Rams' Shocking Ty Simpson QB Pick Raises Questions About McVay's Approval

The 2026 NFL Draft delivered a series of surprises in its first round on Thursday night. From the Titans selecting Carnell Tate at No. 4 to the unexpected slide of Caleb Downs, Rueben Bain, and Makai Lemon, the night was filled with unexpected twists. Yet, it was the Los Angeles Rams' decision at No. 13 overall that truly stood out.

The Rams selected Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson to be their signal caller of the future, a pick that received a C+ grade from analysts. While Simpson is not considered a poor prospect, the timing and context of the selection raised eyebrows. The Rams had previously traded their No. 29 pick for Trent McDuffie, leaving Simpson as the unexpected choice at No. 13. The move was seen as overly strategic, preparing for Matthew Stafford's eventual retirement rather than prioritizing an immediate championship push.

Post-draft reactions intensified concerns when coach Sean McVay appeared visibly displeased while general manager Les Snead praised Simpson. McVay's facial expressions and minimal comments during the press conference did little to ease doubts about his enthusiasm for the pick.

In his post-draft presser, McVay offered measured remarks about Simpson, comparing him to Jimmy Garoppolo and highlighting aspects of his game that align with the Rams' offensive schemes. However, his tone and choice of words suggested a lack of genuine excitement, more typical of a late-round selection than a top-15 pick.

Analysts pointed to alternatives available at No. 13, such as Makai Lemon, Kenyon Sadiq, or safety Dillon Thieneman, who could have bolstered the Rams' passing attack or secondary. The true test of Simpson's value will come in at least two years, but the questions surrounding the pick persist, especially after reports emerged about Les Snead's personal connections to Simpson.

"We’ve talked about the importance of Jimmy [Garoppolo]. To be able to add somebody that you can evaluate a body of work where he was asked to play the position and a lot of things that do translate in terms of concepts, reading with his feet, some of the different things in the drop back in the play-action game and the movement game. There are a lot of things that [Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan] Grubb did that’s very similar to how we operate, so it made it an easier evaluation to be able to say, ‘Alright, what would that look like if he did translate it to our level?’"

McVay's comments, while technically positive, lacked the enthusiasm typically associated with a franchise-changing selection. The Rams' decision to prioritize long-term planning over immediate impact has left fans and analysts questioning whether the move was a stroke of genius or a misstep.