According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Rams’ general manager Les Snead considers Ty Simpson a first-round prospect. The Rams hold the 13th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. They could trade down to get him later in the round, maybe with a team that doesn’t have a first-round pick, for instance.

The fact is that Simpson has been a very talked-about prospect. Some say he is NFL-ready, others question how high is his ceiling. Hence, his draft projections are all over the place. Now, the Rams emerge as a possible suitor.

Jimmy Garoppolo might not come back

The Rams were confident in having Jimmy Garoppolo as their QB2 behind Matthew Stafford. However, recent reports state that Garoppolo, who is now a free agent, might be considering retirement instead of coming back to the Rams.

Garoppolo is a 34-year-old player, and while he has been a backup for big chunks of his career, he’s also been a franchise quarterback with Super Bowl trips. In fact, he has a great record to his name, with 43 wins to only 21 losses. Still, he has suffered many injuries that have hampered his otherwise effective career.

McVay must pay attention to the position

Matthew Stafford just won MVP and is coming back. However, he is on borrowed time. The fact is that McVay must find an heir to Stafford and he hasn’t really addressed it in previous drafts. Maybe this could be the one.

Stafford could mentor Simpson while still playing, and then when he calls it a career, let Simpson rip it for McVay and the Rams. The Rams are a very clever team, so this year could bring a lot of surprises.

Garoppolo has spent 12 years in the NFL. While many once regarded him as a solid starter, he struggled to consistently meet those expectations and has spent a significant portion of his career as a high-end backup.

When the Rams signed him in 2024, the plan was for him to provide veteran stability behind Matthew Stafford. However, with Garoppolo now contemplating retirement, Los Angeles could be left without an experienced backup—a situation Sean McVay is desperate to avoid.

“You leave the door open,” McVay said on Tuesday about Garoppolo’s future, via Vinny Bonsignore of the California Post. “You don’t want to press. We want to be able to give him his time, and he knows where we stand.”

If Jimmy G doesn’t return, the Rams are in trouble

While Garoppolo’s peak years may be behind him, he remains a highly reliable backup. With Matthew Stafford’s injury history being a constant factor, having a seasoned veteran on the roster is essential for insurance.

As of today, Garoppolo’s return is uncertain. It will be McVay’s job to convince him to stay for one more season while the Rams develop a long-term transition plan at the quarterback position.

Currently, Stetson Bennett is the primary backup on the depth chart. Having not taken a regular-season snap since being drafted in 2023, his lack of experience might force the Rams to either secure Garoppolo’s return or pivot to the free-agent market.

Matthew Stafford’s future beyond 2026

Rumors regarding Matthew Stafford’s retirement were put to rest when he accepted his 2025 NFL MVP trophy and confirmed his return for 2026. While he is currently making “significant progress” on another contract extension, his long-term future remains a topic of discussion.

With Stafford’s tenure eventually nearing its end and Garoppolo’s status in limbo, the Rams face a difficult path to ensuring they have a reliable leader to guide the offense into the next era.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Garoppolo is weighing all his options ahead of a “final decision”. Retirement is on the table, and the 34-year-old quarterback is seriously considering that option.

If Garoppolo indeed hangs up the cleats and calls it a career after 12 NFL seasons, the Rams will enter a race against the clock to find a primary backup option. Matthew Stafford is the undisputed QB1 in the City of Angels, but the Rams must search for another candidate to fill in as the first replacement. As it stands, only Stetson Bennett is on the depth chart behind Stafford, and the national champion with Georgia hasn’t proven a reliable option in the NFL.

Rams could draft a QB

With the 2026 NFL Draft right around the corner, the Rams may be trying to speed Garoppolo’s decision. The sooner Los Angeles learns if its backup candidate wants to play football again or not, the easier it can be for them to address the elephant in the room.

If Garoppolo is out of the picture, there’s a very high chance the Rams select a quarterback in the upcoming draft. Plus, having a rookie learn behind two potential future Hall of Famers in Stafford and Sean McVay may be a dream scenario for any quarterback coming into the league. In more ways than one, it’s a win-win scenario.

