It’s just like the Los Angeles Rams to go against the grain. While pretty much every other team addressed immediate needs while working the first round of the NFL draft – including the New York Jets with their three picks – Les Snead and Sean McVay looked to the future.
They nabbed an understudy for reigning NFL MVP Matthew Stafford.
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It’s not that Ty Simpson, the Alabama quarterback chosen 13th overall, saw this coming.
There was no private workout with the Rams. He never talked to Snead, the crafty GM, until Thursday night. Ditto for McVay, his new QB whisperer. There was no “Top 30” visit to Rams headquarters. Throughout the draft process, there was not much contact beyond visiting with scouts back on campus.
“I really had no clue,” Simpson said during a video conference not long after he bear-hugged Roger Goodell on the stage in Pittsburgh.
Now Simpson has quite the hint of what the Rams – who typically don’t even hang on to first-round picks – really think of him.
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Simpson is pegged to be the Quarterback of the Future. Check back in, say, 2029 to get a fair reading on the worthiness of the pick. Yet knowing the track records of Snead and McVay, the prediction market will lean heavily on the positive side.
And that possibility will be bolstered by the fact that Simpson, the only quarterback drafted on Day 1 besides No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza, can go to school behind Stafford, 38, while trying to close the gap of starting just 15 games in college.
“I haven’t talked to Matthew yet but I’m super pumped to be in a room with him and learn from him,” Simpson said. “He’s one of the greatest of all time. We watched his film all the time when I was at ‘Bama, the stuff the Rams did and Coach McVay. So, the fact I get to be in a room and soak up all the knowledge, I couldn’t ask for a better situation.”
Which sounds just perfect for those sneaky Rams.
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More: Rams Draft picks 2026: Full list of team’s round-by-round selections
Cowboys got a steal in Caleb Downs
It was no surprise that four Ohio State players were chosen at the top of the draft. But it was undoubtedly something of a shock that Downs, the superb safety, was the fourth one off the board. He lasted until the 11th pick, which came after Dallas swung a trade with Miami to move up one spot.
This fills a major need, adding impact to Jerry Jones’ pledge to overhaul the NFL’s worst defense. And they didn’t stop there in providing new coordinator Christian Parker with a talent upgrade. Malachi Lawrence, the defensive end from Central Florida (23rd overall), may not be another Micah Parsons, but he is sorely needed to juice the pass-rush.
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More: Cowboys draft picks 2026: Full list of round-by-round selections
Chiefs, Steve Spagnuolo have major reinforcements on the way
After dealing all-pro cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Rams and losing fellow corner Jaylen Watson to L.A. as a free agent, what did the Kansas City Chiefs need to get out of this draft? Cornerbacks.
The tone was set when K.C. swung a trade with Cleveland and jumped up three spots to sixth overall, snagging the top-rated cornerback on the board, LSU’s Mansoor Delane. Then, later in the round, Chiefs GM Brett Veach landed Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods with the 29th pick. Woods’ learning curve just accelerated because he’ll line up alongside ultra-intense all-pro Chris Jones.
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It was a great opener for the Chiefs. D-coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has proven to be adept at quickly grooming young talent to impact his schemes.
And with more ammo for Day 2 and 3, they could be just getting started with that theme. Remember 2022? That’s when the Chiefs used seven of their 10 picks to restock the defense with a banner crop that included McDuffie, Watson, George Karlaftis, Bryan Cook, Leo Chenal and Joshua Williams – all of whom made significant contributions to back-to-back Super Bowl championship teams.
Now, four years later, Karlaftis is the only one remaining from that class. Wanted: Reinforcements.
Contact Bell at jbell@usatoday.com or follow on X: @JarrettBell
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL draft Day 1 recap: Sneaky Rams, Ty Simpson biggest surprise of night
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