford want aid.
If Bennett is prepared by now to be the backup, is that the job he ought to have? Or it’s by no means too quickly to organize Simpson for the beginning position?
I re-watched the entire ‘24 and ‘25 preseason games Bennett played in and came away much more impressed than by anything that happened earlier in his career. The visual growth in his game jumps off the screen when you watch all four sequentially.
Saying Stetson Bennett’s NFL profession began with a thud is like saying Conan O’Brien has pink hair. After being drafted within the fourth-round, he struggled mightily in preseason motion after which missed the primary recreation of the common season with a shoulder damage. Three days later, he was positioned on the Reserve/Non-Soccer Sickness (NFI) listing, citing psychological well being points, which ended his season. What the problem was, we’ll possible by no means know, however the Rams clearly agreed it was one of the best factor for him.
Since then, Bennett hasn’t performed within the common season however has made progress within the offseason.
His first recreation within the 2024 preseason was truly a significantly better efficiency than something we noticed the earlier yr, and but it left a really dangerous style within the Rams’ followers’ mouths. It must be comprehensible that after his disastrous, mysterious rookie yr, he’d be extraordinarily nervous being again within the highlight, and it actually confirmed up within the type of 4 interceptions. Some execution errors, coupled with poor selections, left the Cowboys with a late lead, however Bennett refused to throw within the towel and introduced the Rams again with a game-winning drive. A landing go to Miller Forristall, sure, Miller Forristall, with 4 seconds left, sealed the Rams’ victory and might need introduced again reminiscences of him main the College of Georgia to 2 consecutive nationwide titles.
Bennett’s second preseason begin was higher, not good, however higher. After a meaningless interception the place he needed to throw on fourth and objective, he led the staff, as soon as once more, to a fourth-quarter game-winning drive. This time, the successful landing was a 47 yard (55 yards within the air) bomb to JJ Lapp, sure, JJ Lapp.
Fewer psychological errors recreation by recreation and a few mechanical enhancements as properly. Most shocking to me was the improved velocity. Whether or not it was him bulking up a bit or simply having the arrogance to easily let it fly, it was tangible.
Elements of each begins have been actually good, whereas different components have been merely okay, however the high quality throws and choices would lead you to imagine he may very well be a purposeful backup. Don’t overlook, he’s had fewer than 200 throws towards NFL defenses.
His numbers in 2024…41-69 for 437 yds, 59% completion charge, 2TDs and 5INTs
His numbers in 2025…44-64 for 512 yds, 69% completion charge, 5TDS and 3INTs
With such a small pattern measurement to take a look at, it’s unattainable to make a sensible evaluation as as to if Bennett must be the Rams’ QB2, particularly when now we have zero NFL snaps for Simpson. Having stated that, although, simply based mostly on the visible enchancment and the religion McVay appears to have in him, I’d even have zero drawback with the staff going ahead with Stetson Bennett because the backup subsequent season.
Ty Simpson or Stetson Bennett?
Who do you need to see because the backup QB?
Closes in 3 days • 30 complete votesView outcomes
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