It’s like the Los Angeles Rams are going against the grain. While nearly every other team addressed immediate needs in the first round of the NFL Draft — including three picks from the New York Jets — Les Snead and Sean McVay focused on the future.
They found a replacement for reigning NFL MVP Matthew Stafford.
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Ty Simpson, the Alabama quarterback drafted 13th overall, didn’t see this coming.
The Rams did not hold private workouts. He had not spoken to Sneed, the wily general manager, until Thursday night. The same goes for his new quarterback whisperer McVay. No “Top 30” visit to Rams headquarters. Throughout the draft process, there wasn’t much contact other than scouts visiting campus.
“I really don’t know,” Simpson said during a video conference shortly after hugging Roger Goodell on stage in Pittsburgh.
By now, Simpson has a pretty good idea of what the Rams (who typically don’t even retain first-round picks) really think about him.
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Simpson is considered a quarterback of the future. Check back in, say, 2029 to get a fair idea of the value of this pick. However, based on Snead and McVeigh’s track record, prediction markets will be heavily tilted toward the positive side.
The fact that Simpson is the only quarterback other than No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza to be drafted on Day 1 will enhance the possibility that Simpson could go to school behind the 38-year-old Stafford while trying to close the gap after starting just 15 games in college.
“I haven’t talked to Matthew yet, but I’m super excited to be in a room with him and learn from him,” Simpson said. “He’s one of the greatest players of all time. When I was at Bama, we were watching film of him all the time, the Rams and what Coach McVay was doing. So, the fact that I was able to be in a room and absorb all that knowledge, I couldn’t have asked for a better situation.”
This sounds perfect for those sneaky rams.
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More: Rams 2026 draft picks: Complete list of team’s round-by-round picks
Cowboys steal in Caleb Downs
Not surprisingly, four Ohio State players were selected in the draft. But shockingly, Towns, a standout safety, was picked at No. 4. He held on until the 11th pick, which he acquired after Dallas moved up one spot via a trade with Miami.
That fills a major need and adds leverage to Jerry Jones’ promise to overhaul the NFL’s worst defense. They didn’t stop there, giving new coordinator Christian Parker a talent upgrade. Defensive end Malachi Lawrence (No. 23 overall) from Central Florida may not be another Micah Parsons, but we desperately need him to bolster the pass rush.
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More: Cowboys 2026 draft picks: Complete list of round-by-round selections
Chiefs’ Steve Spagnuolo getting major additions
After trading All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Rams and losing cornerback Jaylen Watson to Los Angeles in free agency, what do the Kansas City Chiefs need from this draft? cornerback.
The tone was set when KC traded up with Cleveland and jumped three spots to No. 6, grabbing the highest-rated cornerback on the board, LSU’s Mansour Deline. Then, later in the round, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach selected Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods with the 29th overall pick. Woods’ learning curve has just accelerated now that he’ll be playing alongside ultra-fierce All-Pro Chris Jones.
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This is a great opener for the Chiefs. D coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has proven to be adept at developing young talent quickly to impact his program.
With more ammo available on Days Two and Three, they may just be starting on this theme. Remember 2022? In that time, the Chiefs used seven of their 10 draft picks to supplement the defense, including McDuffie, Watson, George Kraftis, Brian Cook, Leo Chenauer and Joshua Williams – all of whom were major contributors to back-to-back Super Bowl championship teams.
Now, four years later, Kraftis is the only one left in that class. Wanted: Reinforcements.
Contact Bell at jbell@usatoday.com or follow: @JarrettBell
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL Draft Day 1 recap: Sneaky Rams, Ty Simpson’s biggest surprise of the night