Rolling with Stafford until wheels fall off

As long as Stafford is still torching defensive game plans with his prolific passing ability, the Rams may have nothing to stress about. Last season, Garoppolo didn’t throw a single pass. The former 2014 second-round pick—drafted by the New England Patriots—appeared in three games, but exclusively in garbage time as Stafford and the Rams blew opponents out of the water.

Jimmy G’s job was limited to handing the ball off and kneeling. As a result, he ended the campaign with nine carries for -10 yards. His role was remarkably similar to the one he held 10 years prior with the Patriots; Garoppolo finished the 2015 season with a lone completion and -5 rushing yards while serving as Tom Brady’s backup.

Life is cyclical, but Garoppolo had no desire to serve in such an expendable role as a 12-year veteran in the NFL. Barring an injury to Stafford, Garoppolo would be in for more of the same in 2026. Thus, having earned significant money and grown his net worth over the years, it makes sense why Jimmy G may believe he has hit the end of the road. As for the Rams, they cannot say they didn’t see it coming, though it does throw a wrench in their plans.

Earlier this year, the Cardinals decided to release Kyler Murray, who quickly joined the Vikings. This left Arizona with a difficult choice: to enter the 2026 season with a veteran or draft a new franchise quarterback.

It was initially expected that Jacoby Brissett would take over as QB1. However, he has skipped the Cardinals’ first offseason workouts due to a contract dispute—an issue that could force Arizona to sign another signal-caller.

Brissett’s holdout may lead the Cardinals to another veteran QB

As of today, the Cardinals are not regarded as true contenders. With Kyler Murray’s exit, the biggest question revolves around the future QB1, and there is currently no clear answer.

Brissett wants a new contract. In 2025, he signed a two-year, $12.5 million deal with Arizona that runs through the 2026 season. He is aware that he is the most reliable option the club currently has and is using that as leverage.

Nevertheless, his holdout may backfire. Jimmy Garoppolo was linked to Arizona after Murray’s exit, and unfortunately for Brissett, Jimmy G is not the only veteran option available on the market.

While some believe Aaron Rodgers could be tempted by Arizona, the truth is that the NFC West is highly competitive, and he may prefer to stay in the AFC North with the Steelers.

Another real option is Russell Wilson, who has struggled since his departure from the Seahawks. However, he knows the NFC West incredibly well, which could be key in helping Arizona avoid being viewed as the worst team in the league.

Other veterans like Tyrod Taylor or Derek Carr are on the market, but Carr reportedly only has eyes for a Super Bowl contender—a status the Cardinals are far from reaching.

Are the Cardinals drafting a QB in 2026?

In recent days, the Cardinals hosted Ty Simpson for a pre-draft visit. They currently hold the No. 3 overall pick, giving them a legitimate chance to land the former Alabama standout.

However, reports suggest Arizona may not be interested in using such a high pick on a quarterback. The Cardinals might decide to trade down and wait for the later rounds to select a signal-caller, hoping to find a “hidden gem” on Day 2 or 3 of the upcoming draft.

“People make some of the connections with Kirk,” McVay said n PFT Live. “If it doesn’t work out with Jimmy, that’s definitely something that — Kirk is as influential as anybody in helping me get to L.A. in the first place.

“I know he’s got some other options and some other suitors, but Jimmy and Kirk are guys that I’d love to have back with us.”

McVay and Cousins worked together for three seasons with the then-Washington Redskins. During that time, they helped lead the team to an NFC East division title in 2015 under head coach Jay Gruden.

Stafford’s only backup

After several seasons serving as Matthew Stafford’s primary backup, Jimmy Garoppolo entered free agency, leaving his future in the league uncertain. What will Sean McVay do next to cover his star quarterback?

For now, the only player listed in the QB room ready to take the field if needed is Stetson Bennett IV. With plenty of time before the start of a new season, it would make sense for the Los Angeles Rams to add a higher-profile player to also join this roster.

