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Ty Simpson Downplays Draft-Night Optics as Rams Press Ahead

He says he will learn behind Matthew Stafford in a long-term handoff the Rams have planned.

Overview

  • Simpson, who spoke Saturday at a Los Angeles charity event, said he "didn't really see" the public criticism or Sean McVay's subdued press conference after the Rams drafted him.
  • McVay later said he was grumpy that night out of respect for Stafford and also cited a personal situation, while stressing he and GM Les Snead agreed on taking Simpson at No. 13.
  • Simpson said Kelly Stafford welcomed him and that he later saw a text from Matthew Stafford, who joked about their Georgia–Alabama ties as the rookie joins a room with two Bulldogs QBs.
  • The rookie asked for the playbook right after the draft but coaches told him all rookies would be onboarded together, with meetings and on-field work beginning Monday in Woodland Hills during voluntary workouts.
  • The pick stunned many given Simpson's 15 college starts, and early grades were cautious, including a C from Bleacher Report, as analysts weigh the succession plan against the Rams' near-term needs.