The NFL Draft never fails to deliver a few unexpected moments, and Thursday night produced perhaps the most astonishing surprise of the evening: the selection of Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson. Heading into the draft, analysts were split on Simpson's value. 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 reached for him with the 13th overall pick, catching nearly everyone off guard. The reaction was immediate and polarising. Fans and pundits alike launched into heated debate, and even the usually exuberant Rams head coach Sean McVay appeared unusually restrained. It was as if the pick had left him speechless.
Sky Sports NFL analyst Jeff Reinebold summed up the sentiment on the Inside the Huddle podcast, saying, "I can’t repeat the exact words from the show, but essentially it was, ‘are you kidding me?’ I think Sean McVay was genuinely surprised by the decision to take Ty Simpson right there." Reinebold went on to explain his own confusion during the rest of the draft. "I spent the remaining rounds trying to make sense of it.
I kept thinking about the Rams' timeline with Matthew Stafford—two more years under his contract, then a transition plan. I reviewed six games of solid film and nine games that were less impressive." He added, "When I looked at Makai Lemon, I thought, ‘that’s a perfect fit.’ The Rams have a receiver in rehab—Puka Nacua—and they can never have too many reliable targets. They also have a veteran at the end of his career, Davante Adams. Yet they felt Simpson checked enough boxes to earn a long‑term commitment." Simpson now joins a quarterback room anchored by 38‑year‑old Matthew Stafford, who is coming off an MVP‑caliber season that brought him within a single game of the Super Bowl.
Simpson's college résumé is modest but respectable. After spending his early years behind Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe at Alabama, he started just one full season. In that campaign he completed 305 of 473 attempts for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns and five interceptions over 15 starts. The season unfolded in two distinct halves: early success gave way to a late‑season slump in which he threw seven touchdowns against four interceptions, raising questions about his draft stock.
Reinebold emphasized the importance of body language, noting, "Sean McVay is usually gregarious and upbeat, but he wasn’t the type to step up to the podium and praise Ty Simpson right away. That silence spoke volumes." The Rams still have other quarterback options. Third‑round pick Stetson Bennett, selected out of Georgia in 2023, remains on the roster, and veteran Jimmy Garoppolo is reportedly contemplating retirement. Reinebold compared Bennett and Simpson, saying, "Both are players who didn’t log a huge number of college starts.
They’re accurate, have solid mechanics, but they don’t possess eye‑popping arm strength or extraordinary physical traits. If you’re going to choose one, you’re picking a different type of player." The draft night also featured a dramatic moment involving USC wide receiver Makai Lemon, who was taken by the Philadelphia Eagles at the 20th overall spot. Lemon had been in talks with the Pittsburgh Steelers and seemed poised to fall to the 21st pick, but Eagles general manager Howie Roseman traded up to secure him.
Reinebold praised Roseman's maneuver, calling it "incredible" and noting that the move signaled Philadelphia’s intent to acquire younger, cheaper, faster talent with a strong work ethic. The selection of Lemon sparked speculation about a possible trade of A.J.
Brown to the New England Patriots after June 1. Reinebold remarked, "That was Howie—maybe not genius, but certainly brilliant. The buzz before the draft was all about A.J. Brown possibly moving, and now the Eagles have a player who can be a hero for them, a guy who will elevate Jalen Hurts and the offense." Analysts had previously likened Lemon to Detroit Lions wideout Amon‑Ra St.
Brown, and now he will join a Philadelphia receiving corps that includes DeVonta Smith, Saquon Barkley and quarterback Jalen Hurts. Reynolds, another commentator, observed, "He looked like he wanted to jump into a game right away.
Tough, competitive, and he even joked that Eagles fans are getting a new dog. That’s the kind of gritty player the fanbase will embrace." Overall, the Rams’ decision to draft Ty Simpson reflects a strategic gamble. They are balancing a veteran quarterback’s final years with a long‑term plan that includes developing a younger talent who fits a specific prototype: accuracy, solid mechanics, and the potential to grow under the guidance of seasoned mentors. Whether Simpson will evolve into a reliable starter or serve as a valuable backup remains to be seen, but the surprise pick has already injected a fresh storyline into the Rams’ rebuilding narrative and set the stage for an intriguing offseason.