Davante Adams stays with the Rams

Although the Los Angeles Rams had shown interest in A.J. Brown, that would have inevitably required a move involving Davante Adams. McVay ultimately decided to keep one of his primary receivers.

“We have discussions all the time. I wouldn’t say discussed — we really talked about some different avenues of onboarding other players and how it might affect Davante,” the head coach said.

“I’ve talked with Davante about that, and if we felt like it was best for our team, we would’ve done that. But we didn’t think it was best for our team. So, excited about being able to move forward with him.“

What will Jimmy Garoppolo do?

Garoppolo is expected to seek a deal worth roughly $3 million annually, similar to the one-year, $3.005 million contract he played under last season. Having attempted zero passes during the 2025 regular season, he will likely have to settle for a high-end backup position rather than a guaranteed QB1 slot on the open market.

Jimmy Garoppolo served as Stafford’s primary backup until just a few weeks ago, and in a matter of days, he will become a free agent. Will the Rams look for a new face at the position? Judging by the head coach’s remarks, it would appear not.

“I love Jimmy. I would absolutely want him back. I did see those reports too on [Cardinals coach] Mike [LaFleur] trying to steal our guy, but no, Jimmy’s a really good player and so we would love him back,” McVay said to the press about Garoppolo.

“I’m sure he’ll have multiple opportunities and then we’ll see where we’re at. He’s been tremendous for the last couple of years. We’ve loved everything he’s about. You guys know how I feel about him when we’ve spoken about him and we would love him back.

“I’m also not naive to the fact that he’ll probably have a lot of opportunities and if those are things that he wants to pursue that give him a chance to play, I would understand that.”

Potential landing spots for Garoppolo

Several teams are searching for an experienced quarterback for next season, and Garoppolo is an interesting name to fill that role. With plenty of experience that includes a Super Bowl and an NFC Championship Game appearance as the San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback, he could provide insurance for teams needing reliable depth at the position.

His short-term options could be multiple: restructure his contract with the Los Angeles Rams and continue as Matthew Stafford’s backup, or seek a new destination. The Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins, and New York Jets are among the teams that could be in the market for a quarterback with credentials, and Garoppolo could comfortably fit into their schemes.

Per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, free agent Jimmy Garoppolo is a strong option to join the Cardinals. New HC Mike LaFleur was the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams, so he has a close connection with former Rams QB, Jimmy Garoppolo.

According to Fowler, LaFleur views Garoppolo as “his guy,“ so given that he is a free agent, the Cardinals could actually see Garoppolo as a reliable, cheap QB1 to transition to the post-Kyler Murray days.

Garoppolo is quite different than Murray

While many might say Murray is more talented and a better quarterback, the fact is Garoppolo has a way more successful career than Murray up to this point. Murray has a 38-48-1 career record and only one playoff appearance. As for Garoppolo he has a career 43-21 record, and with him as a starter, he went to a Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers, as well as an NFC Championship Game.

Garoppolo is more of a pocket passer, quick processor, and steady quarterback. Murray is quite the opposite, he is a mobile, undersized, speedy quarterback with an educated arm. Still, both have practically a 2/1 TD-to-INT ratio. However, LaFleur might be eager to get Garoppolo because of their story and his style.

Garoppolo hasn’t played much in the last few years

The last couple of years, Garoppolo has been the backup of Matthew Stafford on the Los Angeles Rams. He has only started one game during that span, in a losing game where he threw for 334 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

Before that, he only played seven games for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023. He ended up losing the job to Aidan O’Connell. Hence, Garoppolo might need to revamp his reputation too.

It seems like only a matter of time before Tua Tagovailoa is out in Miami. The club recently released Tyreek Hill, creating cap space and potentially signaling the beginning of a rebuild that could continue with Tagovailoa’s departure.

In recent days, Malik Willis — currently the backup to Jordan Love with the Green Bay Packers — has emerged as a potential option to replace Tua. However, the Dolphins may instead pursue a veteran quarterback who has won two Super Bowls in his career.

