The NFL Draft never fails to deliver surprises, and Thursday night was no exception. The most significant shock might have been the selection of Ty Simpson by the Los Angeles Rams with the 13th overall pick.
Simpson, the Alabama quarterback, had been the subject of varying projections, with some analysts predicting him as a late first-round pick and others questioning whether he would make it into the first round at all. In the end, most predictions were proven wrong.
The pick sparked debate, division, and a subdued reaction from Rams head coach Sean McVay, who seemed less than enthusiastic. Sky Sports NFL's Jeff Reinebold expressed his surprise, saying, 'I think that Sean McVay might have been a little surprised that they took Ty Simpson right here.' Reinebold spent the rest of the draft trying to make sense of the pick, considering the Rams already have Matthew Stafford, who has two years left on his contract.
Simpson joins a quarterback room led by the 38-year-old Stafford, who is coming off an MVP-winning campaign. Simpson had a single season as a starter in college, finishing with 305 of 473 passing for 3,567 yards and 28 touchdowns to five interceptions across 15 starts. However, his performance was inconsistent, with a strong start followed by a struggle down the stretch. Reinebold believes in reading body language and felt that McVay's reaction to the pick was telling.
'Sean McVay, you know how gregarious, how positive he is, and that was not the guy who stepped to the podium to talk about Ty Simpson,' Reinebold said. The Rams also have Stetson Bennett as a quarterback option, and veteran Jimmy Garoppolo is considering retirement.
Reinebold compared Simpson to Bennett, saying they are similar in that they didn't play much in college but have good mechanics. He suggested that if the Rams were going to take a quarterback, they should have chosen one with different qualities.
Another dramatic moment in the draft came when USC wide receiver Makai Lemon was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles at 20th overall. Lemon had been in talks with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the Eagles traded up to 20th to snatch him. The pick came amid speculation that AJ Brown might be traded to the New England Patriots after June 1. Reinebold praised Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman, saying, 'That guy is incredible.' Lemon will now team up with DeVonta Smith, Saquon Barkley, and Jalen Hurts to boost an offense that faced criticism last season.
Analysts compared Lemon to Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St Brown ahead of the draft, and he is expected to make an immediate impact.