The Los Angeles Rams have not even seen Ty Simpson take an NFL snap yet, but another rookie quarterback has already provided an uncomfortable glimpse at what they might have passed on.
Pittsburgh Steelers third-round pick Drew Allar delivered an impressive preseason debut Thursday, completing 10 of 13 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns while adding another score on the ground in a 28-9 win over Green Bay. He led Pittsburgh to touchdowns on all three of his possessions and finished with a 154.8 passer rating.
It is only preseason, against backups, and far too early to declare anything about either quarterback’s career.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Drew Allar throws a pass in the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers on Friday, August 14, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (Copyright 2026 Associated Press) AP Photo/David Dermer
But the contrast may be difficult for the Rams to ignore.
Los Angeles used the No. 13 overall pick on Simpson, making the former Alabama quarterback one of the biggest surprises of the first round. Pittsburgh waited until No. 76 to take Allar.
Sign up for the California Morning Report newsletter
California’s top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.
Thanks for signing up!
The Simpson pick generated immediate backlash because the Rams are trying to win a Super Bowl with reigning MVP Matthew Stafford and could have used that premium selection on a player capable of helping them do just that
Allar’s first appearance only provides more ammunition for that argument.
The Penn State product looked comfortable working through reads, escaping pressure and throwing on the move. His first touchdown drive included a 75-yard completion to Kaden Wetjen before Allar finished it himself on the ground. He later engineered touchdown drives of 89 and 60 yards.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
California Post News: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedInCalifornia Post Sports Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, XCalifornia Post Opinion California Post Newsletters: Sign up here!California Post App: Download here!Home delivery: Sign up here!Page Six Hollywood: Sign up here!
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Ty Simpson, right, passes to tight end Max Klare during the team’s training camp on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, in Los Angeles. (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Simpson will get his opportunity Saturday against Kansas City, but he is entering his debut in a much different position.
Sean McVay announced that Stetson Bennett IV will start the preseason opener, with Simpson playing afterward. Bennett has received much of the work behind Stafford during camp, turning what once appeared to be a straightforward developmental year for Simpson into an actual competition for the QB2 job.
That battle carries added importance given Stafford’s age and the questions Los Angeles has already faced about its backup quarterback situation.
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) prepares to take the snap as head coach Sean McVay watches during a joint practice against the Dallas Cowboys at the Rams Practice Facility in Woodland Hills, California, on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. (This asset – including all text, audio and imagery – is provided by Imagn Images. Reuters Connec) IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Simpson’s limited experience was always part of the projection. He made only 15 college starts before Los Angeles bet that McVay, Stafford and time could turn him into the franchise’s long-term answer.
Nothing Allar did Thursday changes that plan.
But first-round quarterbacks are inevitably compared to the players selected after them, particularly when someone available 63 picks later looks immediately comfortable.
Allar has given Pittsburgh a promising first impression.
Now Simpson gets his chance to keep Rams fans from wondering whether Los Angeles paid first-round prices for the wrong quarterback.