Report: Dolphins linked to two-time Super Bowl champion to replace Tua Tagovailoa

Malik Willis has become a highly sought-after candidate for several teams. According to Spotrac, he could command around $36 million per season on his next contract, with the Dolphins viewed as a potential landing spot.

However, another option has now emerged for Miami. According to NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe, Jimmy Garoppolo, who spent the past two years with the Los Angeles Rams, has been identified as a strong candidate to replace Tagovailoa for the 2026 NFL season.

“Another name that I’m told to keep an eye on, Jimmy Garoppolo, who has a lot of experience with their offensive coordinator [Bobby] Slowik,” Cameron Wolfe said. “Maybe he’s a less expensive option for them in free agency.”

Jimmy Garoppolo would be a short-term solution for Miami

Both Malik Willis and Jimmy Garoppolo are expected to hit free agency soon. However, Willis appears to be more of a long-term solution, while Garoppolo would likely be viewed as a short-term option due to their age difference.

Willis is 26 and is widely regarded as a quarterback with solid starter potential. Garoppolo, 34, has won two Super Bowls in his career but has struggled to remain a consistent starting quarterback since his time with the San Francisco 49ers.

The Raiders have struggled to be a competitive team in recent years. Despite multiple front office changes and high-profile acquisitions, none of the moves have delivered the results fans expected.

In 2022, the Raiders made a big splash by trading for Davante Adams. However, his time in Las Vegas fell well short of expectations, and though he has since moved on, Adams hasn’t forgotten what he experienced in Silver and Black.

Davante Adams makes shocking revelation about his time with the Raiders

When the Raiders traded for Davante Adams from the Packers, many expected Las Vegas to develop a high-powered offense and contend in the AFC. But reality turned out very different.

With Derek Carr dealing with multiple injuries, Adams never had the chance to consistently perform at an elite level. Just one year later, Carr left for the Saints, and the Raiders brought in Jimmy Garoppolo to lead the offense.

Although Garoppolo and Adams showed flashes of chemistry, the pairing never truly lived up to the hype. Midway through the season, Adams was traded to the New York Jets to reunite with Aaron Rodgers—but fate had other plans for the future.

This offseason, Adams signed with the Los Angeles Rams, where he was reunited once again with Jimmy Garoppolo, who joined the team in 2024. Upon his arrival, Adams expressed gratitude for getting out of Las Vegas—and didn’t hold back in criticizing the Raiders for their poor decision-making and lack of direction.

“I love Jimmy. It was never a personal thing,” Adams said on Sedano & Kap. “It’s been amazing, we’ve gotten to catch up and get on the same page. Obviously that was just a dark moment in all of our lives. I think all of us were pretty miserable over there. We kind of caught up and laughed about it, and we’ve been making plays since we’ve been here.”

Why didn’t Davante Adams follow Aaron Rodgers to the Pittsburgh Steelers?

When both Davante Adams and Aaron Rodgers hit free agency, many expected the longtime duo to reunite once more. However, they ultimately went in different directions: Rodgers signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, while Adams chose the Los Angeles Rams.

According to reports, Adams grew frustrated with Rodgers’ delayed decision on choosing a new team. Wanting to secure his future, he opted for the Rams—drawn in not only by the opportunity to start fresh but also by the presence of a future Hall of Fame quarterback in Matthew Stafford.

Matthew Stafford is not participating at the Los Angeles Rams training camp right now. He is dealing with a back injury that has him in a week to week status. Therefore, Sean McVay has been training with NFL veteran Jimmy Garoppolo as the starter.

However, McVay is thrilled to have Jimmy G on the roster. “I think Jimmy Garoppolo is a starting quarterback,” McVay told reporters. “Obviously, we feel so fortunate to have somebody like Matthew leading the way, but Jimmy’s done a great job. I think he’s shown good command the first couple days. I’ve always thought he was a high-caliber player.”

After all, Garoppolo has been to a Super Bowl before and has trained with the likes of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. He knows what he is doing. McVay, who is also a very smart coach, will see how having Garoppolo as backup is a luxury.

