The NFL Draft never fails to deliver a few unexpected moments, and Thursday night produced perhaps the most startling one of the evening: the selection of Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson. Going into the draft, analysts were split on where Simpson would land. Some projected him as a late first‑round talent, while others doubted he would even crack the first round at all.
In the end, the Los Angeles Rams surprised everyone by taking him with the 13th overall pick, a decision that sparked immediate debate, divided opinion, and left Rams head coach Sean McVay looking unusually subdued. "I can’t repeat the exact words from the podcast, but basically, are you kidding me?" Sky Sports NFL analyst Jeff Reinebold exclaimed on the Inside the Huddle show. He suggested that McVay must have been taken aback by the Rams' move, noting that the pick forced him to rethink his entire draft strategy. "It really knocked me for a loop," Reinebold said.
"I spent the rest of the draft trying to figure out what this meant. I was thinking, okay, we have Matthew Stafford for a couple more years, we have a transition plan, and now we’ve added a quarterback who only has six games of good film and nine games of less impressive tape." Reinebold went on to compare Simpson with other recent Rams selections, pointing out that the team already has a receiver in rehab (Puka Nacua) and a veteran star in Davante Adams, who is nearing the end of his career.
Yet the Rams apparently saw something in Simpson that checked enough boxes to warrant a long‑term commitment. "I looked at Makai Lemon and thought, ‘that’s a perfect fit.’ You can never have too many reliable receivers, and Simpson seemed to fit the profile they were looking for," Reinebold explained.
Simpson now joins a quarterback room led by the 38‑year‑old Matthew Stafford, who is coming off an MVP‑caliber season that left him just one game short of the Super Bowl. Simpson’s college résumé is modest by elite‑quarterback standards.
After sitting behind Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe at Alabama, he started only one full season, completing 305 of 473 attempts for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns and five interceptions across 15 starts. His performance was uneven: he threw seven touchdowns against four interceptions in the final stretch, prompting lingering questions about his draft stock.
Reinebold emphasized the importance of body language in evaluating a player, noting that McVay, usually upbeat and gregarious, appeared unusually restrained when discussing Simpson. "He wasn’t the kind of coach who would step up to the podium and rave about a pick like this," Reinebold observed. The Rams still have other quarterback options. Third‑round pick Stetson Bennett, drafted out of Georgia in 2023, remains on the roster, while veteran Jimmy Garoppolo is reportedly weighing retirement.
Reinebold drew a parallel between Bennett and Simpson, saying, "Both are quarterbacks who didn’t see a lot of playing time in college. They’re accurate, have solid mechanics, but they won’t wow you with raw arm talent or physical gifts. If you’re going to take one, you’re choosing a different kind of player." The night also featured drama surrounding USC wide receiver Makai Lemon, who was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles at the 20th overall spot.
Lemon had been in talks with the Pittsburgh Steelers and seemed set to fall to the 21st pick, but Eagles general manager Howie Roseman traded up to secure him. Reinebold praised Roseman’s move, calling it "incredible" if not outright genius. He added that the Eagles are looking for a younger, cheaper, faster receiver who brings a positive attitude and can complement quarterback Jalen Hurts. Analysts had previously compared Lemon to Detroit Lions star Amon‑Ra St.
Brown, and now he will join a Philadelphia receiving corps that includes DeVonta Smith, Saquon Barkley and the aforementioned Hurts. "He came on looking like he wanted to start playing a game right there and then," said a Eagles insider.
"He looks tough, competitive, and the fans will love his gritty style." The Rams’ decision to draft Simpson may signal a longer‑term plan to develop a successor for Stafford, even though the team still has a veteran quarterback and a recent third‑round pick waiting in the wings. By selecting a player with limited college experience but solid fundamentals, Los Angeles appears willing to gamble on potential upside rather than proven production.
Overall, Thursday’s draft highlights how unpredictable the NFL’s talent evaluation process can be. Teams balance immediate needs, future planning, and the intangible qualities of a prospect—leadership, work ethic, and fit within a specific offensive system.
Whether Simpson will become a long‑term starter for the Rams or simply a developmental project remains to be seen, but his selection certainly gave fans and analysts plenty to discuss. View day two of the NFL Draft live on Sky Sports Main Event, Action and Mix starting at midnight on Friday, with the final day wrapping up at 5 p.m. on Saturday on Sky Sports Action.