Garoppolo has been heavily underestimated his whole career

Garoppolo came to the league with not that much hype, but when Tom Brady got injured, he got his shot. San Francisco traded for him and he had a 5-0 start to his career at The Bay. A couple of years later, he was guiding the 49ers to a Super Bowl leading the NFL in game-winning drives.

Garoppolo has a career record of 43 wins to 21 losses, a 67.4 passing completion percentage, 96 touchdowns to 52 interceptions and a Super Bowl trip. However, he’s never being widely respected as a quarterback. Whether it’s because of his good looks or the coaches he’s played for, Jimmy G has plenty of doubters.

McVay trusts him

Does Jimmy G has many doubters? Yes. McVay is not one of them, he knows Garoppolo can be useful in his scheme. McVay’s offense runs a highly quarterback-friendly playbook that Garoppolo could easily exploit. In the end, he played in the Kyle Shanahan system, which is also QB-friendly but a bit more developed than McVay’s.

The Rams still want Stafford back, of course. He is a top-tier level signal-caller and has guided this team to a Super Bowl win already. But, if he suffers any setbacks, McVay seems to think they are still in a good spot to challenge the rest of the NFL.

From his humble beginnings in Illinois to becoming a central figure in the NFL, Jimmy Garoppolo has traveled a path full of challenges and triumphs, showcasing his professionalism and dedication to the sport.

After shining with popular teams like the New England Patriots and the San Francisco 49ers, his stint with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023 was marked by injuries and a suspension that kept him off the field for two games.

However, his story took a new turn in March 2024 when the Los Angeles Rams offered him a one-year contract, with a base salary of millions of dollars and the potential to earn high figures through incentives.

What is Jimmy Garoppolo’s net worth?

The talented Rams quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo, has accumulated a growing fortune, and according to sources like Sportskeeda, his current net worth is estimated at $55 million as of early 2025.

This wealth primarily comes from his NFL career, including a notable 137.5 million dollar contract signed with the San Francisco 49ers in 2018, as Celebrity Net Worth and Marca reported.

In 2024, he signed a one-year contract with the Rams for $3.18 million, which includes a signing bonus of $1.97 million. Despite challenges such as injuries and a suspension that same year, his financial portfolio remains robust.

What sets him apart from other athletes is his ability to balance success on the field with life outside the NFL. His serious approach to his career and his ability to stay at the forefront of personal branding have allowed him to remain relevant.

Jimmy Garoppolo’s career earnings over the years

Las Vegas Raiders

• 2025 | $24.3 million
• 2024 |$24.3 million
• 2023 | $24.3 million

San Francisco 49ers

• 2022 | $11.2 million
• 2021 | $25.4 million
• 2020 | $24.7 million
• 2019 | $18.6 million
• 2018 | $42 million
• 2017 | $434.2 thousand

New England Patriots

• 2017 | $460.9 thousand
• 2016 | $761.5 thousand
• 2015 | $578.4 thousand
• 2014 | $1.3 million

Jimmy Garoppolo’s career and success in the NFL

Garoppolo began his professional career in 2014 when he was selected by the New England Patriots in the second round of the draft. Although he was not the starter, he was mentored by Tom Brady, one of the most successful quarterbacks.

His time with the Patriots allowed him to win two Super Bowls, albeit as a backup. His opportunity came in 2017 when he was traded to the San Francisco 49ers, where he became the starting quarterback.

His ability to remain competitive and his popularity among fans have enabled him to secure lucrative contracts, such as the $137.5 million deal with the 49ers in 2018, which at the time was one of the largest in history.

Jimmy Garoppolo’s endorsements

Throughout his career, Jimmy Garoppolo has worked with some of the most iconic brands globally, which have contributed a significant amount of money to his earnings as a player. These include Nike, Subway, Bose and Bodyarmor.

Thanks to his ability to build a strong personal brand, he has managed to maintain his relevance both on and off the NFL field. These endorsements not only increase his income but also solidify his position in the league.